Health Lecithin

Depending on whom you’re talking to, the word “lecithin” could mean two things. On the one hand, it refers to a whole class 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 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 many of the foods we have for our daily diet. However, if you want foods that are rich in lecithin, then turn no further from those same foods that are high in cholesterol and fats. The most concentrated sources of dietary lecithin are organ 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 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 start harming other healthy cells.

Another health lecithin benefit is its role as one of the special chemicals that easily crosses the blood-brain barrier. Not only is lecithin permeability necessary for the metabolic processes that are occurring in all cells but also, it provides for the constant regeneration of the phospholipid-rich membranes of the brain.

The component of lecithin, choline, is vital for the biosynthesis of the important neurotransmitter acetylcholine. When acetylcholine malfunctions, it could lead to a variety of symptoms, including: Huntington’s chorea, Friedreich’s ataxia, Tardive dyskinesia (Dystone’s syndrome), Alzheimer’s disease, and Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome.

Interestingly enough, when treating these diseases, it has been found that dietary health lecithin is more effective than choline alone, that de-oiled lecithin is more effective than crude lecithin, and that improvement in the general health was observed (greater attentiveness, quicker reactions, and better orientation).