Lecithin
Powerful Nutritional Supplement


Common Names: Phospholipids, Phosphatidylcholine, and Choline

Lecithin is a natural anti-oxidant and a powerful nutritional factor. Lecithin discovered in 1805 and mostly derived from common egg yolk or from naturally taking place phospholipids derived from soybeans. Lecithin is extracted from crude soybean oil through the refining process. Soybeans are a major source of lecithin. Lecithin plays a fundamental role in human cell function. Levels of phospholipids in soybean oils range from 1.48 to 3.08 percent, which is greatly higher than the 0.5 percent normally found in vegetable oils, but far less than the 30 percent found in egg yolks1-6. Lecithin is found in a large range of foods. Good sources include cabbage, cauliflower, chickpeas, green beans, lentils, soybeans, corn, split peas, calves’ liver, eggs, brewer’s yeast, grains, legumes, fish, and wheat germ. It is also a common food preservative to ice cream, margarine, mayonnaise, and chocolate bars.

Lecithin is found in every living cell, its highest concentration is in the vital organs -- the brain, heart, liver and kidneys. Our brains show a dry composition of 30% lecithin. It performs an astonishing array of vital functions directly affecting our heath and well being. Lecithin may have several health benefits, including the maintenance of a healthy liver, a healthy heart and circulatory system, increasing physical performance, and successful pregnancy and child development.

Lecithin or choline supplementation resulted in minor decreases in cholesterol. A small study of individuals with normal or mildly prominent cholesterol levels showed that lecithin supplementation decreased both the interest of cholesterol from foods and the production of low-density lipoproteins (LDL, the "bad" type of cholesterol) by the body. Lecithin supplements supply a more bioavailable, timed-release form of choline than supplements made from choline salts like choline chloride. Lecithin supplements increase choline levels in the blood higher for a longer time. In addition, choline supplements often cause an offensive, fishy body odor.

Lecithin Benefits

• Choline can surely affect brain development.


• Lecithin also acts as a fat emulsifier.


• Phosphatidylcholine may be helpful in the management of Alzheimer's disease.


• Choline delivered by lecithin can help shrink high homocysteine levels in the blood.


• Lecithin and choline is essential to liver function and health.


• Choline is commonly regarded as important in brain and mental growth of both the fetus and infant.


• Lecithin guard against harden of the arteries and heart disease by promote normal processing of fat and cholesterol.


• Lecithin is used as a remedy for various psychological and neurological diseases.