Nutritional yeast comes from a species of yeast called saccharomyces cerevisiae, the same yeast used for brewing and baking. u003cbr/u003eAlthough it comes from the same species, the nutritional yeast you can buy is quite different from baking and brewing yeast because it’s gone through a different process.u003cbr/u003eThe saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast is fed a sugar-rich diet to enable it to multiply. Heat is then applied to deactivate it, and it’s dried and crumbled to create the yellow nutritional yeast flakes you buy.u003cbr/u003eOften, B-Vitamins and other nutrients are added to nutritional yeast to fortify it.u003cbr/u003eIt’s naturally gluten-free, fat-free and low in calories and sodium.