Monday, April 4, 2011

Nutritional Yeast: Friend or Foe?

Nutritional Yeast
Yeast is considered by many to be one of the most valuable nutrients available. It is a complete protein and contains more protein than meat. Yeast is an excellent source of B-vitamins including B-12 and it contains the glucose tolerance factor that has been reported to help in the regulation of blood sugar. It is a single-celled fungi present in the air around us and on fruits and grains - it converts various types of sugar to alcohol. The earliest recorded use was in 1550 BC in Egypt. But it is only during the last few decades that the outstanding health benefits of nutritional yeast have been researched.

Nutritional yeast is grown on mineral enriched molasses and used as a food ingredient. At the end of the growth period, the culture is pasteurized to kill the yeast. Live yeast is very different because it continues to grow in the intestine and actually uses up the vitamin B in the body instead of replenishing the supply.

Nutritional yeast contains 18 amino acids (forming the complete proten) and 15 minerals. Being rich in the B-complex vitamins, it is vital in many ways and particularly good for stress reduction. The B-complex vitamins help make nutritional yeast such a valuable supplement, especially to the vegetarian. It is one of the rare vegetarian sources of B12. One element of yeast is the trace mineral chromium, also known as the Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF). This is necessary to regulate blood sugar and is important for diabetics and people with a tendency toward low blood sugar.

Information taken from Wholefood Farmacy. For information on ordering any of their great products, visit my webpage at: www.crystals.wholefoodfarmacy.org.

2 comments:

Debra said...

Very cool post~ you learn something new everyday!

Blessings, Debra
Raw Vegan Diet

Unknown said...

It does not contain B12 unless it has been fortified. So if you are on a vegan diet look for B12 fortified nutritional yeast.

Mark Osborne - VeganHealthAndFitness.com