Nutritional Yeast.. Vit B Rich!!!

What is Nutritional Yeast?

Don't knock it before you try it. Nutritional yeast has a cheesy, nutty flavor that makes it popular in vegan and vegetarian dishes. The supplement is a welcome addition loaded on baked potatoes, sprinkled in soup or on popcorn, and blended into a nondairy “cheese” sauce. The name may not be appetizing, but I'm sure you'll come to enjoy nutritional yeast's versatility and deliciousness.

So what is it?

Nutritional yeast is in the same family as edible mushrooms. It is an industrial micro-organism that has been commercially harvested for over 100 years, ever since Louis Pasteur and the invention of the microscope helped isolate yeast for harvesting. One brand of primary grown nutritional yeast, Red Star, grows the strains on cane and beet molasses. After fermentation, nutritional yeast is harvested, washed, pasteurized, and dried. The yeast is grown specifically for its nutritional content and is not to be confused with Brewer’s yeast, a byproduct of brewing beer, or active dry yeast, which is used to raise baked goods. You can buy nutritional yeast as powder or flakes and you can find it in health food or bulk food stores or online.

What Makes it Nutritional?

As the name implies, nutritional yeast is a powerhouse of vitamins, protein, fiber, and minerals. Nutritional yeast is a good source of B-complex vitamins because it includes thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin, (B3), pyridoxine (B6), and it’s one of the only vegetarian sources of cyanocobalamin (B12), making it an important (and popular) supplement for vegans. It also contains beta-glucans, which reduce blood lipid levels, complex carbohydrates, folic acid, and glutathione, an antioxidant that’s important for cellular defense mechanisms. Nutritional yeast is all-natural, sugar-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free. Two heaping tablespoons is all you need for a serving of nutritional yeast. It’s basically a multivitamin that you can eat—one with a yummy, cheesy flavor.

What can you do with it?

You can find cookbooks specifically dedicated to recipes using nutritional yeast. Many people like to sprinkle the supplement on their food but it can also be blended to make sauces or used as a batter for tofu. It’s often the main ingredient used to mimic dairy in vegan soy cheeses. Some people use nutritional yeast in stir-fries, deserts, tofu scramble, gravies, sandwiches, and spreads. It really is a versatile ingredient.