Lecithin
Health Benefits

Lecithin - Editor's Choice

| Modified on Feb 13, 2025
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Lecithin granules.

Lecithin is a naturally occurring fatty substance in various foods, including egg yolks, soybeans, sunflower seeds, and liver. It is a key component of cell membranes and plays a vital role in maintaining cell structure and function. Due to its versatile properties, lecithin is used as a dietary supplement and in the food industry as an emulsifier.

This article explores the numerous health benefits of lecithin and how it can support overall wellness.

Health Benefits of Lecithin

Incorporating lecithin into your diet can offer a variety of health benefits. Here are some of the key advantages:

  • Heart Health: Lecithin contains phospholipids essential for maintaining healthy cell membranes and promoting cardiovascular health. It helps lower cholesterol levels by enhancing the breakdown of fats in the body, reducing the risk of heart disease.
  • Brain Function: Lecithin is a rich source of choline, a nutrient vital for brain health. Choline is a precursor to acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter in memory and cognitive function. Regular intake of lecithin may support improved memory, mental clarity, and overall brain function.
  • Liver Health: Lecithin protects liver health by promoting fat metabolism and preventing fat accumulation in the liver. This can help prevent and manage conditions such as fatty liver disease.
  • Digestive Health: Lecithin acts as a natural emulsifier, aiding in the digestion and absorption of fats. It can also help improve bowel movements and reduce symptoms of digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Ted from Earth Clinic mentions that lecithin, particularly in granulated form, is effective at "pulling" oil and toxins from the body, much like oil pulling but more efficiently. This process helps in removing fats and oil-soluble heavy metals through the stool, contributing to overall detoxification.
  • Skin Health: The moisturizing and nourishing properties of lecithin make it a popular ingredient in skincare products. It helps maintain skin hydration, improve elasticity, and repair the skin barrier, making it beneficial for conditions like eczema and dry skin.
  • Immune Support: Lecithin contains essential fatty acids that support immune function. It helps in the production of healthy cells and tissues, enhancing the body's ability to fight infections and recover from illnesses.
  • Weight Management: By promoting the efficient metabolism of fats and improving digestive health, lecithin can aid in weight management. It helps the body process and utilize fats more effectively, which can contribute to weight loss and maintenance.

How to Incorporate Lecithin into Your Diet

Lecithin can be found in both food sources and dietary supplements. Foods rich in lecithin include egg yolks, soybeans, sunflower seeds, liver, and certain dairy products. Lecithin supplements are available in various forms, including granules, capsules, and liquids, and can be easily added to meals or taken on their own. Ted recommends taking at least one tablespoon of granulated lecithin daily for optimal benefits, highlighting its efficiency in detoxifying the body by solubilizing and removing fats and heavy metals.

Conclusion

Lecithin is a versatile nutrient that offers a wide range of health benefits, from supporting heart and brain health to improving liver and digestive function. Its natural emulsifying properties also make it a valuable addition to skincare routines. Incorporating lecithin into your diet can support overall wellness and enhance your body's natural functions. As with any supplement, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional to ensure that lecithin is suitable for your individual health needs.

Continue reading below to see feedback from Earth Clinic readers on their experiences with lecithin, and share your own stories!


The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Broad Benefits

Posted by Tina (Nsw) on 07/17/2020
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I started taking Lecithin in granule form for treatment of fatty liver on advice of Ted on Earth Clinic website. I have been feeling generally a lot better in many ways, my memory is sharp to the point of recalling childhood memories as if they were yesterday, I am faster to think of witty responses in conversations, anxiety is gone, my tummy is toning up, I am not reacting to foods with bloating, my IBS is gone, my inflammation has gone down, and my skin is clear. I feel great and don't intend to go a day without this wonderful nutrient.


Colitis

Posted by June (Cincinnati ) on 02/21/2018
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Lecithin cures colitis. Google it. I used sunflower lecithin. Some research says eating it won't work (because you need some patented drug! ). Others say it does work. In any case, eating it with yogurt worked for me!!!!! Hope this helps someone.


Herpes

Posted by Catherine (Wellington, New Zealand) on 08/13/2011
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

So glad to finally know why I no longer suffer from herpes outbreaks. From childhood I was always breaking out, my lip line shows evidence of old scarring. Anyway when I was early thirties I started studying nutrition and began taking lecithin. It was some years before I realised I was no longer getting the dreaded herpes tingling and subsequent blisters but I never made the connection with lecithin. I just assumed I had "grown out of it" I am now 69 and have not had an outbreak in nearly 40 years!


Herpes
Posted by Jacqui (Brisbane, Qld Australia) on 01/08/2010
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

After 12 years with the curse of Herpes Virus I read comments from Freddie from Buckeye US and thought "what would one more thing to try hurt" - I took 2 x 1200 of Lecithin when I had an outbreak and it was clear within 24hours. I would like to thank him for sharing that information, it worked for me!


Herpes
Posted by Freddie (Buckeye, AZ, USA) on 02/17/2009
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I tried Lecithin. A Bechtel engineer who worked at a laboratory when he was younger told me that they grew the herpes virus. They used Lecithin to control and kill the herpes virus. He saw the herpes breakout on my face one day at work. He told me to take 2500 mg each day for a month. I asked him why he hasn't come forward with this information. He said that the FDA was too powerful to fight.

It worked for me. I haven't had a breakout in 20 years.

As I understand it, hospitals use Lecithin based baby formulas on new born babies born to women with genital herpes.

Lecithin 2500 mg a day for a month


Detox

Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 01/16/2009
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Dear Patricia: Under Pulling Oil, you ingest lecithin, which goes INSIDE the body and causes rancid oil, toxic oils and bad oils (such as gasoline and hydrocarbons) to be removed from your body, through stools, thus reducing the toxins built up over the lifespan. It should be noted that the body simply has no means of ridding hydrocarbons out of the body except with the use of a fat emulsifier, such as lecithin.

Ted