Used for decades as a treatment for high cholesterol, lecithin granules contain all the phosphatides that are found naturally in cell membranes. Which phosphatides? The important ones. Each tablespoon of lecithin granules - that is, about 7.5 grams - has about 1700 mg of phosphatidyl choline (roughly 98%, more than most lecithin sold in pill form or powdered), 1000 mg of phosphatidyl inositol, and about 2,200 mg of essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid. All these compound elements have functions that could contribute to the health of our body.
Now, to discuss each one of them.
Phosphatidyl Choline (PC)
We start first with phosphatidyl Choline, which many will tell you, is perhaps the 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 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 of liver problems will manifest.
Phosphatidyl Inositol (PI)
Unlike phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl inositol, or PI for brevity, is not purely a phospholipid. The substance contains an alcohol, inositol, with a ring structure, which acts as a substrate for a large number of enzymes involved in cell signaling - the process by which a cell converts one kind of signal or stimulus to another, such as when your stomach tells you brain that you are already full, or when the epidermis of 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, 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 well as LA-containing supplements like lecithin granules. Once LA in lecithin granules enters the body, it is converted to GLA or gamma-linoleic acid, another omega-6 fatty acid that is needed for normal brain function, growth and development, bone health, stimulation of skin and hair growth, regulation of metabolism, and maintenance of reproductive processes.
According to PowerPak, “The omega 6 LA comprises 7% to 9% of our daily caloric intake, while the omega 3 LNA makes up about 0.7% of energy. It is therefore estimated that the dietary ration of LA to LNA ranges from 10 to 20:1.”
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Lecithin Sources
... lecithin sources sold commercially today are derived from soybean oil. In the United States, soy food consumption is increasing annually. This may help to increase the level of lecithin consumption. Soy food is one of the most versatile of lecithin sources. The soybean can be eaten whole after it has been boiled or roasted. It can also be transformed into a great variety of foods, the more popular of which are tofu, meat alternatives, soy sauce, soy flour, and soybean oil Lecithin Granules (usually called vegetable oil). Supplements Another alternative to getting adequate supply of lecithin is supplementation. Supplements are excellent lecithin sources; one tablespoon of lecithin granules contains as much as a 1, 725 mg/serving. A soft gel capsule of lecithin supplement may contain less at 180 mg/serving. The concentration of lecithin in supplements varies according to its form. According to many...
Lecithin Granules Vegetarian
... 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 calories, they are also animal products which vegetarians want to avoid. Lecithin is an important nutrient that our body needs. It is a major component of our cell membranes and helps keep the liver to function normally, particularly in the metabolism of fat by bile, an enzyme secreted by the liver. A component of lecithin, choline, is also an essential nutrient. "Essential" because our body can only get its supply of choline from the foods that we eat. There have been studies conducted wherein a...
What is Lecithin
... science, lecithin is a synonym for phosphatidyl choline. It is the main 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 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. When Maurice Gobley, the French scientist discoverer of lecithin, found lecithin in egg yolk in 1950, egg yolk...
Facts about Lecithin
... of phospholipids, glycolipids, triglycerides, sterols, and small quantities of fatty acids, carbohydrates, and sphingolipids. Its primary phospholipid components include phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine Lecithin Granules (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 membranes. Lipids make the cell membrane semi-permeable - that is, it allows some substances in while keeping other substances out. With its main component of choline, lecithin facilitates the movement of fats in and out of cells, as well as ions, wastes, and nutrients. Besides providing protection around the...
Health Lecithin
... 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 Lecithin Granules 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...
Organic Lecithin
... and metal tape. The compound is even available as a supplement in capsules, pills, or granules. Effects and Benefits There are several functional effects associated with lecithin. First, it is an emulsifier, capable of keeping oils from separating and keeping fat molecules dispersed in food products. This ability of organic lecithin to keep essential oils and disperse fats is the basis of the scientific premise that the compound may have positively affect those with high cholesterol levels in the blood stream. But while there is very little evidence to prove that scientific claim, there is however enough proof of organic lecithin's emulsifying action to go around the commercial food industry. Lecithin can be used to lower the fat content of some foods at the same time enable them to still taste good. Organic lecithin sold commercially is composed of a naturally occurring mixture of the phosphatides of choline, ethanolamine, and Lecithin Granules insotil, with smaller amounts of other lipids. This compound is present in every cell of all living organisms, but is...
