Why do I choose sunflower lecithin? (which comes from sunflowers by the way). It’s a staple in pretty much every basic protocol I have. For both men and women with just about any and all health issues, this is one of those items that everyone should be looking into. I would almost even dare to call it a superfood….almost.
How do you get this into your diet? Simple. I add it to breakfast, add it to smoothies and shakes, I add in to salad dressings… the possibilities are endless, but be warned I ONLY use the powder and avoid SOY lecithin at all costs. If you want to max out the benefits you can even jack your dose to 1200 mg per day for both sexes and not have to worry about overdoing it.
Did you know that your brain is made up of mostly fat? A third of the brains matter is a yellowy-brown fat known as lecithin. Since this is such a major amount of mass it is something we need to look at closely. When I recommend to my patients to consume lecithin (min 600 mg per day for men and 500 mg per day for women) for brain health I have a good reason behind it. You see lecithin holds choline, a vital neurotransmitter phospholipid that just so happens to be involved in THOUSANDS of processes in our body. We are talking about concentration, dexterity, bodily movement, even urination and bowel movements…
Want a healthier brain? Get it into you. Sunflower lecithin helps us to create, repair and strengthen brain and nerve cells. This is beneficial for those suffering any kind of degenerative brain disease such as dementia, parkinson and Alzheimer’s. Clinical studies have shown improvement with as little as 35 mg per day.
Sunflower lecithin also contains linoleic acid, that means cholesterol lowering power. Since lecithin is a fat emulsifier it is essential for removing excess fats from the blood stream. That being said, fat is not the enemy (I think we have put that dietary myth to bed by now). That being said, I am also referring to its ability to remove triglycerides and free cholesterol. This means it is a major player in helping your liver accomplish its detoxifying task. Did you know the only other lecithin containing plant that contains as much linoleic acid is olive trees (i.e: olive oil), but that’s a whole other protocol.
Since we are on the topic of liver detox, lets dig a little deeper. The liver tends to get overloaded with lipids (fats), they then start to accumulate rather than being eliminated. This is part of the reason we need to make sure to help the liver do it’s job. Since there has been a significant rise in a condition known as non- alcoholic fatty liver disease, known to cause type 2 diabetes and even lead to liver cancer, this is something to take note of. Any help the liver can get to run more efficiently is a good thing. phospholipids do that.
It’s also an antioxidant, no shit! Sunflower lecithin contains one of mother natures most powerful antioxidants known as phosphatidylcholine. This helps with prevention from having our cells destroyed by nasty free radicals. Oxidative damage done by these little jerks can cause anything from premature aging to cancer.
For all you gym buffs out there, you are going to like this part. Recovery after an injury or a workout is sped up, due to the linoleic and other oleic acids found in sunflower lecithin. How? Because it helps speed the release of inflammatory transmitters known as cytokines which go straight to the injured area of the body. You can even apply it to external wounds for faster healing.
Suffering arthritis? Lecithin happens to not only be found in the brain, but also happens to be the viscous fluid that sits between our joints lubricating them, every single one of them actually. If we don’t have this we end up with stiffness which eventually leads to permanent joint issues and disease like rheumatoid arthritis. This is where a higher dose comes into play. 100 mg per day is sufficient to protect against this.
So many of us are stressed, and suffering anxiety. This is one of the main reasons I incorporate this into my protocols. The large amount of fat acids help the nervous system by way of strengthening nerve tissues and increasing neurotransmitter activity. Let’s geek out for a second here. Nerve fibres are made up of myelin sheaths. These sheaths are sort of like an information highway that allow impulses to travel to their destination. When they are disrupted then whole nervous system is thrown out of whack, this means mood swings, agitation, depression,anxiety, gut issues, an inability to cope with stress and so much more
How about blood pressure? it’s going to help lower that too.
Sleep quality? You betcha! Because lecithin has more choline than most other plant (or animal) food sources it is going to help you get those zzz’s. Choline is converted into a neurotransmitter known as acetylcholine. Fun fact: the more processed foods you eat the more depleted intros you will be, so a diet high in processed foods is one of the top things you will want to address.
Why not soy? Estrogen, phytoestrogens to be specific. Now this is a controversial one especially in the vegan community. It can lead to hormone imbalances, weight gain, breast growth in men (and women), sexual dysfunction and autoimmune disorders of the thyroid and adrenal glands.
So get out and grab some powdered (not liquid) sunflower (not soy) lecithin and throw it into anything you can. This stuff is awesome.
WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..more wait .. ?
