Depending on whom you’re talking to, the word “lecithin” could mean two things. On the one hand, it refers to a whole class of natural fat and water soluble compounds, more commonly known as phospholipids, sold commercially as powerful emulsifiers. On the other hand, scientists often use the term as a synonym for phosphatidylcholine (PC), a phospholipid component found in every living cell of the body, whether that body is plant or animal in origin.
Scientists say that the health lecithin functions encompass everything that pertains to life, e.g., breathing, metabolism, energy production and transport, and nerve function. Many studies have shown the health lecithin benefits include the following:
* Improve memory
* Normalize reproductive health
* Lower risks of cancer
* Increase physical performance
* And enhance liver and heart health.
However, these health lecithin benefits are but the tip of the iceberg. As more and more researchers are focusing much of their time and energy on investigating the compound, more and more of the health lecithin benefits may be uncovered.
Where Lecithin Comes From
Lecithin is found in many of the foods we have for our daily diet. However, if you want foods that are rich in lecithin, then turn no further from those same foods that are high in cholesterol and fats. The most concentrated sources of dietary lecithin are organ meats, red meats, and eggs, which is where lecithin got its name by the way - lekithos, Greek for “egg yolk.” But with today’s current trend in low-fat, low-calorie diet, many have turned away from lecithin-rich foods. This reduction may likely result in an inadequate dietary intake of lecithin and choline, a component of lecithin. In order to make up for the lecithin lost through reduction of egg consumption, organ meats, and red meats, health lecithin supplements are taken.
Why is it Good?
As a phospholipid, lecithin is both phosphorus and fats (lipids). As such, it is an excellent source of essential fatty acids, which are a part of each molecule. Because phospholipids are both fat loving (lipophilic) and water loving (hydrophilic), lecithin helps protect the cell’s essential fatty acids, which are polyunsaturated and extremely vulnerable to oxidation. By taking in health lecithin supplements, especially in the form of granules, we can help protect the essential fatty acids in our bodies, keeping them from turning rancid and start harming other healthy cells.
Another health lecithin benefit is its role as one of the special chemicals that easily crosses the blood-brain barrier. Not only is lecithin permeability necessary for the metabolic processes that are occurring in all cells but also, it provides for the constant regeneration of the phospholipid-rich membranes of the brain.
The component of lecithin, choline, is vital for the biosynthesis of the important neurotransmitter acetylcholine. When acetylcholine malfunctions, it could lead to a variety of symptoms, including: Huntington’s chorea, Friedreich’s ataxia, Tardive dyskinesia (Dystone’s syndrome), Alzheimer’s disease, and Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome.
Interestingly enough, when treating these diseases, it has been found that dietary health lecithin is more effective than choline alone, that de-oiled lecithin is more effective than crude lecithin, and that improvement in the general health was observed (greater attentiveness, quicker reactions, and better orientation).
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Lecithin Sources
... of the compound. While a deficiency in lecithin does not seem to have any adverse effects on people, a deficiency in choline, a component of lecithin, however, can lead to serious illnesses such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. The reason for the reduced consumption of lecithin may have something to do with the lecithin sources themselves. Before World War II, people were in the habit of eating large amounts of organ meats, red meats, whole eggs, whole milk with cream, dairy cream, and liver, all of which are excellent lecithin sources. But what makes these foods such excellent lecithin sources also make people turn away from them. That's because these foods are often very rich in fats and calories, which in today's diet-conscious community may pose several negative health effects. If eating these lecithin sources is a concern for most people, then getting alternative sources, Health Lecithin such as supplements may be the solution to look for. According to the USDA, particularly its Economic Research Service, the average American consumed...
What is Lecithin
... lipid component in biological membranes, like our cell membranes or cell walls of plants. On the other hand, commercial lecithin is actually a natural mixture of neutral and polar lipids, including glycolipids, triglycerides, sterols, and small quantities of fatty acids, carbohydrates, and sphingolipids. The polar lipid Phosphatidyl choline is present in commercial lecithin in concentrations of 20 to 90%. Where does lecithin come from? After asking what is lecithin, you want to know where it is found. Lecithin that contains phosphatidyl choline is produced mainly from vegetable sources, although it may also be found in animal and microbial sources. Majority of Health Lecithin commercial lecithins sold in the market today come from soybean (mostly), sunflower, and grape seed. When talking about plant lecithins, the most common source is soybean....
Lecithin Benefits
... of cells. Lecithin forms one of the major components of this membrane. In addition, lecithin is also a major component in the protective sheaths that surround the brain, muscles, and nerve cells. Although lecithin is essentially a lipid, it is also partially soluble in water due to its phosphate group. This unique structure of the compound contributes to one of its lecithin benefits, which is to act as an emulsifying agent, making it a convenient ingredient to use in many processed foods. Lecithin for Health While there is little doubt that lecithin is indeed a powerful emulsifier, there Health Lecithin is more to lecithin benefits than that. For decades, people have been touting that treatment for high cholesterol is one of the many lecithin benefits. There is little evidence to support this claim, mostly because when the studies conducted were largely unreported. Still, these claims about lecithin benefits on high cholesterol may have something to do with the fact that lecithin, specifically phosphatidylcholine, appears to have the ability to disperse cholesterol in the blood, thus...
