Brewers Yeast

Brewers yeast is yeast used to make beer and can also be grown specifically to make nutritional supplements. It is a rich source of minerals (particularly chromium), protein, and the B-complex vitamins. Brewers yeast is bitter in taste and should not be confused with baker's yeast, nutritional yeast, or torula yeast as these forms of yeast are low in chromium. Chromium is an essential trace mineral that helps the body maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Brewers yeast is often used as a source of B-complex vitamins and chromium. The B-complex vitamins in brewers yeast include B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), and H (biotin). These vitamins help break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, which provide the body with energy. They also support the nervous system, help maintain the muscles used for digestion, and promote the health of skin, hair, eyes, mouth, and liver.
Some consider B-complex vitamins to be important during times of physical and/or emotional stress. Similarly, the B complex is considered an important nutrient following an injury. Therefore, sources of vitamin B may be recommended during recovery, for example, from a wound or a burn.
Some studies suggest that chromium supplements may help individuals with diabetes. People with diabetes either do not produce enough insulin-a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life-or cannot use the insulin that their bodies produce. Chromium may reduce blood sugar levels as well as the amount of insulin needed by individuals with this condition. Given that brewers yeast is a rich source of chromium, this may prove to be a valuable nutritional supplement for people with diabetics, particularly because brewers yeast is more easily absorbed than other sources of chromium. This would particularly apply to people with type II (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. This also means that any diabetic planning to use brewers yeast should get medical advice first.
As stated earlier, brewers yeast is an important source of chromium. This mineral can help lower LDL ("bad" cholesterol) levels in the blood and raise HDL ("good" cholesterol) levels. In addition, some experts suggest that other factors found in brewers yeast also help lower cholesterol.
Brewers yeast is available in powder, tablet, and liquid forms.
Individuals with frequent yeast infections should avoid taking brewers yeast as this supplement may aggravate symptoms.
Brewers yeast contains a significant amount of tyramine, a substance that should be avoided by individuals taking antidepressant medications known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Examples of MAOIs include phenelzine, tranylcypromine, pargyline, selegiline (also used for Parkinson's disease), and isocarboxazid. This interaction may lead to "hypertensive crisis," a rapid and severe increase in blood pressure that is characterized by nausea and vomiting, headache, and irregular heartbeat. This reaction may even result in a heart attack or stroke.