Lecithin

(Greek: lékithos: egg yolk) Lecithin (also lecithin) is the generic term for a group of fat-like substances. Rich in lecithin are egg yolks and all types of tuber and root vegetables such as carrots, parsley root and celeriac. Lecithin is also found in vegetable oils and pulses.

Uses

In the food industry, lecithin is used as an antioxidant, emulsifier, stabilizer and flour treatment agent. Lecithin is not an essential food component. Some dietary foods are also enriched with lecithin as it is said to have a health-promoting effect. These products are often advertised as lowering cholesterol levels and boosting mental and physical performance. In view of an increasingly ageing society, the question of quality of life in old age is becoming ever more urgent. In order to improve it, the previously underestimated great potential of lecithin, a substance with a wide range of effects, should be given much greater consideration. This was the conclusion reached by experts at a conference in Stresa, Italy, which was also attended by the world's leading lecithin specialist Professor Steven H. Zeisel from the University of North Carolina (USA), the world center of lecithin research. His studies have shown that the fat-like substance has a key function in the organism. Lecithin is usually obtained from soybeans, rapeseed, peanuts, sunflower seeds or hen's eggs. When extracting lecithin from soybeans, soybean oil is first produced by pressing and extraction. The lecithin contained in the oil is then dissolved out with the help of steam. Lecithin is contained in varying quantities in many foods as an accompanying substance of fats. The lecithins from different foods differ in the type and quality of the fatty acids they contain.

- Lecithin is the vegetable form of the phospholipid complex in a high concentration of active ingredients. It is free of cholesterol. The light yellow color and the pleasant taste stand for the high quality of lecithin.

- Lecithin is very easy to dose, can be easily incorporated into individual diet plans and tastes very good with a wide variety of meals.

- Lecithin is just as useful for schoolchildren as it is for adults who are physically or mentally overworked, for mothers and women going through the menopause and for senior citizens. It is also good for potency. By supplementing your diet with lecithin, you give your body the chance to stay fit.

Tasks in the body

Lecithin is an essential component of cell walls and nerve tissue (especially in the brain). During digestion, as a component of bile, it ensures that the dietary fats ingested can be absorbed by the body. Lecithin is involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins. Together with other substances, lecithin also regulates the permeability of cell walls for certain substances. Without lecithin there is no respiratory chain, without lecithin there is no mobility of the membranes, without lecithin there is no life!

Lecithin supports and regulates

- cell respiration - the function of the nervous system - cholesterol metabolism and blood lipid levels - liver-bile metabolism - cardiovascular function - muscle performance - learning and memory performance

Side effects

An overdose of lecithin may cause diarrhea and/or nausea. Follow the recommendations on the bottle!