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| Nutritional Yeast |
Last updated: Nov 19, 2009 |
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There a variety of sources of what is often called “nutritional yeast”. One of these, and usually the best choice is certified brewer's yeast - a complete food, left over from the process of creating alcohol. Brewer's yeast is generally regarded as a "health food" because it is easily digested and has a high nutrient content.
Brewer’s yeast consists of the dried, pulverized cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a type of fungus. It is a rich source of the B-complex vitamins, all essential amino acids, and minerals, particularly chromium. It is considered a superior form of chromium, both in terms of quantity and bio-availability. High-quality brewer’s yeast powder or flakes contain as much as 60mcg of chromium per Tablespoon (15gm). Brewer’s yeast should not be confused with other forms of yeast like baker’s yeast, other nutritional yeasts, or torula yeast, which are low in chromium. When in doubt, inquire about the chromium content.
When using brewer's yeast, start with 1 to 2 teaspoons daily because it may cause gas in some individuals. As you tolerate it, gradually increase your dose to 1 to 2 tablespoons, watching how you feel as you do. If symptoms improve, you have a new power-packed food that may provide considerable health benefits. If symptoms worsen, you may have a chronic Candida infection in which case this supplement is not right for you.
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 Nutritional Yeast can help with the following: | | | | | | Digestion |  Diarrhea | A thoroughly researched yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii, has been used in Europe for control of nonspecific diarrhea for several decades. Controlled studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile colitis.
Brewer’s yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, perhaps by changing the bacterial flora in the large intestine, may be helpful in the treatment of some cases of infectious diarrhea, but to a lesser degree. |
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Immunity |
 Weakened Immune System
 Immune System Imbalance (TH2 Dominance)| | EpiCor is a revolutionary dietary ingredient that is creating an entirely new category of immune health products. It is an all-natural, high-metabolite immunogen that nourishes the body’s immune system. EpiCor is an all natural yeast-based product derived from Baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) through a multi-stage fermentation and drying process.
The ingredient is manufactured by Embria Health Sciences, a unit of Iowa-based animal feed supplier Diamond V Mills. It can be ordered by anyone from Internet suppliers.
Researchers recruited 25 healthy participants (average age 27.6, average BMI 26.2 kg per sq. m, 13 women) and randomly assigned them to receive daily EpiCor supplements (500 mg) or placebo (brown rice flour mixed with 1 per cent molasses and 1 per cent tamari) for five weeks.
The red blood cell portion of the blood (hematocrit) increased amongst people in the EpiCor group, said the researchers. The number of red blood cells did not increase, but the volume of red blood cells (RBC) increased by about seven per cent. No significant change in the hematocrit was observed in the placebo group.
“We conclude that the consumption of EpiCor resulted in production of healthier RBC, since their numbers did not change, but their volume (as measured by the hematocrit) and content of haemoglobin increased compared to baseline,” stated the researchers.
The subjects consuming the yeast fermentate also experienced a mild increase in saliva levels of sIgA, an antibody that plays an important role in immunity of the mucosa.
“Saliva IgA is the immunoglobulin which protects mucosal surfaces from microbial invaders,” wrote the researchers. “While the data did not reach statistical significance, it suggested that EpiCor consumption supports immune protection across mucosal surfaces.”
This result led to a subsequent 8-week open-label study with the 22 people, where statistical significance was reached, said the researchers.
Furthermore, an increase in levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) was observed in people receiving the yeast fermentate supplement. This result indicated an anti-inflammatory role for the supplement.
An impact on seasonal allergies was also noted by the researchers. Participants in the placebo group experienced an increase in seasonal allergies, but this was not matched by people in the EpiCor group, said the researchers.
“The timing of the study was such that seasonal allergies started shortly after the study commenced, and we believe that this is an important factor for understanding these data,” said the researchers.
“This data should be seen in the context of the subjective comments, where several participants in the EpiCor group reported an absence of their usual seasonal allergies, and some reported that allergies appeared after consumption of EpiCor was stopped.
“It is therefore possible that EpiCor was protective against allergies, at least in some participants,” they added.
[The Open Nutrition Journal Volume 2, pp.68-75 (2008)] |
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Skin-Hair-Nails |
Adult Acne| | High-chromium yeast is known to improve glucose tolerance and enhance insulin sensitivity [Diabetes 1980:29, pp.919-25.]. Although there is no difference in blood glucose tolerance tests between patients with and without acne, skin biopsies revealed that the acne patients' skin glucose tolerance is significantly impaired. Based on this it would be appropriate to describe acne as "skin diabetes" [Can Med Assoc J 1959:80, pp.629-32]. High-chromium yeast has been reported in an uncontrolled study to induce rapid improvement in patients with acne [Med Hypoth 1984:14, pp.307-10]. |
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KEY | | May do some good | | | Likely to help | | | Highly recommended |
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Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever. Margaret Cho 