4 Health Benefits Of Nutritional Yeast

For those who love baking then you would have used yeast as one of the ingredients in them. However, has any of you ever heard of dried type yeast which is known as nutritional yeast?

Did you also know that the use of nutritional yeast is not similar to the regular yeast that you normally use? These are some interesting facts about nutritional yeast that you should know.

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What Is Nutritional Yeast?

Nutritional yeast is a yeast that has been deactivated and is commonly used as seasonings and food supplements.

Unlike dried yeast that we use in bread, nutritional yeast does not cause the food to rise instead, it only functions to add some flavors aside from some important nutrients to the food.

Nutritional Content of Dried Yeast or Nutritional Yeast

For every 16 grams or 1 and a half tablespoons of nutritional yeast, it is comprised of the following nutrition:

Calories: 60
Salt: 30 mg
Fat: 0.5 grams
Fibers: 3 grams
Carbohydrates: 5 grams
Protein: 8 grams
Sugar: 0 gram

For every 1 and a half spoonful of dried yeast, it contains 5 grams of carbohydrates.

From that value, 3 grams of them are fibers. This yeast provides us with soluble fibers that benefit our health and it is called beta-glucan.

Most nutritional yeast brands are naturally free of fat content. Aside from that, most yeast products are rich in the vitamin B complex.

It also contains 1000% of the daily requirement of vitamin B12. Nutritional yeast also comprised calcium, thiamine, iron, and potassium.

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Are There Specific Benefits Of Taking Nutritional Yeast?

In a small amount, nutritional yeast is rich in various nutrients that will help individuals that are lacking them in their diet and this will promote more balanced health.

Here are some of the health benefits that one could gain from taking nutritional yeast:

1. Support The Heart's Health

Nutritional yeast contains a substance known as beta-glucan. For your information, beta-glucan is a type of carbohydrate found in plant cells, bacteria, and also fungus.

The high intake of beta-glucan will help promote a healthier cardiovascular or heart. This includes the reduction of bad cholesterol and the increase in the level of good cholesterol in our bodies.

Most nutritional yeast brand also contains potassium which helps reduce blood pressure. This yeast plays a role as a low-salt seasoning which is good for the long-term health of the heart.

2. Reduce The Risk of Anemia

When we mention anemia, the first nutrient that comes to mind will be iron. This is because anemia is caused by the lack of iron in the body. But the lack of folic acid or vitamin B12 can also lead to anemia.

Most yeast brand is rich in B12 and can give more than 500% of the daily requirement in every dish. Since vitamin B12 is water-soluble, it can hardly cause toxic effects to the body when taken in high doses.

Individuals who practice a vegetarian diet are commonly lacking this vitamin. Because of that, taking nutritional yeast will be helpful in providing a source of vitamin B12 to them.

3. Prevent Constipation

Fibers are very crucial for most individuals to prevent themselves from getting constipation. It is recommended to take at least 25 - 35 grams of fiber each day.

Fibers control the gut movement by pulling in water from the large intestine and bulking as well as softening the stool. Nutritional yeast provides around 3 grams of fiber for 16 grams of yeast.

Taking this nutritional yeast as part of your diet will help you achieve the daily fiber needs of your body.

4. Improve The Body's Immune System

Despite further research being needed, some research has shown that beta-glucan that is contained in nutritional yeast is capable of enhancing our immune system.

The researchers relate the positive effect to the fermentation activity of the beta-glucan bacteria in the gut. Not just that but beta-glucan also stimulates immune cell activity which is crucial for the activity of macrophages.

Research on animals has shown the potential of beta-glucan in complementing our immune system to fight off anthrax infection.

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Where Can You Get This Yeast?

Nutritional yeast might not be available in your typical grocery store. However, you can try and go to shops that mostly sell organic food or vegan shops.

To make things easier, you can simply purchase them online and they will immediately send them to your home. There will be many brands to choose from and we hope this helps you improve your overall diet.

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