Q: I'm a vegan so nutritional yeast is a normal part of my diet. However I have a friend who is always researching food (mostly Crohn's Disease) and she thinks that nutritional yeast could be dangerous for women. I don't use more than a tablespoon or two in a day. Is there any medical reason to think she's right and I should be cautious about how much nutritional yeast I use?

A: Everyone is different, but it sounds like you're doing fine with nutritional yeast, and I'd keep taking it. For those with digestive and bowel problems (and even sometimes without), nutritional yeast can be a problem, as it is often associated with excessive bloating and gas. You don't seem to have any issues with it, so in your case, it's a fine nutritional supplement.

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Madelyn H. Fernstrom, PhD, CNS, is the iVillage Health Editor-at-Large, Diet & Nutrition Editor for the Today Show and the Founder and Director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Weight Management Center.