Sweet Healthy Way blog and online magazine asked Dr. Kantor about nutritional yeast.
What is Nutritional Yeast?
Nutritional yeast is grown from fungi, it is inactive yeast made from sugarcane and beet molasses. In the scientific form saccharomyces cerevisiae, or sugar eating fungus, yeast cells use the sugar for energy.
This yeast is yellow in color and comes in flake, granules or powder-like form.
What are the Health Benefits?
There are numerous health benefits. It is rich in B vitamins, provides a complete source of protein (providing 9 grams per serving), folates, thiamine, niacin, and riboflavin. It is gluten free, has no added sugar, is low in sodium, has no preservatives and is low in fat. Some additional health benefits include improving the immune system, lowering cholesterol, reducing the risks of certain cancers, has antiviral and antibacterial properties and improves digestion.
How is it used?
It cannot be used as traditional yeast like baking bread etc. It can be used in baking for very short periods of time but is mostly used as a condiment for its flavor and health benefits.