Yes, brewer’s and nutritional yeast are not the same, however, the differences between them are not very prominent. Still we have sorted out some of them from which you can understand the nature, composition and uses of both. Read on…
Nutritional yeast and brewer’s yeast have ample similarities, yet they shouldn’t be considered the same. Both are derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the yeast is used in deactivated form. Brewer’s yeast and nutritional yeast are produced by harvesting the yeast for one week. It’s cultured along with beet, sugarcane and molasses for increasing its nutrient load. It also thrives well on substrates like bread, sugarcane, mushrooms, fruits, etc. Often brewer’s yeast is marketed as nutritional yeast because it is rich in vitamins, proteins, amino acids and minerals.
Uses of Yeast
We explain you some of the most significant uses of nutritional yeast and brewer’s yeast over here.
- Since both these varieties are rich in vitamin B complex, it forms an excellent health supplement. Vitamin B aids in metabolism of fatty acids, proteins and carbohydrates.
- Both these varieties are available in the form of powder, flake, liquid, pills and tablets. The dosage is determined by doctors and you can consume according to the requirement of your body.
- Nutritional yeast makes delighting recipes. You can have them with savories and snacks. You can top it on popcorn and or use as a condiment for different types of recipes.
- Chromium, present in Brewer’s yeast suppresses appetite through which you can avoid overeating. Brewer’s yeast is also helpful for people suffering from high blood sugar, cholesterol, hypoglycemia and obesity.
Differences at a Glance
Despite all these similarities, nutritional yeast is different from brewer’s yeast. Differences exist mainly in their texture, composition, taste and use. We explain you the most significant differences over here.
| Brewer’s Yeast | Nutritional Yeast |
| Brewer’s yeast is used for making beer. It has the ability to ferment the raw materials used for manufacturing beer. | It’s specifically used for making parmesan cheese and faux cheese. Nutritional cheese is not used in the beer industry. |
| The characteristic bitter flavor of brewer’s yeast comes in beer. Recipes prepared with brewer’s yeast have strong taste. | Nutritional yeast has cheesy and nutty flavor. It has extensive use in the dairy industry owing to the creamy texture it has. |
| Brewer’s yeast can be consumed by all, i.e vegetarians, vegans and non vegetarians. | Vegans and vegetarians prefer consuming nutritional yeast as its nutritional value is much higher. |
| Chromium content is higher in brewer’s yeast. It’s due to this reason that diabetic patients are asked to consume brewer’s yeast. | Amount of chromium present in nutritional yeast is less than that of Brewer’s yeast. |
| Selenium and potassium are present in brewer’s yeast. | The quantity of potassium is less than Brewer’s yeast. Nutritional yeast is devoid of selenium. |
| Brewer’s yeast lacks one or more essential amino acids. | Nutritional yeast comprises all the essential amino acids (18). This makes it an excellent supplement for muscle growth. |
| Brewer’s yeast is a rich source of glucan and fiber. | The amount of glucan and fiber present in nutritional yeast is less than brewer’s yeast. |
| The levels of vitamin B in brewer’s yeast is less than that of nutritional yeast. | Nutritional yeast contains high amounts of vitamin B, which is why it forms a significant part of vegan and vegetarian diet. |
| Brewer’s yeast is usually consumed for improving health conditions. | Nutritional yeast, although has health benefits, is used mostly for culinary purposes. |
I hope you have found the article informative enough. You can incorporate yeast in your diet depending upon the requirement of your body. Although the differences exist in composition of nutrients, both are healthy and are useful at different levels. Also check the expiry date of the products and make sure you buy the best quality of yeast from the market.
