We’ve all been introduced to childhood diabetes, heart conditions, and sky high cholesterol numbers. It seems that a diet consisting mainly of hydrogenated and processed fats, fried foods and super starches all comes back to haunt today’s children and adolescents with all sorts of health problems, even as childhood obesity continues to be a major concern. But despite the seriousness in the impact of these problems, their occurrence takes an inevitable backseat to what cold be the greatest problem ever encountered in the collective declining health of our children. This emerging medical issue is known as Fatty Liver Syndrome.
What is Fatty Liver Syndrome?
When doctors talk to you about NASH, which stands for Non Alcoholic Steatorrhoeic Hepatosis or Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), don’t be put off by these big terms. It is the same thing as fatty liver syndrome, which really just means that your liver is being invaded with exorbitant amounts of fat. While fatty liver or NASH is very common in overweight persons over the age of 30, the syndrome has also been said to occur frequently among children pre-pubescent years and above.
As the name itself suggests, a fatty liver contains an excessive amount of fat. Because of this, normal healthy liver tissue is partly replaced with areas of unhealthy fats. This in turn causes the liver to become slightly enlarged and heavier and gives it a yellow greasy appearance.
The liver is responsible for removing the toxins, dead cells, microorganisms, and fat from the blood stream. However, if you have fatty liver, instead of straining the blood of all harmful elements, it cannot do that anymore. This causes the blood stream to become overloaded with toxins and fat.
The Role of Lecithin in the Liver
Lecithin is a phospholipid that is found in every single living cell. It is composed mainly of three types of phospholipids: phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidylethanol (PE). As a major component of the cell membrane, lecithin acts as an emulsifier, keeping the essential fatty acids apart from other molecules within the cell. This role of lecithin is very important since fatty acids are so delicate that when exposed to oxidation, they may become rancid, causing harm to the body.
Lecithin is also present in bile where it does what it always does - keeping fatty substances. The bile is a substance essential to digestion and produced by the liver to be stored in the gallbladder. When lecithin is doing all it should in the bile, it eases digestion and helps your body absorb nutrients better.
One component of lecithin, choline is an essential nutrient, just as fatty acids are. The body must depend on the foods that we eat in order to get adequate supply of choline. The role of choline in the body may be the key to overcoming fatty liver syndrome. Scientists have found that choline is essential for helping to turn fat into energy within the liver. By taking in more choline, either as a standalone choline supplement or allow your own body to synthesize lecithin supplement to choline, you could help reverse the damage caused by fatty liver syndrome.
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Lecithin And Weight Loss
... time contending with sluggish metabolism and unbridled cravings, so that hardly anything ever works. However, if you really want to lose some weight, you should be addressing the real cause of the problem instead of tackling the symptoms. If you think that congestion throughout the body and a sluggish liver contribute only to fatigue and malaise, then you need to think again. Weight gain Is Lecithin Good for Fatty Liver is often due to poor liver function. With a liver that is in such poor health as to make it unable to perform its functions, there is a very likely chance that the condition will result in weight gain, especially around the abdomen, cellulite, and water retention. The Bile The liver is responsible for secreting bile. A complex fluid, bile (or gall) is a bitter, greenish-yellow alkaline fluid containing water, electrolytes, and a batter of organic molecules which include bile...
Liquid Lecithin
... from either egg yolk Is Lecithin Good for Fatty Liver or soya beans, this form of liquid lecithin is commercially available in high purity and used for a variety of purposes in the food industry as well as other industries. However, for the most part, liquid lecithin is utilized as an emulsifier, and is in fact one of the limited number of emulsifiers commonly regarded as safe to use. Benefits While lecithin is a natural part of the body, it is, however, not an essential nutrient, unlike fatty acids or amino acid. Our bodies already have lecithin and can manufacture more if needed. What is essential however is the synthesized form of liquid lecithin, which is choline. Our bodies derive choline from phosphatidylcholine component in liquid lecithin. To maintain cell membrane integrity and facilitate the movement of fats in...
