You might not like it if I told you that fats or lipids are essential components of our body. But it is the truth, whether you like it or not. Every one of our billions of cells contains fats in some form or another.
If you like cooking or spend a heck of a lot of time in the kitchen, you probably know that the oils we use for cooking are hard to dissolve and typically change from liquid into a solid state under certain conditions such as a drop in temperature. If you want an example, then just place butter in the fridge and see what happens.
Now, this tendency of fats to transform according to changes in temperature may pose a problem for us if every single one of our cells contains fats. But fortunately for us, the fats within and outside of our cells are kept under pretty much stable conditions. The compound responsible for this is lecithin.
Lecithin is an emulsifier naturally occurring in various foods, including egg yolks, soybeans, sunflower, grape seed, wheat germ, flour, etc. It is technically a phospholipid that is present in every living cell in both the plant and animal kingdoms.
Now, as a phospholipid, the compound is closely related with triglycerides, and in fact, one of its chemical components is triglycerides, but whereas triglycerides have three fatty acids, lecithin only has two, plus a phosphate and choline group. As a result, the other name for lecithin is phosphatidylcholine.
One of the various functions of lecithin is to keep cholesterol in line. Its ability to emulsify oils and hold them in solution plays a major role in preventing gall stone formation. Together with bile and bile salts, it comprises the three major constituents of bile. Bile is mostly made up of fats, which lecithin keeps in liquid form in order to prevent gall stones from forming. On the other hand, cholesterol holds a delicate balance with the bile salts. If the balance is tipped on either side, the result could stone formation. By keeping cholesterol in check, lecithin helps prevent stone formation.
As a component of the enzyme lecithin cholesterol acyltranferase, the compound is said to help in the metabolism of cholesterol to its by products. As mentioned earlier, this substance is also called phosphatidylcholine and is an excellent source of choline. Much of the medical benefits of lecithin, particularly on high cholesterol-related conditions have been attributed to the presence of choline.
In one study, laboratory rats were given a choline free diet. By the end of the study, all of the test subjects developed liver diseases, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Other studies, conducted on both humans and animals, also showed how choline supplementation help reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. Though the study results showed only slight reduction of cholesterol, it was enough proof for many drug manufacturers to market the substance as a supplement that could aid in weight loss.
Today, commercial lecithin as a supplement for persons with high cholesterol is available in pellet or granule form. It can also be taken in as a pill or powder.
Posted by admin in Health
Lecithin Side Effects
... the cell itself. It is also a major component of the myelin sheath, which is the thin covering that envelopes brain neurons and our nerves. The unique structure of lecithin plays a role in the protection of our body from the destructive effects of oxidation. It also helps in the digestive processes through the action of bile which contains lecithin produced by the liver. There have been studies that show how lecithin could also have positive lecithin side effects on persons with high blood cholesterol level, appearing to lower it down. Lecithin, the Wonder Food Unlike other chemical substances such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats and oils, lecithin is actually not an essential nutrient. Well, yes, it does do wonders for the body, but a deficiency in lecithin won't make life...
Lecithin Benefits
... 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 Lecithin and Cholesterol powerful emulsifier, there 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...
Lecithin And Weight Loss
... the main organ for detoxifying pollutants and chemicals in the body, as well as glycogen storage, plasma protein synthesis, and bile production, which is important in digestion. Bile, by the way, is also key to metabolizing fats which are stored in the liver to convert them into energy for the body's use. Now, this connection between the liver and the role it plays in fat metabolism and eventually weight loss may seem remote at first. But when you mention lecithin and weight loss and liver in the same breath, you begin to see what it is that connects them all together. The Role of Liver in Weight Loss There are a lot of people who find themselves constantly struggling with weight gain for most of their lives. They go through yo-yo dieting, at the same...
Effect of Lecithin
... a variety of purposes in many industries including commercial food processing, textile, paint, and pharmaceuticals. In addition, the effect of lecithin seems to transcend even the commercial side of things to include health as scientists discovered the important role that the compound plays in the cells of every living organism on this planet. The Emulsifier Lecithin was first derived from egg yolk. And for years after that until the 1930s, most commercial lecithin came from egg yolk. Hence, its name "lecithin" which itself was derived from lekithos, Greek for "egg yolk." But then, lecithin was discovered as a by product in the Lecithin and Cholesterol degumming process of soybean oil. And since then, majority of the lecithin we find sold in the market today is soy lecithin. The effect of lecithin is numerous, including antioxidant, lubricant, anti-dusting agent, mixing and blending agent, and wetting and separating agent. But while all these functional properties...
Lecithin Supplements
... 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 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 Lecithin and Cholesterol 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. Lecithin supplements are one of the few emulsifiers approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as GRAS or Generally Recommended as...
Lecithin Weight Loss
However, if these are not enough, lecithin weight loss supplements are also sold in capsule, powder or granular form. Lecithin weight loss supplements are highly filtered. That means they contain less than 35% of phosphatidyl choline while the rest are made of various substances. Majority of these lecithin weight loss supplements are derived from soybeans, although egg yolk lecithin weight loss supplements can also be found. But while lecithin weight loss supplements are valued for their phosphatidyl choline content, the real benefit you get from supplementation is the boost in choline levels your body receives. As an essential nutrient, your body cannot manufacture choline and hence you always depend on the foods that you eat and supplements in Lecithin and Cholesterol order to get your supply. However, there have been reports that people who take large amounts of choline supplements...