I as well as my guys happened to be studying the excellent key points located on the website then suddenly came up with a terrible suspicion I never expressed respect to you for them. These people became for that reason excited to read them and have quite simply been loving those things. Thank you for indeed being considerably considerate and also for obtaining these kinds of fabulous topics millions of individuals are really wanting to understand about. Our honest apologies for not saying thanks to you earlier.
Thanks a lot for providing individuals with such a terrific opportunity to read from this website. It’s always very beneficial and also stuffed with a great time for me personally and my office fellow workers to search the blog the equivalent of thrice in 7 days to read the latest issues you have got. Of course, we are certainly impressed with all the attractive concepts you serve. Selected 4 areas in this post are certainly the most effective we have ever had.
What’s the differnce between sunflower liquid capsules and powdered sunflower lecithin?
Liquid is processed and can be considered rancid to the body. The powder is much more beneficial.
Dreat discussion thread… thanks so much!
How do Now softgels rate vs powder? I’ve used them for a couple of years but didn’t know that powdered form is considered superior.
Also curious if the body would consider the softgels “rancid” similar to the liquids or if the process thru more cleanly.
I wouldn’t touch NOW brand if it was the last company on the planet, they use so many fillers and quality is not there. Powder, period. You can encapsulate the powder yourself if you don’t want to add it to a beverage etc. But no I don’t recommend the NOW brand and softgels containing liquid will be the same issue. The efficacy just isn’t there.
Hi – I just bought the NOW powdered form and I can’t seem to find anywhere on the labels about fillers. And also – could you recommend clean brands?
I believe MicroIngredients is a good brand of organic non gmo cold pressed powder – it is an American company.
Thank you for all the info. I have a question with this quote: “helps speed the release of inflammatory transmitters known as cytokines which go straight to the injured area of the body.” Would that mean lecithin could cause too much inflammation with a high dose of say 500mg?
I have mast cell activation, pretty well under control. I had past issues with inflammation injuries that I relieved through diet.
Looking to add sunflower lecithin to acerola powder to make liposomal. All the added benefits you wrote about seem like a huge plus.
I’ve not seen evidence of sunflower lecithin in powdered format causing to much inflammation no. I can’t give specific dosing advice as I am not familiar with your medical history and therefore you would need to inquire with your practitioner as to which is best for you. I recommend lower dises on a supplemental level however you seem to be looking at more therapeutic dosage, which changes the scenario.
I started taking Sunflower lecithin 2 years ago in large dosages suggested by a Naturalist. 12 softgels daily, with absolutely no side effects. I’m a renal transplant patient and heart valve patient, and my labs indicate improvement in all areas. It was supposed to decrease uric acid..but it didn’t do that for me. I stopped for a brief period to compare labs without… But will continue again. My question is, can it help with anxiety insomnia issues ?
Sunflower lecithin does help with supporting the central nervous system and to a degree anxiety although I would recommend exploring products like a good quality CBD. I recommend this company due to their quality assurance. slipperybuddha.com
Hello Holly, Does taking lecithin either sunflower or soy cause that TMAO problem ? I have seen depression as side effects of taking lecithin. What to do ? I am trying to use phosphotidyl choline (which is in lecithin) to cure my mental anxiety. Any answer will be appreciated Thanks.
As mentioned in the post SOY based is NOT recommended, are you finding this same issue with sunflower based lecithin in powder format as recommended in the post? I cannot advise you as to what you should be doing as you are not a patient of my clinic, however if you were I would first be testing your DNA to see if there is a genetic component like FMO3, which is a liver enzyme that transforms TMA into TMAO. People with mutations in FMO3 cannot convert TMA to TMAO.
Hello Holly, Does taking any form of lecithin cause TMAO problem ? I am tyring to use phosphotidyl choline (available in lecithing) for my mental anxiety. I do notice depression as side effects If I take lecithing. Any idea ? Thanks.
Hi HK, I am not familiar with your case so cannot give you specific recommendations. You will want to avoid things that elevate your TMAO such as l-carnitine as well as adding in items which decrease it. Have you confirmed if it is related to genetics? That wuld be the first thing I would be delving into if you were a patient of mine. If you find lecithin bothers you or increases depression then my advice would logically be to stop and explore why.
Does 1200mg of sunflower gel caps lower pulse
I don’t recommend sunflower gel caps, sunflower oil is not the same as sunflower lecithin and some brands have been “cutting” what they say is in their products therefore not truly the dose you are aiming for. As for pulse I caution if you feel your pulse is elevated or lower alter the dose as the dose can be subjective. I’m not a fan of high doses since our gut bacteria produce certain metabolites – choline, betaine, and trimethylamine (TMA) from lecithin. They convert them to trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) which is a known atherogenic substance.