Lecithin Weight Loss
... the condition called atherosclerosis. By dispersing fat in the water instead of letting them stick to the walls of the arteries, lecithin aids the cardiovascular functions of the body. Lecithin Weight Loss Supplementation The ability of lecithin to facilitate fat burning makes it a valuable compound in the weight loss and diet community. In fact, the compound is currently marketed as a lecithin weight loss supplement, an alternative weight loss regimen for those who want a diet quick fix. Of course, lecithin can be naturally found in foods that we eat. Certainly, foods that are rich in lecithin are foods that we often include in our daily diet, such as egg yolk, soybeans, grains, wheat germ, fish, legumes, yeast, and peanuts. However, if these are not enough, lecithin weight loss supplements are also sold in capsule, powder or granular form. Lecithin weight loss supplements...
Lecithin Sources
... 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, such as supplements may be the solution to look for. According to the USDA, particularly its Economic Research Service, the average American consumed 12 fewer pounds of red meat in 1996 than 20 years ago. In addition to that, it was also found that the average American, even with all the...
Benefits of Soy Lecithin
... 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 of the main functions of soy lecithin is to act as an emulsifier inside or outside the body. Outside, it is used commercially to keep chocolates, candy coatings, margarine, butter, and a whole lot more. It is even used in the pharmaceutical industry as well as various other industries that produce materials such as paint, textile, to name a few. On the other hand,...
Lecithin is Powerful
Lecithin that contains this substance is produced from vegetable, animal and microbial sources, but mainly from vegetable sources, the most important sources of which are soybean, sunflower, and grape seed. In 1998, the US Food and Drug Administration named lecithin as GRAS, or Generally Regarded as Safe, making it one of the few emulsifiers currently sold in the market as such. This is because compared with its synthetic alternatives, lecithin can be totally biodegraded and metabolized. In addition, lecithin is powerful since it is already an integral part of Is Lecithin Good for Fatty Liver biological membranes, making it virtually non-toxic. Other emulsifiers can only be excreted via the kidneys so they may contain impurities. Phosphatidylcholine is a mixture of differently substituted sn-glycerol-3-phosphatidylcholine backbones. Chemically, its structure is utterly variable and dependent on fatty acid substitution. Another reason that lecithin is powerful is its...
Soy Bean Lecithin
... every cell, then we already have it right? Why do we need alternate sources such as soy bean lecithin? The answer is simple: because this compound is so vital to our body that we cannot afford to have inadequate supply. Soy bean lecithin was first discovered in the 1930s when the compound was extracted from sludge, a by product of soybean oil processing. Of course, decades before that, lecithin was already found in egg yolk and most of the commercial lecithin sold in the market that time was egg lecithin. But then with the emergence of soy bean lecithin, a shift also occurred. Lecithin that is derived from plant, such as soy bean lecithin, is regarded as safer to use than those extracted from animals since animal lecithin is often excreted...
Health Lecithin
... 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 Is Lecithin Good for Fatty Liver 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...
Lecithin Supplements
... with treatments for a variety of diseases from lowering high blood cholesterol, to reducing heart attacks and stroke, atherosclerosis, dispelling symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver and gall stones, and improving memory loss. Lecithin supplements are even currently marketed as aids to weight loss. However, it should be noted that phosphatidyl choline Is Lecithin Good for Fatty Liver itself is not an essential nutrient. Our bodies already have it and can produce more of it should the need arise. Choline, on the other hand, can only be derived from the foods we eat. A deficiency in this compound could lead to various debilitating diseases, not least of which is cirrhosis of the liver. The good thing about it is that phosphatidyl choline is normally synthesized by the body to form choline, so taking in lots of lecithin supplements containing a high percentage of the compound could help boost your supply of choline and overcome a potential deficiency....
