There is no denying the now established fact that soya is good for the health. Not only is it a good source of proteins, it also contains isoflavones genistein and daidzen, all of which contribute to its health-promoting goodness. Recent studies have also shown that soya contains a significant amount of antioxidants, which are chemical substances that help destroy disease causing free radicals.
Nearly all aspects about soybeans have already been studied to determine why this small legume is so beneficial. From tofu to miso to shoryu, soybeans have been consumed widely because it is generally considered as good for the body. But one aspect of soybeans that is only gaining some attention is the presence of soya lecithin.
Admittedly, soya lecithin is not a novel idea. In fact, the first time that lecithin was extracted from soya was in the 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 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 substance became a multifunctional, flexible and versatile tool best known for its emulsifying properties.
Soya lecithin helps promote solidity in margarine and give consistent texture to dressings and other creamy products. It also used in chocolates and coatings and to counteract spattering during frying. In addition, soya lecithin boasts of a unique lipid molecular structure which makes it idea for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications and various industrial uses such as paints, textiles, lubricants, and waxes.
But while soya lecithin has many functional benefits, recent studies have been focusing on its purported health benefits. There is no arguing that lecithin, or more accurately phosphatidylcholine plays a significant role in the cell. It contributes to its structural integrity, facilitate the movement of fluids in and out, and eases cell communication. Its presence and its perceived role in brain functioning has led many scientists to surmise that lecithin may aid in brain-related disorders, including dementia, memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, and many others.
Lecithin is also said to help keep the liver healthy. By keeping fats dispersed in the water, lecithin prevents these fats from accumulating in the liver, thus helping put a stop to some of the causes of cirrhosis.
But while phosphatidylcholine and its synthesized form, choline, seem to accomplish all these, studies have failed to make a significant connection between the intake of soya lecithin and treatment of these symptoms.
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Soy Lecithin Allergens
... 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 cell of the human Soya Lecithin 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 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...
Liquid Lecithin
... to increase the rate at which fat is burned to produce energy for the body. Lecithin is contained in the bile, which is a kind of substance produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder necessary for digestion. As an emulsifier, the function of liquid lecithin is to separate the fatty acids in the bile and protect them from the ravages of oxidation. The compound also helps keep the liver 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...
Lecithin Sources
... do with the lecithin sources themselves. Before World War II, people were in the habit Soya Lecithin 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...
What is Lecithin
... may even be taking it as a supplement. But what 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 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 Soya Lecithin 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...
Lecithin Benefits
... that is popularly used as an emulsifier and/or lubricant. In biochemistry, it refers to phosphatidylcholine (PC), a phospholipid compound comprised of glycerol, two fatty acids (linoleic acid and inositol), a phosphate group and choline (a type of B vitamin). Lecithin is typically found in the cell membrane or cell walls of every single living cell of an organism, whether plant or animal in origin. As you may already know, the cell membranes or cell walls are a semi-permeable layer that is responsible for regulating the passage of nutrients into and out of cells. Lecithin forms one of the major components of this membrane. In addition, Soya Lecithin 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...
Lecithin Effects
... 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 Soya Lecithin 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 bile produced by the liver. Bile is a kind of juice that your body secretes to ease digestion and help your body absorb valuable nutrients, as such, lecithin plays a role in the normal digestive processes of your body. Steven Zeisel, M.D., PhD., professor and chair of the department of nutrition at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, says that the lecithin effects of this great emulsifier helps maintain the structural integrity of cells. Lecithin is one of the major components that make up...
Facts about Lecithin
... 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 cells, the facts about lecithin will also tell you that its function encompasses even the framework of the cell itself. Along with protein and...
Lecithin Side Effects
... 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 the chemical compounds found in lecithin is acetylcholine. This compound is actually a neurotransmitter that affects the muscles and memory. The lecithin side effects of supplements, the symptoms of dementia may be improved by increasing the...
Structure of Lecithin
... of the degumming process of soybean oils. The Structure of Lecithin: Egg Yolk There are differences in the structure of lecithin derived from egg yolk and those derived from plants, such as 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 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,...
Lecithin Weight Loss
... 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 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...
Lecithin is Powerful
... 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...
Health Lecithin
... 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 Soya Lecithin 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...
Benefits of Lecithin
... from the waste products of soybean processing, a discovery that changed the whole face of commercial lecithin. Today, most of the commercial lecithin Soya 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...
Lecithin Supplements
... 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 Soya Lecithin 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. Lecithin supplements are one of the few emulsifiers approved by the...
Soy Bean Lecithin
... amount of antioxidants. All these substances contribute the bean's health-promoting goodness. There is, however, one compound found soy bean that is generating much interest from the scientific and medical circles. That compound is soy bean lecithin, or if you prefer, phosphatidylcholine (PC). It is a kind of lipid that is found in all cells of all living organisms 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 Soya Lecithin in the 1930s when the compound was extracted from...