Is yeast harmful to the human body?

Yeast is needed in everyone's life. When we want to steam buns or make pastries, we need to make the dough rise first, and yeast is generally needed to rise the dough. Yeast is a fungus that allows dough to rise quickly, saving everyone a lot of time. But some people do not usually use yeast because they are worried that it may harm human health. So, is yeast harmful to the human body?

Yeast is a single-celled higher microorganism belonging to the fungus family. The diameter is about 6μm, which is about the same size as the red blood cells in human blood, and the shapes are mainly spherical, oval and elliptical. The suitable growth temperature is 20-30℃; the suitable living acidity is a weakly acidic environment of PH4-5. It likes to live in substances rich in sugars. It can survive in the presence or absence of oxygen. It can reproduce quickly in a water environment and form ascospores in a dry environment. Once the conditions are suitable, it will grow and reproduce.

The yeast we usually refer to is generally a variety of single-cell fungi that can ferment sugars. They can be said to be the earliest microorganisms used in the history of human civilization. Simply consuming this kind of yeast in moderation will generally not cause serious health problems, but the taste is not very good, and generally no one will consume yeast powder directly.

Yeast has many uses and is itself a nutritious, edible fungus. Yeast tablets are a state-approved drug with a standard number. The trade name is Shimusheng. The instructions state: prevent and treat malnutrition, indigestion, lack of appetite; prevent and treat B vitamin deficiency, such as vitamin B1 deficiency, beriberi, multiple neuritis, niacin deficiency, etc.

Yeast itself also contains yeast metabolites. First of all, as for yeast itself, it is a fungus that is rich in protein, carbohydrates, lipids, as well as various vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Experiments have shown that the protein contained in 1 kilogram of dry yeast is equivalent to the protein content of 5 kilograms of rice, 2 kilograms of soybeans or 2.5 kilograms of pork. Therefore, the nutritional content of steamed buns and bread is 3 to 4 times higher than that of unleavened pancakes and noodles, and the protein content is nearly 2 times higher. Secondly, the metabolites of yeast are harmless to the human body. Yeast is a facultative anaerobic bacterium that can perform both aerobic and anaerobic respiration, and its products include water, ethanol and carbon dioxide. These products are harmless to the human body. At the same time, some other chemicals produced by yeast during the metabolic process can also improve the flavor of the product and optimize the taste of the product.

Yeast has a wide range of applications in the food industry, medical industry, and animal husbandry, whether it is thousands of years of history or modern industrial civilization. It has been proven that yeast used for making dough is beneficial to humans and has no harm. Yeast is now applicable to various fields.