Ever seen lecithin in action? Well, if you want to, then just place a bar of chocolate inside the freezer and wait several minutes before taking it out again. Study the chocolate bar carefully. Do you see that thin layer of white coating the candy? That is lecithin in action for you.
A Versatile Nutrient
The purposes of lecithin in the commercial sector are varied. It is used as a natural emulsifier and/or lubricant and utilized as an important ingredient for products ranging from pharmaceuticals to protective coverings. But lecithin is powerful not only for these reasons. Lecithin is powerful because it is one of the important nutrients that make up the cell membrane found in the cells of every living organism on earth and plays a vital role in normal cell functions.
Lecithin - Its Composition and Functions
In biochemistry, lecithin is often used synonymously with another term, phosphatidylcholine, which is actually one of the three main types of phospholipids found in the phosphatide fraction isolated from either egg yolk or soy beans. On the other hand, the lecithin used by many food manufacturers is a mixture of these phospholipids in oil, 20% to 90% of which is phosphatidylcholine.
One of the many reasons why lecithin is powerful is because of the presence of phosphatidylcholine. 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 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 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) and hydrophobic, meaning it will always be moving away from areas with lots of water. This tendency of lecithin to move away from watery areas and towards areas with lots of fats is the reason why lecithin is powerful, especially when it comes to protecting fatty acids. In moving towards the fatty acids and moving away from the watery areas, lecithin molecules form a ring around the fatty acid molecule that keeps it away from oxidation-causing molecules.
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Lecithin Benefits
... passage of nutrients into and out 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 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,...
Health Lecithin
... 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, Lecithin is Powerful 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...
Lecithin Sources
... lecithin in the body, we need to turn to other lecithin sources, over and above the normal diet. Soy Foods One of the most popular lecithin sources is soy. In fact, most 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 (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...
Benefits of Soy Lecithin
... a few. On the other hand, Lecithin is Powerful if talking about the benefits of soy lecithin inside the body, then we have to take into account the role that phosphatidylcholine plays in the living cell. As a phospholipid, phosphatidylcholine is a major component of the cell membrane, along with cholesterol and triglyceride. It helps keep the cells and its various organelles apart from each other and facilitates many of its basic functions, including cellular signaling. In addition, it contributes to the cell's structural integrity and helps keep harmful microbes from entering the healthy living cell. Phosphatidylcholine plays a significant role in the liver functions as well as the brain. In fact, one of the benefits of soy lecithin is to keep the fatty acids in the bile, thereby helping the liver burn fat better. It...
Effect of Lecithin
... first derived from egg yolk. And for years Lecithin is Powerful 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 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 make lecithin extremely useful, the main purpose of lecithin is still a great emulsifier. What is more, it is also one of the safest. In 1998, the US Food and Drug Administration named lecithin as one of the...
Organic Lecithin
... 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 Lecithin is Powerful 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...
What is Lecithin
... is lecithin really? Where does it come from? And what can it do for you? 'What is lecithin?' and other such questions are what we are going to tackle in this article. What is Lecithin? Actually the term lecithin connotes two meanings that are somewhat related but are not used in the same Lecithin is Powerful sense. In biochemistry and other related 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....
Lecithin Effects
... of cells. Lecithin is one of the major components that make up the cell membrane or outer covering of our cells. "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," 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 chemicals found in lecithin, the most important and the most studied is choline. For years, the lecithin effects of choline has been the subject of countless studies and extensive research, all investigating the purported...
Facts about Lecithin
... 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 cells, the facts about lecithin will also tell you that its function encompasses even the framework of the cell itself. Along with protein and carbohydrates, lecithin helps keep the cell structure strong and retain its shape. Functions and Benefits All the facts about lecithin will lead you only to one thing: that it's a good thing the French scientist Maurice Gobley discovered it when he did in 1950. Otherwise, we would still be stuck with using the other...
Lecithin Side Effects
... word lecithin is even used interchangeably with phosphatidylcholine, though most commercial lecithins (especially those derived from soybean) contain only about 20% of the compound. The chemical substance lecithin is found in all living organisms, specifically comprising the cell membrane and other membranes of organelles inside 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 Lecithin is Powerful 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,...
Structure of Lecithin
... soy lecithin is obtained in the process of degumming crude soy oil, it contains minimal amounts of hydratable compounds (1.8%), comprised primarily of phosphatides. After going through the synthesizing process, the resulting structure of lecithin is 30-35% crude soy oil and 65-70% phosphatides. Oil can Lecithin is Powerful then also be removed completely with the addition of acetone. In the structure of lecithin derived from soy, the phosphatides consist of glycerides, which are the basic components of soy oil. However, instead of one fatty acid radical, this has been replaced with phosphoric acid. Now, this is different in the case of pure or chemical lecithin or phosphatidylcholine, where the phosphoric acid is further esterified with choline. But commercially, the structure of lecithin is mostly fatty acids, with roughly the same proportion as that of soy oil, which is 50-57% linoleic acid and 5% linolenic. There are different types of lecithin derived from soy: unrefined or natural (including bleach varieties), refined, and chemically modified. All of these have different chemical structures and compositions. For instance, unrefined lecithin...
Lecithin Weight Loss
... that damage liver cells. Lecithin in liver cells helps facilitate proper functioning of the liver, particularly in fat metabolism. In addition, lecithin helps keep fats in liquid form. That way, they do not cling to the veins and arteries and clog the passages - a symptom of 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 Lecithin is Powerful 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...
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 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 immune system produces immunoglobulins A, G, or M (IgA,...
Liquid Lecithin
... 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 Lecithin is Powerful in and out of cells, as well as ions, wastes, and nutrients, we need a constant supply of choline. In addition, the neurotransmitter acetylcholine needs choline for its normal functions. Due to liquid lecithin's choline make up, the compound has been touted as a memory enhancer by improving cognitive function. Another benefit of liquid lecithin is to increase the rate at which...
Benefits of Lecithin
... 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 Lecithin is Powerful movement of fluids inside and outside the cell. As a component of bile, lecithin keeps fats emulsified. You have noticed how fats work under certain conditions. When exposed to low temperature, they tend to turn white and go into a semi-solid state. And when exposed to high temperature, they turn completely liquid. Imagine what would happen to the body if our fats, or lipids, are subject to the slightest change in temperature. That is why one of the benefits of lecithin is its emulsifying action, keeping fats properly balanced and maintained. Lecithin is also a component of the myelin sheath,...