What does yeast do?

Yeast is the earliest microorganism in the history of human civilization. it is the general name of several families of single-celled fungi, such as ascomycetes, basidiomycetes, etc., which can survive in an anoxic environment. There are more than 1000 species known to be widely distributed in nature. They mainly grow in a slightly acidic, humid sugar-containing environment. Let's take a look at the role of yeast.

What is the function of yeast?

1. Making hair noodles: yeast hair noodles are completed through the biological process of yeast fermentation and improve their nutritional value. they are divided into fresh yeast and dry yeast, which are edible and nutritious single-celled microorganisms. nutritionally, it is called "inexhaustible source of nutrition". In addition to proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, yeast is also rich in a variety of vitamins, minerals and enzymes.

2. Protect the liver: there is a strong antioxidant in yeast, which can protect the liver and has a certain detoxification effect. Selenium, chromium and other minerals in yeast can anti-aging, anti-tumor, prevent arteriosclerosis, and improve human immunity. After fermentation, a kind of phytic acid in flour that affects the absorption of elements such as calcium, magnesium and iron can be decomposed, thus improving the absorption and utilization of these nutrients.

3. Loose products: yeast produces a large amount of carbon dioxide in dough fermentation and is left in the reticular tissue due to the formation of gluten network tissue, which makes the baked food tissue loose and porous and the volume increases. There is also the effect of increasing the expansion of gluten, so that the carbon dioxide produced during fermentation can be retained in the dough and improve the gas-holding capacity of the dough.

4. Improve the flavor: the dough experienced a series of complex biochemical reactions in the process of fermentation, resulting in the unique fermentation flavor of bread products. At the same time, it forms the unique aroma, rich and appetizing baking aroma of bread products.

5. Increase nutrition: the main component of yeast is protein, which accounts for almost half of the dry matter of yeast, and the content of essential amino acids for human body is sufficient, especially the lack of lysine in grains. On the other hand, it contains a lot of vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and niacin. Therefore, yeast can improve the nutritional value of fermented food.

What is the harm of yeast?

1. Candida: can cause thrush and urethritis and other infectious diseases. Candida albicans in human body mainly appears in the oral cavity, intestinal tract, urethra and other parts of the mucous membrane, a small part of life on the surface of the skin. Under normal circumstances, Candida albicans exists as yeast cell type and has no pathogenicity. Under the induction of some factors, such as immune deficiency, excessive use of antibiotics and so on, Candida albicans are transformed into mycelial growth and multiply, invading the mucosal system of patients and causing inflammation.

2. Cryptococcus albicans: Cryptococcus albicans is a budding yeast that is generally harmless to humans, but it may infect patients with immune system defects and cause a disease called cryptococcosis. In addition, there is a case of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by Cryptococcus neoformans infection in the lungs of a patient undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.

3. Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Saccharomyces cerevisiae is not generally considered to be a conditional pathogen, but a small number of reports show that Saccharomyces cerevisiae has the ability to cause disease.

What is the use of yeast?

1. Edible yeast is a dry yeast powder or granular product that does not have the ability of fermentation and can be obtained by recovering the yeast mud from the brewery or specially cultivated and dried for the requirements of human nutrition. Yeast autolysate can be used as an additive in meat, jam, soup, cheese, bread, vegetables and seasonings, and as a food nutritional fortifier in baby food and health food.

2. Medicinal use: yeast is rich in physiologically active substances such as proteins, vitamins and enzymes, which are medically made into yeast tablets such as mother raw tablets, which are used to treat dyspepsia caused by unreasonable diet. People with weak physique can adjust their metabolic function to a certain extent. In the process of yeast culture, such as adding some special elements to make yeast containing selenium, chromium and other trace elements, it has a certain curative effect on some diseases.

3. Feed: feed yeast is usually made of Candida albicans or Kluyveromyces fragilis by culture and drying, which has no fermentation power and the cells are in a state of death. It is rich in protein, B vitamins, amino acids and other substances, which are widely used as protein supplements in animal feed. It can promote the growth and development of animals, shorten the feeding period, increase meat and egg weight, improve meat quality and lean meat percentage, improve the glossiness of fur, and enhance the disease resistance of young livestock.