Nutritional Yeast?
Ok so… you might be thinking what I was thinking… “what the what?!”. I had no idea there were different kinds of yeast until I started my educational journey. Apparently, there’s a type of yeast we should all be knowledgeable about. It’s called (you guessed it), nutritional yeast. Sure there’s baker’s yeast (the one we’re all familiar with) and brewers yeast (ya know, for beer), but who knew there was another useful yeast?
What’s it got to offer?
For those of you that are vegan (though it’s excellent for all dietary preferences), you’re going to want to pay extra attention to this next part. Nutritional yeast offers complete protein and a multitude of B vitamins, perfect for those that may struggle with a B12 deficiency while choosing to go meatless. Adding this staple to your diet ups the ante in sold vitamins and nutrients. To list a few - Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, zinc, selenium, biotin and potassium can all be found in nutritional yeast. As always, check the label on any product to verify it’s nutritional value. Non-fortified versions are a personal preference of mine. May I recommend a brand that checks out —> Sari’s Food Co.
Now on to the good stuff… How can I use it?
Nutritional yeast is so easy to incorporate. It has a cheesy, nutty flavor making it awesome for sprinkling over popcorn or adding to soups and sauces as a thickener. Dips and salad dressings are great with a little mix of nutritional yeast as well.
Consumption of about a Tbsp or 2 a day is considered ideal. More than you will likely need for any recipe. Anything above and beyond an 1/8 cup becomes worrisome only because of the Niacin in the mix. Too much niacin per day can cause unpleasant side effects. A little goes a long way. And bonus, nutritional yeast can last up to 2 years if kept sealed in a cool dry place. Longevity at its finest!
What’s the verdict?
I think it’s safe to say that finding a way to boost your vitamins/nutrients in a super simple way is ALWAYS a no-brainer. But I’ll let you decide.
Let me know in the comments if you try it out and what you think!
Bye for now :)
Sources to note:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nutritional-yeast
https://vegfaqs.com/how-much-nutritional-yeast-per-day-is-too-much/