Organic Lecithin
... an egg yolk, but was only given its present name in 1850, coined from lekithos, Greek word for "egg yolk." For several years after that, organic lecithin sold commercially was derived entirely from eggs. As a powerful emulsifying agent and an additive that could extend the shelf life of processed foods, the commercial food industry used the product in baked goods, chocolates, salad dressings, nut butters, candies, protein drinks, instant soups, and prepared foods. Organic lecithin could also be added into recipes to improve flavor and to act generally as an emulsifier. Then, in the 1930s, soybean consumption experienced a boom and that when it was discovered that the sludge that was the by product of soybean processing actually contains about 1.8% hydrophosphatides, which consist of organic lecithin. Through a process called "degumming," organic lecithin was extracted from the sludge and sold as an alternative to egg lecithin. Organic lecithin that comes from plants is generally...
Soy Bean Lecithin
... in the world. It forms a major component of the cell membrane, alongside cholesterol and glyceride. So if this lecithin substance can be found in 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, Lecithin and Cholesterol 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 by the kidney,...
Liquid Lecithin
While the liquid lecithin sold in the commercial industry is a actually a mixture of neutral and polar lipids (glycolipids, triglyderides, sterols, and small quantities of fatty acids, carbohydrates, and sphingolipids), lecithin in biochemistry is often used as a synonym for phosphatidylcholine (PC), which is itself a mixture of differently substituted sn-glycerol-3-phosphatidylcholine backbones. Phosphatidylcholine is the major component of a phosphatide fraction. When isolated from either egg yolk 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 Lecithin and Cholesterol 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...
Cholesterol
Lowering cholesterol is important for everyone, including younger, middle-aged, and older adults, and people with or without heart disease and/or stroke. Lowering cholesterol is extremely important key to reducing the risk of heart disease. High levels of LDL are associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Lower levels of LDL cholesterol mean a lower risk of heart disease. Most doctors suggest cholesterol levels should stay under 200 mg/dl. Lowering cholesterol is recommended to lead a more healthy life and main. Lowering cholesterol is just one way to look after your heart. Lowering cholesterol is actually quite simple, and Lecithin and Cholesterol doesn't require surgery or drugs with healthy lifestyle, naturally lowering cholesterol is easy since it helps normalize your cholesterol, naturally and safely. More on lower cholesterol and prevent high cholesterol
Low Cholesterol Foods
In time, the cholesterol clucks build up and start to narrow the arteries, thus slowing the flow of your blood. The build up of cholesterol can also block your arteries. Because, the blood takes oxygen to your heart, when the flow is blocked, oxygen can not reach your heart anymore. This is terrifying consequence of cholesterol. If the blood is blocked, because of cholesterol and it can not reach even a small part of your heart, a heart attack occurs. The high level of cholesterol has no symptoms. This is the main reason why a lot of people do not even know that their cholesterol levels are higher than normal. More on lower cholesterol and prevent high cholesterol
Who Invented The Cholesterol Test
Whoever invented the cholesterol test I'm certain that he had our best interests at heart (pun intended). However, the cholesterol test is the scourge of many. We go about life feeling all is well, even those of us who feel like we’re in fairly good health, you know, fit and all. Then some unforeseen circumstance requires us to have a “testing”…Who invented the cholesterol test
Lecithin Supplement
... 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 the body. In order to get our supply of it, we must turn to our daily diet and supplements such as lecithin supplement. Choline is very important because it is one of only two nutrients needed by the liver to promote the breakdown of fats. The other nutrient is methionine, an essential amino acid. Fat-Emulsifier Choline is a lipotropic agent. As such, it promotes or encourages the export of fat from the liver. If you want to keep your liver healthy and capable of burning the exported...
Lecithin
... in the blood. The benefits seem to be attributed to the presence of choline. As a lipotropic substance, choline functions as an agent in the body's metabolism, giving aid in the digestion of fats. To put it simply, choline helps in burning fat that gets stored in tissues, thereby acting as an agent to support weight loss. The more choline you have in your body, the faster your fat metabolism becomes, and the lower your blood cholesterol level goes. As you probably know, a large number of health problems are due to high levels of blood cholesterol levels, which actually leads to a congestion of blood vessels. The condition therefore results in the likely occurrence of heart attacks and strokes. The intake of lecithin Lecithin and Cholesterol may help you avoid...
Facts about Lecithin
... organisms, including humans. But more than that, lecithin is actually a complex mixture of phospholipids, glycolipids, triglycerides, sterols, and small quantities of fatty acids, carbohydrates, and sphingolipids. Its primary phospholipid components include phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatic acid (PA). Now, since lecithin is present in the cells of all living organisms, you must think and believe that it is an essential nutrient. Certainly, that is what the adverts have been telling us. However, the facts about lecithin will tell you that the substance actually comes from the diet and is only synthesized in the body. Therefore, it is not an essential nutrient, although it may have some beneficial effects. As a phospholipid, the facts about lecithin will indicate that the substance is a major component in cell...