A lot of ingredients on the market today seem healthy at first, but when you come home and read the composition on the back of the package, it turns out that it’s actually not as good for you as you thought.
If you are following a particular diet, for example, a paleo diet, you should pay much attention to your food composition.
Cold weather is approaching, and you need some reliable sources of vitamins. This might leave you wondering – can you eat nutritional yeast on paleo?
If you are wondering if you can freely include this ingredient in your recipes and how does it work, continue reading this article, and you will find out.
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Paleo or Non-Paleo?
You all know the purpose of regular yeast – it is used to ferment the sugar and release carbon dioxide. In simple words – it’s what makes the bread grow.
There are more than 500 species of yeast, and nutritional yeast is one of them. They all vary in composition, and therefore only a few can fit into your paleo diet.
So, the question is – can you eat nutritional yeast on paleo?
Because nutritional yeast is not made out of sugar and starch, you are allowed to include it in your recipes for your paleo diet.
Is Nutritional Yeast Really Nutritional?
This type of yeast is very popular in nutrition for vegans and vegetarians. Still, not a lot of you are familiar with the fact that this ingredient is also paleo-friendly.
It often goes by the nickname “Nooch” among those who are lovers of this ingredient.
The name justifies the composition, and here it is:
| 20 calories |
| 0 g of fat |
| 2 g of carbohydrates |
| 1 g of fibers |
| 3 g of protein |
Nutritional yeast is also rich in vitamins:
- Vitamin B5 – 30% daily value
- Vitamin B12 – 40% daily value
- Vitamin B1 – 180% daily value
- Vitamin B6 – 140% daily value
The vitamin B in your nutritional yeast is responsible for:
- Healthy skin, hair, and nails
- Proper metabolism
- Supporting the digestive system
- Stable hormone production
Why Is This Good For Me?
Nutritional yeast has many health benefits to it, and here are some of the most important ones:
- It is low in carbohydrates – nutritional yeast is very low in carbohydrates, and that is a great thing because we all know-how, the less – the better.
- It has plenty of vitamin B – as we have seen earlier, nutrition is an excellent source of vitamin B. This little ingredient can provide you with 35-180% of the daily recommended value.
- B12 – although this vitamin is found in animal products and can’t be found in vegan products, B12 has successfully been fortified into this product. Don’t worry – it is entirely safe to consume it.
- It is rich in proteins – apart from health bombs like quinoa and hemp seeds, nutritional yeast is a rich source of protein. This means that this product contains all your necessary omega3 amino acids.
- It contains trace minerals – trace minerals include your daily intake of potassium, magnesium, and sodium. From two tablespoons, you can get 4-60% of your recommended value.
- A fair amount of antioxidants – antioxidants are good for you because they fight radical damage to the cells, which improves your health and protects you from various diseases.
- Beta-glucan and alpha-mannan – although carbohydrates are considered harmful for you, these two substances help fight certain bacteria and boost your immune system.
How To Use Nutritional Yeast
This healthy product can be used in various ways. If you are looking for new ideas, you can try some of these – you won’t be disappointed.
- You can use it to thicken and flavor soups – this is an excellent substitute for flour. A few tablespoons of this and your homemade soup will be delicious and creamy!
- You can use it to flavor paleo cheese – these two paleo ingredients go together perfectly. Nutritional yeast is a great flavor when you are on a dairy-free diet.
- You can sprinkle some of it on salads – nutritional yeast is an excellent addition to some healthy salads you are preparing. Sprinkle some nutritional yeast on your rich bowl of fruits for that cheesy flavor you like.
- You can use it to make paleo pesto – if you haven’t known this, nutritional yeast can serve as a substitute for parmesan cheese, and you can use it as an ingredient in making paleo pesto – a meal rich in fibers and protein.
- You can roast your vegetables with it – vegetables are more delicious with some seasoning. You can roast your broccoli, cauliflower, or even carrots with some nutritional yeast.
- You can transform it into nacho cheese sauce – nutritional yeast mixed with cashew and carrots equals some delicious nacho cheese sauce.
- Last but not least, you can use it to create a pasta-less mac-n-cheese – in this case, nutritional yeast represents a dairy-free cheese sauce that will blow your mind.
Careful With Storage
When storing cooking supplies like this, you must be very careful in order to do it properly.
If you are new to this product and have no idea where to put it in your kitchen, we are here to walk you through a quick process of how to deal with and store nutritional yeast.
- Step 1 – opt for nutritional yeast in flakes.
- Step 2 – after you come home, put them in an airtight container – you can use a glass jar or sealed plastic and put it in the pantry.
- Step 3 – if you have pets, don’t let them near this ingredient.
Properly stored nutritional yeast can last up to 1 year after it has been opened.
For safety reasons, you should, from time to time, check the look and smell.
Famous Recipes
This healthy ingredient can be a part of many delicious recipes.
If you need some inspiration to prepare something healthy this weekend, we are here to help with some famous nutritional yeast recipes that are paleo-friendly.
- Pepper Kale Chips – This is a very simple recipe flavored with some red pepper and garlic powder.
- Paleo Caramelized White Onion Pizza – this pizza has a delicious coconut flour crust, which gives a fantastic cheese flavor without dairy.
- Classic Cashew Cheese – this has already been mentioned before, and it is worth saying it again. This pretends nacho sauce is what you need.
- Cheese Paleo Crackers – if you have missed the processed food you once consumed, this will satisfy your cravings.
- Cashew Parmesan – it might look like cheese, but there is no cheese at all – and this is the magic of nutritional yeast.
- Broccoli Breadsticks – if you are looking for a quick weekend snack, this healthy snack is a great solution.
Can You Eat Nutritional Yeast On Paleo – Conclusion
Because nutritional yeast is not made out of sugar and starch, you are allowed to include it in your recipes for your paleo diet. It often goes by the nickname “Nooch,” and this type of yeast is very popular in nutrition for vegans and vegetarians.
Nutritional yeast is packed with vitamin B – vitamin B5, B12, B1, and B6. This vitamin is responsible for maintaining healthy skin, nails, hair, proper metabolism, and hormone production.
Nutritional yeast is very low in carbohydrates, and that is a great thing because we all know how the less – the better. It contains trace minerals, which include your daily intake of potassium, magnesium, and sodium. From two tablespoons, you can get 4-60% of your recommended value.
This healthy ingredient contains a fair amount of antioxidants, which are good for you because they fight radical damage to the cells, which improve your health and protect you from various diseases.
You can include nutritional yeast in your diet in many ways. You can use it to thicken and flavor soups. A few tablespoons of this and your homemade soup will be delicious and creamy! You can also use it to flavor paleo cheese. Nutritional yeast is a great flavor when you are on a dairy-free diet.
You can sprinkle some nutritional yeast on salads to get the cheesy flavor you want. You can use it to make paleo pesto – this can serve as a substitute for parmesan cheese.
If you are new to this ingredient when buying it, opt for nutritional flakes and store them in an airtight container in your kitchen pantry. If you have any pets, be careful and keep this away from them.
After you have opened it, it is good for a whole year. However, for safety reasons, you should still check it from time to time – the look and smell it so it doesn’t go bad.
People have come up with many different and tasty recipes where nutritional yeast is included. If you are searching for inspiration on what to make this weekend, here are a few of the most famous recipes made just for you: pepper kale chips, paleo caramelized white onion pizza, cashew parmesan, etc.