Benefits of Lecithin
Lecithin is very important for the processes of brain and nerve activity, and for our metabolism. People who are at risk for atherosclerosis is often recommended to eat lecithin. It can reduce elevated cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Popularly, it is said that the higher the concentration of lecithin to have the body, the better the organ function. Newborns, for example, have a very high concentration of lecithin, which then decreases with age.
Lecithin is an important component of cell membranes, mitochondria, connective tissue, bone and nerve tissue. There is a high concentration of nerve tissue and represent 30% of brain dry weight. In healthy people lecithin is more than 70% of liver fat tissue. High concentrations are also found in heart, bone marrow, kidneys and gonads.
Lecithin is available in a wide range of nutrients and as mentioned earlier, is also synthesized in the liver, where the necessary nutrients are present. Lecithin can not be absorbed directly into the bloodstream, but are broken down during digestion into fatty acids, glycerol and choline phosphate.
Oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids
Unsaturated fatty acids are highly active, which means that the easy part of the chemical compounds with other substances, including oxygen. When the unsaturated fatty acids are oxidized, they lose their valuable biological properties because they become saturated during the oxidation process. Unsaturated fatty acids are oxidised when heated, and vegetable oils should never be used for boiling or frying.
Oxidation of the unsaturated fatty acids in the organism is very easy to avoid by combining intake of lecithin and vegetable oils with natural antioxidant E and vitamin C and selenium.
What Foods Contain Lecithin?
The unsaturated fatty acids and lecithin are found in grains, nuts, seeds, olives, avocados and fish. The most abundant variety is in the plant and fish oils.
Lecithin Side Effects
When lecithin is taken in doses that are higher than 30 grams per day, lecithin side effects have been reported: nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite, along with diarrhea and weight gain. Other lecithin side effects that may occur at high doses include rashes, headache and dizziness, bad breath, unpleasant body odor and sudden weight loss.
