Brewer’s yeast is named so because it comes from the same fungus that’s used to ferment and make beer – Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is important to understand however that the yeast used for brewing is live while the brewer’s yeast commonly known as a nutritional supplement is deactivated. That means the microorganisms have been killed off through pasteurization or drying but the proteins, vitamins and minerals are still there. The Superhuman Food Pyramid recommends moderate use of brewer’s yeast because, while it is a good source of nutrients, its very nature carries some possible risks. Read on to find out the pros and cons of brewer’s yeast and its appropriate use in your quest to Become Superhuman… Brewer’s yeast is a typical favorite of those practicing a vegetarian diet because of the proteins and numerous B-complex vitamins that it provides. These vitamins are usually found in beef, fish and poultry. Regardless of dietary practice, this type of yeast can still adequately supply you with the following nutrients:
Besides those listed above, brewer’s yeast contains a notable amount of chromium. This mineral is found to decrease blood sugar levels. It can therefore potentially aid those suffering from diabetes by improving tolerance to glucose and reducing the need for insulin. One study tested a yeast-based supplement on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and found it to be effective. The dietary supplement used is called Sillix Donna and it is composed of the same microorganism that is brewer’s yeast. Some individuals are simply allergic to yeast. Sensitivity can be such that any yeast-based products, from beer to nutritional yeast supplements, could trigger the symptoms of stomach irritation, headaches and itchiness. Other types of medical conditions that increase sensitivity to yeast are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. These are the more severe types of inflammatory bowel diseases. If you happen to have a weak digestive system or are prone to such problems, you need to be extra cautious about taking brewer’s yeast.
Although chromium’s positive effects on blood sugar levels have been studied, it is still quite possible to consume too much of this mineral and go in the opposite direction of dangerously lowering blood sugar. This is a condition known as hypoglycemia. It would be safer to consult a doctor to figure out the safe amount of brewer’s yeast to include in your diet, especially if you’re already diabetic. Brewer’s yeast is commonly available in powdered form or as small flakes. It is also said to have a flavor similar to cheese which can give you an idea for its culinary uses. You can for example sprinkle a moderate amount of powdered brewer’s yeast on popcorn to make your own cheese-flavored variety of this snack. Salad dressings and toppings on pasta dishes are also possible substitute uses of the flake form of this yeast. The hydrolyzed yeast ingredient in soup mixes likely refers to brewer’s yeast. You can thus make a similar soup dish by adding a teaspoon or two in your own home-made broth.
It is often advised that brewer’s yeast be added at the end or after the food is cooked so that the heat doesn’t wipe out the B vitamins. Since it’s a good source of proteins, you can pop two or three tablespoons of brewer’s yeast into the blender along with whatever fruit you’re using for a power shake or smoothie. This will make an excellent revitalizing beverage after a hard work out. In the next post, I’ll tell you about the negative effects of processed sugar and why you should avoid it to succeed in your quest to Become Superhuman. In the meantime, if you care to jump ahead, here is a complete listing of the herbs, spices and sweeteners on Superhuman Food Pyramid: • High Fructose Corn Syrup If you have questions, comments or feedback about the pros and cons of brewer’s yeast, the Superhuman Food Pyramid, this website, or other aspects of Becoming Superhuman, then leave your thoughts below, as well as any tips you have on the pros and cons of brewer’s yeast.
March 1939, Volume 6, Issue 3, pp 161–169Vitamin B1 and liver extract in the treatment of non-specific chronic diarrhea and colitisDOI: 10.1007/BF02997039Cite this article as: Cheney, G. American Journal of Digestive Diseases (1939) 6: 161. ConclusionsChronic diarrheas of unknown etiology may respond almost specifically to the administration of Vitamin B1. Most cases will improve on oral therapy alone but some may require treatment by injection.A number of patients suffering from constipation predominately of the atonic type, occasional short bouts of diarrhea, mucus in the stools and varying degrees of abdominal distress, gas and general exhaustion (mucous colitis) respond favorably to treatment with Vitamin B1. The majority of these cases require treatment parenterally but some will show improvement on oral therapy alone.The majority of patients with idiopathic ulcerative colitis will develop a remission during the first month of therapy with concentrated liver extract administered parenterally.
This is borne out by the improvement which occurred in 18 of 19 cases so treated. The improvement is not only symptomatic but the characteristic ulcerations of the bowel tend to heal.The32 patients with chronic diarrhea and colitis which were treated with Vitamin B1 and with liver extract were ordinarily not cured, as exacerbations usually occurred after the treatment was stopped.The effectiveness of liver extract in the treatment of ulcerative colitis is apparently not due to Vitamin B1 or to Vitamin B2 but to some as yet unidentified substance contained in the extract. It seems probable that this substance improves the resistance of the colon to infection. Mercury is a common cause of chronic conditions related to intestinal dysfunction, such as ulcerative colitis, IBS, Crohn’s, and psoriasis. Mercury and food intolerances are linked as a common causes of chronic conditions related to leaky gut and intestinal dysfunction, such as ulcerative colitis, IBS, Crohn’s, eczema, psoriasis, food allergies, arthritis, ADHD, and autoimmune disease;
treatments that improve these conditions. When intestinal permeability is increased, food and nutrient absorption is impaired. Dysfunction in intestinal permeability can result in leaky gut syndrome, where larger molecules and toxins in the intestines can pass through the membranes and into the blood, triggering immune response. Progressive damage can occur to the intestinal lining, eventually allowing disease-causing bacteria, undigested food particles, and toxins to pass directly into the blood stream. Dysfunctions in intestinal permeability have been found to be associated with diseases, such as leaky gut syndrome (LGS), ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, CFS, eczema, psoriasis, food allergies, autoimmune disease, and arthritis. Symptoms commonly associated with LGS include: abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhea, anxiousness, chronic joint pain, chronic muscle pain, mental confusion, mood swings, poor memory, poor immunity and recurrent infections, bloating, fatigue.