Soya Lecithin
... 1930s. Until that time, the commercial industry derived lecithin from egg yolks. But soon it was discovered that the by product of soybean processing contains substances, which when synthesized yields a surprising amount of soya lecithin. Today, majority of the commercial lecithin we find sold in stores are derived from soybeans. Soya Lecithin - Its Composition The term "lecithin" is a generic word used to refer to either phosphatidylcholine (PC) or a group of phosphate acids. Soya Health Lecithin lecithin is typically the commercial kind, which consists of three types of phospholipids: phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylinositol (PI). All of these phospholipids are a major component in the formation of cell membranes, along with cholesterol and glycerides. Soya Lecithin - Its Benefits and Functions Since its discovery in 1850 by Maurice Gobley, lecithin has been used in a wide variety of food and industrial applications. Decades later, soya lecithin was discovered and the...
Soy Bean Lecithin
... from plant, such as soy bean lecithin, is regarded as safer to use than those extracted from animals since animal lecithin is often excreted by the kidney, which contains toxins and other harmful substances. As such, soy bean lecithin came to replace egg lecithin as being the major Health Lecithin source of this compound. Soy bean lecithin is composed of three types of phospholipids: phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylehtanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylinositol (PI). The most important is phosphatidylcholine which, when synthesized, becomes choline, an essential nutrient that is desperately needed by the body. Phosphatidylcholine contributes to the structural integrity of the cell. Being a major component of the cell membrane, it also helps facilitate the movement of fluids in and out of the cell as well as eases cell signaling or communication. It is particularly important in such vital organs as the liver and the brain. Choline helps synthesize acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for much of...
Soy Lecithin
... The waste product usually contains solvents and pesticides that could be harmful if not purified through a process called the hexane extraction. This process actually yields less soy lecithin than the older ethanol benzol process. However, the process also produces a more marketable lecithin with better color, reduced odor and less bitter flavor. Why are they good? The food industry uses soy lecithin for a variety of purposes. As an emulsifier, the substance helps promote solidity in margarine and give consistent texture to dressings and other creamy products. It is also used in chocolates and coatings and to counteract spattering during frying. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has tagged lecithin as one of the few emulsifiers that is safe for use by consumers. But while soy lecithin is more popular for its emulsifying properties, it has more to offer. Its unique lipid molecular structure makes it useful for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. In addition,...
Effect of Lecithin
... US Food and Drug Administration named lecithin as one of the few emulsifiers currently available in the market as generally safe for consumption. For edible applications, the effect of lecithin is astounding. It is normally added to such food products as shortenings, margarines, baked goods, chocolate, confectionery coatings, peanut butter, powder mixes, and dietary food. It emulsifiers products that are high in fats and oils, as well as promotes stabilization, antioxidation, crystallization, and spattering control. Animals may also benefit from the effect of lecithin. The compound is often added to animal feed, mainly for the same purpose of stabilizing products and providing antioxidant properties. Lecithin for Health Lecithin is one of the major components of the cell membrane, that thin semi-permeable layer that envelope the surfaces of cells. It is mainly comprised of phospholipids, among which are phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidylethanol (PE). Most biochemists...
Lecithin Granules Vegetarian
... to consume those nutrients that are normally found only in animal products. Since they do not eat meat, vegetarians often restrict their diet to foods like: macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, cheese pizza, eggplant parmesan, vegetable soup, pancakes, oatmeal, grilled cheese, bean tacos and burritos, vegetable lo mein, French toast, French fries, vegetable pot pie, fruit shakes, bread, yogurt, cheese lasagna, peanut butter and jam, fruit salad, corn flakes, lentils, bulgur, and other non-meat products. One such nutrient that vegetarians hold a danger of inadequate intake is lecithin. What is Lecithin? A phospholipid sometimes referred to as phosphatidylcholine, lecithin is most often found in foods that are rich in fats and oils, such as organ meat, red meat, whole eggs, whole milk with cream, dairy cream, and liver. However, while these foods are rich in lecithin, vegetarians and some health-conscious consumers often turn away from them. Not only are these foods rich in fats and...
Soy Lecithin Allergens
... MD, labeled soy lecithin allergens as one of the top seven allergens - sometimes known as the "sinister seven." Besides soy lecithin allergens, other allergens that are considered part of the "sinister seven" are peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, shellfish, fin fish, and wheat. Allergies are a result of an oversensitized immune system that once exposed to a certain type of allergen, such as soy lecithin allergens, reacts by producing vast amounts of antibodies, known as immunoglobulin E (IgE). This results in reactions Health Lecithin which may include coughing, sneezing, runny hose, hives, diarrhea, facial swelling, shortness of breath, a swollen tongue, difficulty swallowing, lowered blood pressure, excessive perspiration, fainting, anaphylactic shock, or even death. There are also delayed allergic reactions to soy lecithin allergens. While the reactions of this kind are less dramatic, they are even more common. Instead of producing the antibody immunoglobulin E, the...
