

That's where nutritional yeast comes in: Just one serving every couple of days can help animal-free eaters meet their needs. Since we typically get B12 from animal products like eggs, meat, fish, and dairy, vegans and vegetarians often fall short, says Palinksi-Wade. Vitamin B12 is a big deal for producing red blood cells and maintaining a healthy nervous system-and deficiency can put you at risk for anemia. However, when it comes to nutritional yeast, that flavor is caused by a naturally-occurring compound called glutamate. “Umami is usually associated with products containing MSG,” she explains. The Best Egg Substitutes For Vegan Treats.Remember that umami flavor I mentioned? Because of nutritional yeast's potent umami vibes, a myth about it being loaded with the synthetic, flavor-enhancing monosodium glutamate (MSG) turned lots of healthy eaters off to the stuff, says McGrane. In addition to helping you feel full, fiber also promotes digestive health, says Hurley. With four grams per serving, nutritional yeast doesn’t skimp on the fiber, either. That means you'll not only feel satisfied after that bowl of cheese-free mac, but it will also help you maintain healthy muscle tone. But nutritional yeast, with an impressive 10 grams of protein per serving, is one of the few vegan options that does qualify as a complete protein, according to dietitian Elizabeth Hurley, RD. they don't contain all nine essential amino acids that animal proteins do. Most sources of plant protein are "incomplete" proteins-a.k.a. Thanks to its impressive nutritional label, this cheesy stuff can benefit plant-eaters and omnivores alike. It also offers a bit of iron and potassium.ħ benefits of nutritional yeast worth talking about. 420 percent of your daily vitamin B6 needs.630 percent of your daily vitamin B12 needs.That serving of Bragg nutritional yeast, for example, provides: “Even when not fortified, though, it is a significant source of other B vitamins and some trace minerals.” “If vitamin B12 is added, it is a good source of B12,” Angelone says. A solid source of protein, those cheesy flakes are a complete protein, meaning they providing all nine essential amino acids, says Angelone.īragg's nutritional yeast, like many, is fortified with a whole slew of B vitamins, including vitamin B12. In general, yep, nutritional yeast is pretty darn healthy. Here's what you can expect in a two-tablespoon serving of Bragg Nutritional Yeast, one of the most popular options in the game: Though every brand of nutritional yeast is slightly different, most have similar nutritional stats. So is nutritional yeast actually healthy?

It usually comes in either powder or flake form, so you can sprinkle it on just about anything, adds Kelli McGrane, RD, dietitian and advisor for Lose It!. You can find nutritional yeast in most grocery stores these days. The final product has nutty, umami flavor that mimics Parmesan. Typically, it's also fortified with nutrients-namely B vitamins-typically found in animal products, which is good news for anyone swapping nutritional yeast in for cheese, says Cassetty. pasteurized), harvested, washed, dried, and packaged.

The yeast is then deactivated with heat (a.k.a. The stuff is made by culturing a strain of yeast in a medium, like molasses or sugarcane, for several days, says Sonya Angelone, RD, dietitian and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. alive), though, the cells in nutritional yeast are deactivated (dead). Unlike the yeast used to bake bread, which is "activated" (a.k.a. Specifically, it's a species of the fungus called Saccharomyces cerevisiae, says Alissa Rumsey, RD, dietitian and owner of Alissa Rumsey Nutrition and Wellness. Yes, nutritional yeast is actually yeast.
