What is Nutritional Yeast?

What is Nutritional Yeast – Overview

Nutritional yeast is like a clinical agent, but this fully vegan ingredient makes your bread, pasta, and other fast-food items cheesy, nutty, and tastier. Most vegetarian restaurants and vegan food outlets use nutritional yeast as their core ingredient to make their food tastes better. But what is nutritional yeast?

What are the Different Types of Yeast

There are three different types of yeasts present in the market. All of these types come from S. cerevisiae. First, let’s see how the types of yeasts are different from each other.

Different Types of Yeast

Different Types of Yeast

Type 1: Nutritional Yeast

It’s grown to be used as a food product, not for other purposes. During the process, the active cells of yeast are killed, making it an inactive agent. It is used for cooking and adds a deliciously cheesy taste to dishes.

Type 2: Baker’s Yeast

Baker’s yeast is a different type used to prepare bread and other bakery products. It is also killed differently. It acts as a partially active agent and requires several hours to prepare.

Type 3: Brewer’s Yeast

Brewer’s yeast is used to brew beer. During the brewing process, the cells of the active yeast die. These dead yeast cells can be used as a nutritional product, but they taste different from nutritional yeast.

These are the different types of yeasts found in the market. Now, let’s collect all the valuable information about nutritional yeast.

Definition of Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast is also known as nooch, as many people like to say so. Unlike standard food products, it’s grown on molasses. It’s used in the development of value-added food products. (1) It comes in three forms- powder, granules, and flakes. People choose the right type as per their recipe types as each of its forms is there for a special purpose.

It has several health benefits, as it is free from sugar, fat, and gluten. If you are on a diet and restricted to having your favorite foods, then you can prepare delicious foods using one of the forms of yeast.

It is mainly derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the same yeast used by bakers and brewers. It acts as an inactive agent.

Once the naturally grown yeasts are harvested, they are pasteurized and dried. During this process, the live yeast cells are killed. So, nutritional yeast is a seasoning agent you can add to your diet.

What makes nutritional yeast different from others is its cheesy and nutty taste. It contains glutamate, which is responsible for adding a cheesy taste naturally.

How Does it Taste?

Nutritional yeast is derived from molasses; it is a dairy-free product. However, it contains natural glutamate, which makes it taste like everyone’s favorite cheese. Yes, the super cheesy flavor of yeast converts an ordinary platter into extraordinary cuisine.

Moreover, the color of the nutritional yeast is yellowish, miming the color of the cheese. It can thicken daily supplies such as sauce, soups, etc., and make food dishes more cheesy and fluffy.

What are the health benefits of Nutritional Yeast?

As the name suggests, nutritional yeast is full of essential nutrients. Besides nutrients, it is considered a good source of antioxidants, which are responsible for keeping our bodies healthy. Here’s a list of all the health benefits associated with it.

Health Benefits of Nutritional Yeast

Vitamin B12:

Vitamin B12 is one of the primary minerals responsible for producing fresh red blood cells. It also maintains our nervous system and helps it function properly. Vitamin B12 comes from animal products.

If you follow a plant-based or fully vegan diet, then there will be a deficiency of Vitamin B12 in your bloodstream. Nutritional yeast combined with other food items can fulfill your requirements for Vitamin B12 with just two tablespoons.

Most vegans add nutritional yeast to their diet to maintain their daily intake of nutrients such as Vitamin B12.

Protein:

Nutritional yeast is also known as a primary source of protein. Not all plant-based products are complete protein sources, but it is a complete protein with all the essential amino acids and other nutrients.

Minerals:

Nutritional yeast also contains valuable minerals required for our body systems to function correctly. It contains zinc, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and other minerals.

Vitamin B: Other forms of Vitamin B, such as Vitamin B1- thiamine, Vitamin B2- riboflavin, Vitamin B3- niacin, Vitamin B6- pyridoxine, and Vitamin B9- folate, are present in nutritional yeast.

How to Use Nutritional Yeast?

Nutritional yeast comes in powder, granules, and flakes. Households mostly use granules and powder forms. Dried yeast must be on your kitchen counter, as it is a good-to-go product that can make your dishes tastier.

It can be used in any vegan-based dish. It is a fully vegan product, and vegans must add it to their diet as it is a good source of essential nutrients.

You can use it to prepare popcorn, add it to make smooth or thickened sauce, and prepare bread and toast.

Moreover, it can help you prepare many dishes, making them tastier with its cheesy, nutty flavor. It is a taste enhancer agent. Add a teaspoon or two while preparing your dishes, and you’ll have the best of fun.

Are there any Side Effects of Nutritional Yeast?

Nutritional yeast is safe to use in moderation, say up to 3 tablespoons daily (individual tolerance can vary). However, yeast is not a safe option for everyone. Individuals with IBD- irritable bowel disease are strictly prohibited from consuming yeast.

Moreover, those suffering from hypertension, glaucoma, etc., should avoid having it due to health concerns. If you are allergic to yeast, you should not add it to your diet as it may cause other health problems.

For any queries, dial your doctor’s number, who can provide the best guidance. This way, you can deal with the nutritional yeast and add it to your diet for regular consumption.

Final Words:

Nutritional yeast is a fully vegan product loaded with essential nutrients. It offers many health benefits and helps you make delicious, cheesy, and nutty-flavored dishes.

It is a good source of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. Add one or two tablespoons of nutritional yeast daily to fulfill your nutritional intake.

Moreover, it is suitable for people with high cholesterol levels, as it lowers cholesterol levels and improves immunity. It prevents users from developing heart-related diseases.

See Also

High Glycemic Index Foods

Coke Zero vs Diet Coke

renee

Current Version
March 27, 2023
Written By
renee
January 22, 2024
Updated By
Damla Sengul