Lecithin Benefits
... 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 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 Lecithin Granules with the fact that lecithin, specifically phosphatidylcholine, appears to have the ability to disperse cholesterol in the blood, thus...
Lecithin Effects
... up the cell membrane or outer covering of our cells. "Without lecithin, nothing would survive, because you wouldn't be able to separate the Lecithin Granules various compartments within cells, nor would you be able to separate cells from each other," he further adds. Lecithin Effects and Choline The word lecithin actually has several different meanings. The generic term refers to lecithin, the compound of lipid and phosphate acid mixtures used in the commercial food industry. However, in chemistry, biochemistry, and other similar sciences, the term takes on a whole different meaning. Often, lecithin is used synonymously with choline, kelecin, lecithol, soy lecithin, vegilecithin, vitrellin, and phosphatidylcholine. Strictly speaking though, choline is actually just a component of lecithin - a major one, that is. Out of the many...
Lecithin Side Effects
... not an essential nutrient. Well, yes, it does do wonders for the Lecithin Granules body, but a deficiency in lecithin won't make life bad for you. Besides, it is not like you are going to run out of lecithin anytime soon. You can always get your supply of lecithin from the foods that you eat, like eggs (yolks), soybeans, sunflower, grape seed, wheat germ, to name a few. Lecithin has been the subject of various extensive research studies, particularly concerning its role in degenerative diseases. Because of its being a major component in the structure of myelin sheath and nerve cells, scientists believe that lecithin side effects include a possible cure for conditions involving cognition or those that affect the mental processes used to acquire, maintain, retrieve, and utilize information. One example is dementia, which is a mental condition that may due to stroke. It has been observed that people who suffer form this condition often have a low level of a natural chemical known as acetylcholine. One of...
Structure of Lecithin
... soy lecithin. First, the structure of lecithin derived from egg yolk is essentially composed of triglycerides and phospholipids, which differs considerably from plant lipid mixtures. Egg yolk 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 Lecithin Granules 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...
Lecithin Weight Loss
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 are highly filtered. That means they contain less Lecithin Granules 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...
Lecithin is Powerful
... can be totally biodegraded and metabolized. In addition, lecithin is powerful since it is already an integral part of 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 role in protecting Lecithin Granules fatty acids from the damages caused by oxidation. An essential nutrient, fatty acids are highly vulnerable but greatly needed by the body. They are polyunsaturated fats and are a vital pat of each molecule. By keeping these fatty acids from becoming damaged due to oxidation, phosphatidylcholine or lecithin stabilizes them, keeping them away from harmful substances. Lecithin is powerful because of its unique structure. It is both fat loving for the fatty acids (lipophilic)...
Soy Lecithin Allergens
... first commercially available lecithin was mostly derived from egg yolk, until the 1930s when the use of soy products in processed foods arose. The compound lecithin was discovered in the by product of soybean processing. After the soybeans were processed and its oils extracted, the liquid waste that is left is made to under go a "degumming" process in order to separate its lecithin content. Since then, most of the lecithin sold in the market today are derived from soya. Soy lecithin is said to contain many benefits that help improve overall lecithin. The presence of lecithin in every Lecithin Granules cell of the human body as a major component of the cell membrane has led many scientists 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...
Liquid Lecithin
... 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 Lecithin Granules 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...
Benefits of Lecithin
... commercial lecithin we find sold in the market come from soybeans. Lecithin - Its Benefits Lecithin is 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 bodies cannot manufacture their own supply of choline and instead we have to depend on the foods that we eat to maintain the right levels. Lecithin is an essential component in the cell membrane. In fact, it defines its structure. As such, one of the benefits of lecithin is to maintain the integrity of cell membranes, helping facilitate the movement of fluids inside and outside the cell. As a component of bile, lecithin keeps...