Although there are also other causes of LGS, mercury and toxic metals have been found to be common toxic exposures that can cause increased intestinal permeability and intestinal dysfunction, as well as of the kidney epithelial and brush border cells. Mercury exposure also reduced the mucosal entry of sugars and amino acids to 80-90% of control levels in the small intestine cells within several minutes. Mercury exposure blocks intestinal nutrient transport by interacting directly with brush border membrane transport proteins. Mercury also causes increase of inflammatory cytokines such as TNFa, IL-6, and IL-1b. Mercury causes significant destruction of stomach and intestine epithelial cells, resulting in damage to stomach lining which along with mercury’s ability to bind to SH hydroxyl radical in cell membranes alters permeability and adversely alters bacterial populations in the intestines causing leaky gut syndrome with toxic, incompletely digested complexes in the blood and accumulation of heliobacter pylori, a suspected major factor in ulcers and stomach cancer and Candida albicans
, as well as poor nutrient absorption. Dental amalgam has been found by thousands of medical lab tests and by medical studies to be the largest source of mercury exposure in most people who have several amalgam fillings. Replacement of amalgam fillings and metal detoxification have been found to significantly improve the health of most with conditions related to bowel dysfunction and leaky gut syndrome. Other common causes or factors in leaky gut and the related conditions include food allergies and intolerances; drugs (NSAIDs, aspirin, stomach h2 blockers, steroids, etc.); dysbiosis (overgrowth of organisms due to antibiotic use and/or low probiotic levels); synergistic toxic exposures and chemical sensitivity; and inadequate digestive enzymes. While food allergies mediated by IgE can cause significant health effects, including leaky gut syndrome, these are usually easily identified by the immediateness of reactions or skin tests. Food intolerances mediated by IgG also commonly cause effects, including leaky gut syndrome, but the reactions are delayed and can be systemic and harder to identify.
Tests based on IgE, such as skin test or RAST, do not reliably identify such problems that are common factors in chronic health conditions and tests, such as ELISA, that measure both IgE and IgG are more reliable. Common causes of food intolerances include failure to breast feed babies for at least the first year of life, feeding table food in first year of life, use of antibiotics without adequate addition of probiotics, and eating the same foods every day. Food intolerances and food additives or processed foods that contain glutamate, aspartame, high-fructose corn syrup, dyes, etc. are common causes of leaky gut syndrome and neurological conditions such as ADHD. Food intolerances and IgG reactions lead to long lasting “immune complexes” that are factors in leaky gut related conditions as well as other conditions, such as Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, CFS, fibromyalgia, ADHD, etc. Inflammatory reactions to toxic metals, vaccines, food additives, food intolerances not only cause immune reactions but also reactions in the neurological microglial system.
This can cause brain fog, memory problems, and degenerative neurological conditions if prolonged chronic exposures. For example, virtually 100% of those with schizophrenic symptoms are found, when tested, to have food intolerance to wheat gluten or milk casein. Enzymatic blockages by chronic toxic metal exposures, such as vaccines or mercury, have been found to be a factor in food intolerances. Similarly this is the most common cause or factor in celiac disease and common cause of ataxia and diabetes. Similarly food allergies or additives, food intolerances, high sugar consumption, and antibiotic use with adequate probiotics have been found to be the most common causes of children’s ear infections. Clinical studies have found that diets high in flavonoids and cartenoids, including nutritional supplements such as buffered Vit C and natural E, selenium, omega-3 oils, probiotics are effective in preventing ear infections and other chronic conditions. These in addition to multiple B vitamins, the flavanoids curcumin, hesperidin, and quercetin are effective in preventing and treating leaky gut related conditions.
Crohn’s disease usually occurs at a relatively young age and results when an immune or autoimmune response cause increased inflammatory cytokines like TNFa, IL-6, and IL-1b, resulting in inflammation of the ileum or colon. This usually results in thinning of the bowel wall and often formation of ulcers on the intestinal lining. Functional neutrophil deficiencies are often a factor in Crohn’s disease. In addition to improvements in many patients after amalgam replacement and detoxification, diet and nutritional measures are usually effective at improving Crohn’s Disease. The 4-R program has seen good success in many patients. The program removes all foods where there is suspicion of allergy that might produce inflammation. Common allergens include wheat/gluten, dairy, eggs, peanuts, tomatoes, corn, and red meat. Additionally, elimination of gastrointestinal parasites, undesirable bacteria, fungus, and yeasts are carried out. Sometimes a treatment such as nystantin is used to eliminate yeast.
Then vital nutrients are replaced by dietary measures and supplementation of a good multivitamin and mineral, minerals found deficient such as iron, magnesium, calcium, selenium, zinc, iodine and vitamins, such as B-complex, B6, B12, and folic acid. Next the intestines are re-inoculated with friendly bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacilus bulgaricus.) Finally, measures are taken to repair the intestine to correct for the increased permeability. This is done by adding nutrients such as glutamine, pathothenic acid (B5), zinc, FOS, and vitamin C. DHEA and Butyrate have also been found effective in many patients at reducing inflammation. Supplements and other treatments that reduce intestinal permeability have also been found to be protective against and improve these conditions. Glutamine, berberine, probiotics, and vitamin D have been found to decrease intestinal permeability and protect against effects caused by leaky gut syndrome. Butyrate has been found to inhibit inflammation and carcinogenesis in the intestines and low butyrate levels are found in colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease.