Most people have never heard of lecithin and don’t know its many benefits, including
improving brain function, balancing glucose levels, enhancing athletic
performance, and improving liver function, to name just a few. After reading this
blog, I’m willing to bet you will find at least one good reason why you should
increase your intake of this important nutrient.
What is Lecithin?
Lecithin is a group of compounds known as phospholipids. Together, they are fats
that protect the integrity of cells and are essential for the healthy functioning of
the liver, brain cells, the nervous system, and overall health and wellness.
Lecithin is found naturally in a variety of foods that you can get in medicinal
levels by simply rotating the following foods throughout your diet. Foods
high in lecithin include beef liver, egg yolk, chicken breast, salmon, shrimp,
scallops, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, black beans, and kidney beans.
Fortunately, I love all these foods and eat them regularly.
If you need more lecithin, possibly for specific health conditions, lecithin
supplements can be taken orally in higher doses or by adding them to a
smoothie. Be sure to check with your health care professional first.
The Benefits of Lecithin
Lecithin is proven to enhance memory, making it important for early onset
dementia and Alzheimer’s. It is also helpful for those of us who just need a
little help remembering where we left our keys, or if we closed the garage
door. Lecithin works on the brain by improving neurotransmitter recall and
encouraging the growth of new neurons in the brain.
Fatty Liver is common, even in people who are not heavy drinkers. The liver
breaks down fats and stores them for later use throughout the body. When
fatty liver is present, large droplets of fat get stored in the liver, preventing
it from functioning properly. This can disrupt the absorption of proteins,
vitamins, and fats.
Lecithin is extremely effective in treating liver issues
because it reduces the fats that accumulate in the liver, improving its
function and its ability to distribute fats where it is needed. When you
increase your lecithin intake, you are also increasing phosphatidylcholine,
which is essential for carrying fats. Improving your liver by increasing
lecithin will help you better absorb the nutrients you eat every day.
Lecithin can help improve inflammatory bowel issues. In one small study,
scientists found that lecithin supplements reduced bowel inflammation by
50%.
Many people are taking pharmaceutical drugs (some for life) to lower blood
cholesterol. Lecithin supplements have been used successfully to lower
cholesterol without the dangerous side effects of statins, which are a
standard and huge money maker for the pharmaceutical industry.
Other benefits of lecithin include:
• Improves sensitivity to insulin, which helps balance glucose levels
• Enhances athletic performance
• Prevents blood clotting
• Improves metabolism
• Improves immune function
• Lowers blood pressure
• Essential for the healthy functioning of the Central Nervous System
• Improves overall health and wellness
Is lecithin safe?
Lecithin supplements are generally recognized as safe when taken in
reasonable doses. It is best to get your lecithin from foods; however, if
supplementation is needed for specific conditions, you should look for the
highest quality product you can find. Even though lecithin is easily found in
grocery and health food stores, and online, it is up to you to read the label
and research the company, just as you would any supplement.
Now that you have finished reading this blog, did you find at least one reason why you should increase your intake of lecithin? Yes, I thought so!
LaVera J. Forbes, PhD, MS, CHN, is the founder of Dr. LaVera’s Healthy Aging, LLC. Find free healthy aging resources at drlavera.com.
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