Brewer's yeast: properties and benefits of this supplement

Do you know what brewer's yeast is? Have you ever taken it? It is a product especially indicated to improve the health of our hair, skin and nails.

Its health benefits are due to its high content of nutrients and essential amino acids. In this article we will know its main characteristics, composition and also uses and benefits.

• Related article: "Discover the 10 superfoods that you should include in your diet"

What is brewer's yeast?

Brewer's yeast It is a product derived from the fermentation of some cereals, such as wheat or barley. This fermentation takes place thanks to a microorganism, which is called "Saccharomyces cerevisiae".

Brewer's yeast is used especially to make bread, wine, and beer. However, it is also a widely used nutritional supplement.

Brewer's yeast has the advantage that it is beneficial for the hair and skin; This is because it provides a series of proteins of high biological value, since it contains each and every one of the essential amino acids. On the other hand, it also provides other kinds of benefits for our health, as we will see throughout the article.

How can it be taken?

Brewer's yeast, as a supplement, is marketed in different formats. We can find it in liquid, powder or capsule / tablet format. It is generally taken three times a day, and is accompanied by other foods at different dinners / meals. With food it is better absorbed.

Source

The use of brewer's yeast is actually very ancient, and already in ancient Egypt it was used. Thus, brewer's yeast was used especially as a medicinal supplement (that is, for medicinal purposes). Some famous philosophers of the time highlighted its properties, such as Hippocrates, Paracelsus and Dioscorides.

At the end of the 19th century, Dr. Carlsberg, a doctor of botany, took advantage of the microorganisms contained in brewer's yeast to obtain yeast from a single cell. This he did thanks to the great reproductive activity that these microorganisms have.

Later, in 1930, another Doctor, Dr. Heinrich Metz, obtained yeast in liquid form; this yeast contained all the nutritional components of the "original" yeast.

Composition and nutrients

Brewer's yeast contains a large number of nutrients. Let's see what they are next.

1. Protein

The proteins contained in brewer's yeast are unicellular; These proteins contain all the essential amino acids considered by the WHO (World Health Organization). Specifically, it contains a large amount of the following amino acids: lysine, isoleucine and threonine.

2. Minerals and trace elements

Brewer's yeast also contains large amounts of minerals and trace elements. These two compounds are very important for our body to function properly.

Some of the trace elements it contains are: selenium (with antioxidant effects) and chromium (facilitates the metabolism of fats and sugars).

3. Vitamins

Vitamins are another nutrient in brewer's yeast. Specifically, yeast contains water-soluble vitamins of the B complex (vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6…). It also contains folic acid and biotin-pantothenate.

These last two substances facilitate essential enzyme reactions for the body. In addition, they also have the function of activating the respiration of cells.

4. Fiber

Fiber is another compound in brewer's yeast. Specifically, it contains 18% of fiber dietetics. This makes it a good prebiotic food, that is, it favors the development and maintenance of the intestinal flora (the bacterial flora).

5. Others

Another important component of brewer's yeast is glutathione, in turn composed of three amino acids (cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine). The main characteristic of glutathione is that it has antioxidant effects; in addition, it facilitates the transport of minerals and amino acids.

Benefits for skin, hair and nails

Brewer's yeast, when used as a nutritional supplement, offers great benefits for our hair and skin health. In addition, it is also beneficial for our nails.

This is thanks to the nutrients that yeast contributes to our body (vitamins, minerals, proteins ...). How do they work? These nutrients, in turn, promote the formation of keratin, the protein necessary for our nails and hair to grow and stay healthy.

On the other hand, keratin also protects the epidermis from external aggressions, especially environmental (climatic) ones.

Since both the skin, nails and hair are constantly growing, they need special care and an adequate supply of nutrients. What can happen when we stop taking care of these three parts of the body? Let's see it.

1. Skin

The skin becomes dry and flaky when it lacks nutrients. That is, it becomes dehydrated. This lack of nutrients unbalances the functioning of the sebaceous glands of the skin, causing an unhealthy appearance of it. In addition, as a result of all this, granites or certain imperfections can also appear.

2. Nails

In the case of nails, if they lack nutrients, their appearance also worsens; in addition, they become brittle and squishy. White spots may also appear on them.

3. Hair

Finally, the hair can become brittle, brittle, malnourished and dull when we do not provide the nutrients you need (or excessively fatty), and that we would solve with brewer's yeast, for example. Other factors can play a role, such as stress or an unbalanced diet.

How can brewer's yeast benefit?

Basically, and as we have advanced, what brewer's yeast provides is proteins of high biological value; This is so because it contains all the amino acids considered essential by the WHO. In addition to proteins, it also provides other beneficial nutrients for our skin, hair and nails.

Specifically, what the essential amino acids in brewer's yeast do is promote the recovery of the shine of our hair. They also give shine to the skin and nails.

On the other hand, in addition to containing essential amino acids, brewer's yeast also contains sulfur amino acids, such as cysteine. These amino acids, as we have seen, promote the synthesis of keratin, a fundamental protein that is part of the skin, nails and hair. In addition, they also regulate excess sebum.

Finally, another component of yeast, already mentioned (biotin-pantothenate) plays an essential role in the growth and maintenance of skin, nails and hair.

By way of synthesis

The idea that should be left to us from brewer's yeast is that it is a product that derives from the fermentation of some cereals such as wheat or barley. It is consumed as a supplement / nutritional supplement, due to the large amount of nutrients it provides (proteins, vitamins, minerals, fiber ...).

What's more, proteins provided by yeast are of high biological value (very beneficial for our body).

Its properties make it a product especially suitable for maintaining healthy skin.as well as healthy and strong nails and hair.

That is, if we have soft nails or with white spots, brittle hair with an unhealthy appearance, and / or skin flaked or dehydrated, brewer's yeast can be a very good option to improve the health and appearance of these three zones of the body.

Bibliographic references

• Estrella, V., Nipotti, J. and Orive, M. (2015). The skin and its nutrients. Argentine Journal of Dermatology, 96 (2).

• Grazioli, S. (2014). Cosmetic chemistry in the general field. Act Terap Dermatol, 37 (1): 60-67.

• WHO (2000). ICD-10. International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition. Madrid. Pan American.

• Peralta, M.F., Miazzo, R.D, and Nilson, A. (2008). Brewer's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in broiler feed. REDVET. Electronic Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 9 (10): 1-11.