HealthNotes

This Popcorn Topping Is an Excellent Source of B Vitamins

Do you shake nutritional yeast onto your popcorn for an umami flavor explosion? If so, do you know what it is and which nutrients it contains? Nutritional yeast is a deactivated form of a strain of the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Because it’s made specifically to be used as a food, it’s grown on a medium such as molasses, and tends to be lower in nutrients than brewer’s yeast. To boost its nutrient content, manufacturers frequently fortify the growing medium with minerals and vitamins. Although the nutrient content of fortified yeast products can vary substantially, in general, two tablespoons of nutritional yeast flakes is an excellent source of vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12, and a good source of vitamin B5. Its protein content is approximately 40% by weight, and it contains all of the essential amino acids. Nutritional yeast can also be a good to excellent source of minerals like iron, zinc, selenium, and chromium.

Source: The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods