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
Type 1: Nutritional Yeast
It’s grown to be used as a food product, not for other purposes. The active cells of yeasts are killed during the process, making it an inactive agent. It is used for cooking and adding a deliciously cheesy taste to your dishes.
Type 2: Baker’s Yeast
Baker’s yeast is a different type used to prepare bread and other bakery products. It also gets killed but differently. It acts as a partially active agent, which requires a couple of 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 get dead. These dead yeast cells can be used as a nutritional product, but they taste different from the 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. It is the same yeast that bakers and brewers use. It acts as an inactive agent.
Once the naturally grown yeasts are harvested, they are then pasteurized and dried. The live yeast cells would get killed throughout this process. So basically, nutritional yeast is kind of a seasoning agent which 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, which mimics the color of the cheese. It can thicken daily supplies such as sauce, soups, etc., and is also used in making 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 is 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 the production of 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 diet or a 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.
The reason why most vegans add nutritional yeast to their diet is to maintain the 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 includes useful minerals that are also required to function our body systems properly. It contains zinc, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, etc.
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 different forms- powder, granules, and flakes. Households mostly use granules and powder forms. Dried yeast must be there on your kitchen top as it is a good-to-go product to make your dishes tastier.
It can be used in any vegan-based dishes. It is a fully vegan product; vegans must add it to their diet as it is a good source of essential nutrients.
You can use it while preparing popcorn or add it up while making smooth or thickened sauce. It can also be used while preparing bread and toast.
Moreover, it can help you prepare tons of dishes with it, making your dishes tastier with its cheesy and nutty flavor. It is a taste enhancer agent. Just add a teaspoon or two while preparing your dishes and have the best of fun ahead.
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 can add it to your diet for regular consumption.
Final Words:
Nutritional yeast is a full package of health benefits loaded with essential nutrients. It is a fully vegan product that 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 also suitable for those with cholesterol as it lowers cholesterol levels and improves immunity. It prevents users from developing heart-related diseases.
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