Baker’s Yeast or Brewer’s Yeast

Question:

I’m confused about this yeast thing. Is Candida yeast the same as Baker’s yeast or Brewer’s yeast?

Answer:

No, they are completely different. Yeast is a word that describes only the shape of the fungus! There are, however, many different kinds of yeast. When bakers, brewers, and molecular biologists speak of yeast, they are almost always talking about Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the very friendly yeast used in baking and brewing. The manufacturer of (E):Red Star Yeast offers a really nice booklet on this helpful fungus. When doctors and patients talk about yeast infections, they are almost always talking about candidiasis due to organisms from the genus Candida.