Magic Nutrition of Yeast and human health

Yeast has a long history of application in human nutrition. About 4000 years ago, ancient Egyptians had started to use yeast to make bread. Archaeologists exploring Egyptian heritage sites found early grinding stones and baking chambers for making yeasted bread as well as drawings of 4000-year-old bakeries and breweries.

As early as the Yin and Shang dynasties, ancient Chinese had started to use yeast to brew liquor(Below picture shows ancient Chinese liquor cup). In the Han Dynasty Chinese began using yeast to make steamed bread and other pastries.

But at that time, people did not realize that it was yeast played the key role of fermentation. It was not until the 18th century, Louis Pasteur found that yeast played a key role in fermentation, then a new chapter of yeast application in human nutrition was opened.

The application of yeast in human nutrition can be roughly divided into four fields: Yeast whole-cell nutrition, yeast bio-transformation, yeast functional extracts and yeast probiotics.

1. Yeast Whole-cell Nutrition

Yeast is a single-celled microorganism whose nutritional composition are similar to human body. By absorbing nutrients, yeast can transform them into cells and becomes a nutritious and balanced healthy food. The nutrition characters of yeast can be summarized in 3 'Less' & 4 'Excellent'. It is rich in high-quality protein, complete B vitamins, essential minerals and dietary fiber, while has the characteristics of less content of fat, calories and cholesterol comparing to normal foods.

3 'Less' & 4 'Excellent' characters of Yeast Nutrition

With carefully screened strains and patented process, it can ensure to provide adequate nutrition. Different from normal beer yeast or brewing yeast, nutritional yeast is more suitable for human health since the nutrients in yeast are abundant and can be easily absorbed by human beings.

In western countries such as Europe and the United States, nutritional yeast is a common food and has been trusted by consumers for decades for targeted benefits and overall health. nutritional yeast is very suitable for the nutritional needs of modern people and is an ideal raw material for the functional foods such as diet foods and snack foods.

2. Yeast Bio-transformation

As a natural and nutritional food source, yeast replicates the mineral transformation process performed by most plants (i.e. garlic, broccoli). This natural plant process converts inorganic (low bioavailability, potentially toxic) minerals to safer organic (high bioavailability) forms for improved nutrient utilization.

Yeast replicates the mineral conversion process performed by plants

During the fermentation process, yeast transform the inorganic elements into organic form, which reduces the irritation and toxicity and improves the bioavailability. we developed selenium yeast, zinc yeast and chromium yeast, which have been widely used in dietary supplements, functional foods, dairy products, beverages and other fields.

3. Yeast Functional Extracts

As a whole cell, yeast can be enriched with various functional actives through optimization and adjustment of the fermentation process, these functional actives, such as yeast beta-glucan, yeast peptides, nucleic acids and glutathione, can be extracted and then applied to functional foods.

For example, yeast beta-glucan is a kind of active polysaccharides mainly exists in the yeast cell wall. Different from beta-glucan sourced from barley, oat or mushroom, the unique molecular structure of yeast beta-glucan makes it have multiple functions such as immune enhancement and anti-infection. It has been approved as a novel food ingredient by many countries and can be applied in baby foods, dietary supplements, functional foods and beverages, etc.

4. Yeast Probiotics

Yeast can also be used as probiotics. Discovered in the 1920s and after nearly a century of research, Saccharomyces Boulardii has been found to have a significant effect on anti-diarrhea caused by various factors. Certain strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae can also maintain the balance of intestinal flora.

Saccharomyces Boulardii are widely used as probiotics all around the world.