Lecithin Sunflower

What is hiding under the term lecithin

Lecithin is a fat-like component found in some foods, including sunflower seeds.

The world learned about this fat-like element from the scientist Gobley, who was originally from France and was able to isolate this compound in the middle of the 19th century. The source turned out to be egg yolk. However, the benefits of lecithin have been talked about relatively recently.

It contains triglycerides, phospholipids, and glycolipids. This ether compound is not only found in food. It is also sold in pharmacy chains as a food additive. And if earlier it was obtained exclusively from egg yolk, now it is from sunflower seeds.

Comparison of soy and sunflower lecithin

Soy lecithin is obtained from refined soybean oil. This supplement is recognized as genetically modified food. Sunflower lecithin, unlike soybean lecithin, has the following advantages:

• Does not include phytoestrogenic compounds.
• Does not cause allergic reactions.

There is one more significant difference. The fact is that sunflower lecithin is a combination of phospholipids extracted from sunflower seeds by cold pressing without the use of chemical compounds, due to which this type of lecithin is considered very pure. While in the production of soy lecithin, chemical components are used in the form of hexane or acetone.

Soy undergoes genetic changes, which cannot be said about sunflower seeds. In addition, it contains phytoestrogens - compounds similar in effect to estrogens. This is dangerous for the male body. But these compounds are absent in sunflower lecithin.

It is also worth mentioning that sunflower lecithin is healthier and safer than soy lecithin. Therefore, if you are wondering which lecithin is better to take, you should know that you will get more benefits from sunflower lecithin.

Health benefits

It is difficult to overestimate the role of lecithin for our health and life, because this substance is present in all cells of the human body. The maximum percentage of the content is found in the brain, heart, immune, circulatory and digestive systems.

The processes in which lecithin is involved

• Maintaining immunity. The fatty acids contained in the substance have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. They provide the body with reliable protection against the aggressive influence of viruses and microbes that cause all kinds of infectious diseases.
• Cell integrity, metabolism. With a shortage of this "building material", regeneration processes slow down, metabolism is disturbed.
• Lowering cholesterol levels. Modern tests show that lecithin reduces the level of cholesterol already deposited on blood vessels by an average of 20% and activates the processes of its natural excretion.
• Overweight. The phospholipid complex takes an active part in the fight against excess weight, due to its ability to oxidize and destroy fat cells.
• Decreased sugar levels. A unique feature of phospholipids is the qualitative strengthening of the pancreatic cell membranes, which are directly involved in the production of insulin, as well as the optimization of glucose levels in the body.

Sunflower lecithin: side effects

This type of lecithin contains a large amount of fat-like compounds, due to which it can provoke an attack of gallstone disease. If the recommended dosage is exceeded, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting may occur.

Sunflower lecithin is a versatile product that has found application in medicine, the food industry, and in the cosmetic field. Without this substance in the body, cell membranes will not be fully built. And he needs a person in any age category.