As its name signifies, brewer’s yeast is an ingredient in the fermentation of beer and ale. A single-cell fungus, it scientific name is Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The type of brewer’s yeast actually used in brewing has a bitter taste, but a second variety, grown on sugar beets specifically for nutritional purposes, has a pleasant, nutty flavor when mixed into cereal and baked goods or sprinkled on popcorn. This yeast supplies a number of essential nutrients and may offer several health benefits.
Like soy, brewer’s yeast is a rich source of complete vegetarian protein, according to the book “Encyclopedia of Healing Foods” by Michael Murray, ND. Murray reports that a 1-tablespoon serving of brewer’s yeast contains 8 grams of protein, which is between 14 and 18 percent of an adult’s daily needs. The same serving supplies several essential minerals, including 32 micrograms of selenium and 95 micrograms of chromium. Brewer’s yeast is a good source of all the B vitamins except vitamin B12; B vitamins support a healthy nervous system and also help the body metabolize carbohydrates, fats and proteins for energy. This yeast is also a probiotic and can support healthy digestion.
A tablespoon of brewer’s yeast supplies three to four times the recommended dietary allowance of chromium for adults. This trace mineral may help your body better utilize insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, which makes it an important nutrient for diabetics and pre-diabetics. A study published in the “Saudi Medical Journal” in 2000 found that both chromium and brewer’s yeast boosted insulin sensitivity in participants with Type 2 diabetes, with some people no longer requiring insulin after supplementation. Subjects experienced more positive results with brewer’s yeast, which was better absorbed.
The same study in “Saudi Medical Journal” also found that brewer’s yeast supplementation increased levels of HDL, the “good” cholesterol, in subjects with Type 2 diabetes. HDL helps carry cholesterol through the bloodstream to the liver for excretion, and a higher level is advantageous to cardiovascular health. However, the University of Maryland Medical Center cautions that not all research studies have indicated positive results for the use of brewer’s yeast for cholesterol management.
Because of the probiotic content of brewer’s yeast, the NYU Langone Medical Center cites it as a possible treatment for a variety of digestive disorders. These include colitis caused by the bacterium C. difficile, diarrhea from antibiotic use, irritable bowel syndrome and traveler’s diarrhea resulting from travel to hot climates. The medical center also reports on a study published in the “Urologic Nursing Journal” in 2008 that found brewer’s yeast effective both in preventing colds and flu and in reducing the symptoms of those illnesses.
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Brewer’s Yeast
- NYU Langone Medical Center: Brewer’s Yeast
- Encyclopedia of Healing Foods; Michael Murray, ND
- Institute of Medicine: Dietary Reference Intakes - Macronutrients
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Chromium
- Saudi Medical Journal: The Effects of Inorganic Chromium and Brewer's Yeast Supplementation on Glucose Tolerance, Serum Lipids and Drug Dosage in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes
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