Structure of Lecithin
... of triglycerides and phospholipids, which differs considerably from plant lipid mixtures. Egg yolk Is Lecithin Good for Fatty Liver lecithin contains long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids known as LC-PUFAs or Arachidonic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid. Both are bound phospholipids, the former occurring exclusively in cell membranes while the latter is found in high amounts in optic nerve membranes. In the structure of lecithin derived from egg yolk, arachidonic acid is involved in signal transduction and ensures high membrane fluidity. It is important for body weight development. On the other hand, docosahexaenoic acid is required for normal development of the brain, nervous system, and visual acuity. Consequently, both these important components of the structure of lecithin play a vital role during pregnancy and infancy. Since babies have only limited capacities, they need arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid to synthesize fatty acids from their precursors. Structure of Lecithin: Soy Markedly different from egg yolk lecithin, the structure of lecithin derived from soy actually consists of three types of phospholipids: phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and...
Soy Lecithin Allergens
... to conduct investigations on the role of lecithin in the normal bodily processes. It was found that a component of lecithin, phosphatidylcholine and its synthesized form, choline, are vital to liver health in that they help keep fats in the bile and protect liver cells from the ravages of oxidation. Other studies also showed that choline may play a significant role in the synthesis of an important neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. This led others to believe that lecithin may help improve the cognitive functions of the brain, even going so far as to help enhance our memories. But while there are quite a number of studies Is Lecithin Good for Fatty Liver that seem to show evidence of the benefits of lecithin, there is little in the way to show a real connection between improved conditions and the taking of lecithin supplements. Instead, what doctors have observed is a concerning number of reports of soy lecithin allergens. Soy Allergy In...
What is Lecithin
... supply of lecithin from its diet. This is also one of the reasons why hardly anyone ever suffers a deficiency in lecithin. Still, having a steady supply of lecithin for our body's use is good, if only to take advantage of the benefits it has to offer. Lecithin is naturally found in the foods that we eat, especially rich foods, such as egg yolk, soybeans, grains, wheat germ, fish, legumes, yeast, peanuts, etc. The compound can also be found as supplement sold to the public. Lecithin capsules, powder, or granules are sold in many food and drug stores, often marketed as weight loss promoting supplements for dieters and weight loss enthusiasts. In addition to that, lecithin is also taken in a pill form or mixed into health shakes. What is lecithin's claim to health? The following are some of the many health claims that lecithin is said to have: ...
Lecithin Supplement
... generally mean the compound element phosphatidyl choline or PC. Phosphatidyl choline is s vital component in the formation of cell membranes and cell walls, which play a role in facilitating the Is Lecithin Good for Fatty Liver movement of fluids in and out of the cell. Professor and chair of the department of nutrition at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill Steven Zeisel, M.D., Ph.D. says that lecithin also helps to maintain the structural integrity of cells. He explains, "Without lecithin, nothing would survive, because you wouldn't be able to separate the various compartments within cells, nor would you be able to separate cells from each other." When phosphatidyl choline enters the body, it turns into choline, an essential nutrient. The claims revolving around lecithin supplement can all be traced back to this element - choline. As an essential nutrient, choline cannot be manufactured inside...
Lecithin Granules
... most important compound that can be found in lecithin granules, and no wonder, considering how PC is the active ingredient in lecithin. The main function of PC in lecithin granules is to break down fat deposits in the body. In fact, when you see lecithin granules sold in counters as an aid to weight loss, you know that the ingredient responsible is PC. Because of this wonderful function of PC, lecithin granules are valuable not only Is Lecithin Good for Fatty Liver in weight loss programs but also in the prevention of atherosclerosis and heart disease. When PC enters the body, it is immediately broken down into choline, a substance that scientists have discovered as an essential nutrient, which means that we can't live without it. To prove this, several studies have shown that within 30 days of a choline deficient diet, indications...
Lecithin Granules Vegetarian
... the point that some have even turned to vegetarianism and all its health and philosophical connotations. The thing with vegetarians is that they do not get 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...