Liquid Lecithin
... cells healthy so they can continue doing their function of filtering and cleansing the blood of all toxins and harmful molecules. Sources Liquid lecithin can be found in nearly all kinds of food. But the richest sources of liquid lecithin are those that are high in fat and cholesterol, such as eggs, red meat, organ meat, etc. Soybeans are also good sources of liquid lecithin. In fact, majority of commercial lecithin sold in the market today are derived from soybean oil even as the first lecithin was separated from egg yolk in 1850. Every person needs adequate supply of liquid lecithin. While it is true that there are only very rare cases of lecithin deficiency, including lecithin-foods in your diet is one good way of protecting yourself from cholesterol-related problems. What's more, when the body synthesis lecithin, it becomes choline, which is very vital...
Benefits of Lecithin
... marketed in the commercial sector as an emulsifier used mainly in the food industry as well as an ingredient in products such as paints and pharmaceuticals. For years, people got their source of lecithin from egg yolk. Then in the mid 1930s, lecithin was recovered from the waste products of soybean processing, a discovery that changed the whole face of commercial lecithin. Today, most of the commercial lecithin we find sold in the market come from soybeans. Lecithin - Its Benefits Lecithin is Health Lecithin regarded in the scientific community as a synonym for phosphatidyl choline (PC), which is said to be the main compound responsible for all the benefits of lecithin, specifically its medicinal effects. When we consume phosphatidyl choline, the compound is broken down into the nutrient choline, which many consider as an essential nutrient. "Essential" because our...
Lecithin Granules
... your hand signals your brain that the pan is hot when you try to touch it. The biochemical process of cell signaling is essential because without it, you would have no idea how to react to danger. You wouldn't know for instance that there is a fire somewhere when you smell smoke and hence, won't be able to take any precautions to avoid getting in harm's way. Besides playing a significant role in cell signaling, Health Lecithin PI in lecithin granules also generally aids in maintaining the integrity of the cell structure, sharing much of PC's functions. Linoleic Acid (LA) Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid of the omega-6 family that is important to human health. It is found in cooking oils and processed foods as...
Lecithin Supplements
... egg yolk. Second, lecithin is a term used synonymously with phosphatidyl choline (PC), a phospholipid that is found in the cells of all living organisms, plant and animals alike. As a phospholipid, lecithin or phosphatidyl choline composes one of the 10 main types of lipids in cell membranes, including cholesterol, glycolipids, spingomyelin, phosphatidylethnolamine, phosphatidyl inositol, phosphatidyl serine, phosphatidyl glycerol, diphosphatidyl glycerol (cardiolipin), and phosphatidic acid. Phospholipids have hydrophobic tails, which means they continually push away from the watery areas surrounding the cell and maintaining the fatty cholesterol, which Health Lecithin gives rigidity to the cell membrane. This function of lecithin is often termed as its "emulsifying action," and one of the main uses of commercial lecithin is actually as an emulsifying agent used to keep butter, margarine, chocolate bars, etc. However, when talking about lecithin supplements, what people generally refer to is phosphatidyl choline, or more specifically its purified form, which is choline,...
Lecithin Effects
... extraction. Lecithin Effects as an Emulsifier The food industry is among the first industries that discovered the wonderful lecithin effects of this natural emulsifier. Since its discovery, it has been used in foods such as chocolate, cheese, margarine, and salad dressings. Acting Health Lecithin as an emulsifier, the lecithin effects help mix fats with water and keep them from separating. When you place the chocolate bar in the freezer, the low temperature causes the lecithin effects on the fat to fall apart. That's why the fat rises to the surface, giving the chocolate that whitish tinge. Besides being found in egg yolks and soybeans, lecithin is also present in all living cells of the body. Lecithin is actually a complex mixture of phospholipids, the most important of which is phosphatidylcholine, which is the number one source of choline. With its emulsifying lecithin effects, the substance is said to help keep fatty substances in...
Benefits of Soy Lecithin
... got its name. Apparently, when French scientist Maurice Gobley first separated the compound from an egg yolk in 1850, he decided to name it after its derivation - lekithos, meaning "egg yolk." However, decades later the same compound was also found in the Health Lecithin by product of soybean processing. While soy lecithin does not have nearly as much phospholipids as egg yolk has, its 1.48 to 3.08 percentage of phospholipids is considerably higher than that of the 0.5 percent typically found in vegetable oils. But what are the benefits of soy lecithin? What makes it so good for the body? The answer may lie in its composition. Soy lecithin is comprised of three types of phospholipids, which are a class of fat and water soluble compounds. The phospholipids found in soy lecithin are: phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phospathidylethanolamine (PE). The benefits of soy lecithin can be traced back to the presence of phosphatidylcholine and its synthesized form, choline. Phosphatidylcholine, a Powerful Emulsifier One...