What is soya lecithin in the composition of products. The benefits and harms of soya lecithin, composition and properties, effects on the body, permissible norms and contraindications.

Lecithin is a generic term for any group of yellowish-brownish fatty substances found in animal and plant tissues and consisting of glycolipids, fats and phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol). Lecithin E322 is an alternative (Polyglycerin or animal lecithin).

Ester and some acids are called lecithins; they are tasteless and odorless phospholipids, they are transparent crystals or whitish powder. When split, lecithins form fatty acids, choline and glycerin.

general characteristics

E322 or Lecithin is a natural food supplement, an antioxidant that has a natural origin. The main supplier of Lecithin is egg yolk, the substance owes its name to it, because in Greek Lekithos - egg yolk (calorizator). Lecithin has strong surface-active properties, which explains its use as an emulsifier when mixing substances of various nature and structure. In addition to yolk, natural lecithin contains meat products, liver, and all kinds of vegetable oils. Refining of vegetable oils, mainly - is one of the methods for industrial production of E322.

Useful properties of Lecithin

Lecithin is necessary for the normal functioning of the human body, it is part of the liver and brain tissue, it is a building material for the restoration and growth of cells, it supplies nutrients and vitamins to all cells of the body. It tends to increase the effectiveness of the effects of drugs.

Harm E322

Food supplement E322 can cause allergic reactions, therefore, products that include Lecithin should be used with caution in people with a tendency to allergies.

Lecithin, food supplement E 322, food manufacturers add to chocolate and chocolate products, margarines and spreads, bakery and confectionery products.

Lecithin is a necessary component of the human body. Its deficiency leads to a number of serious diseases.

Emulsifier lecithin E 322 - a food supplement that is responsible for creating uniform emulsions. For the production of food, vegetable lecithins, soy or sunflower, are used.

Lecithin - a furnace in which fat is burned

The name of the substance comes from the Greek word "lekithos", which means "egg yolk." It is there, and also in sunflower seeds and soybeans, that lecithin should be sought.

Lecithins are a group of complex lipids that perform the most important functions in the human body.

Lecithin Composition

The composition of lecithin molecules includes:

glycerol
fatty acids - stearic, palmitic, oleic, linoleic
phosphoric acid
choline is a vitamin-like substance, a raw material for the synthesis of transmitters of nerve impulses - neurotransmitters.

Lecithin: functions

The main objective of the substance is the construction of cell membranes in the body. Biological membranes are responsible for metabolism, transport of metabolic products, and cell integrity.

Lecithins are necessary for the transmission of nerve impulses, for the formation of the body's energy reserve.

Lecithin: beneficial properties

One of the main properties of lecithin is the fight against bad cholesterol, which makes the substance effective for the prevention of atherosclerosis. It contributes to the proper absorption of fats.

Lecithin is a necessary tool to maintain the normal functioning of the nervous system. It helps to increase mental activity, improves memory, helps with depression.

Lecithin is one of the means to maintain a healthy liver.

Lecithin helps with some skin diseases - psoriasis, neurodermatitis.

Lecithin in foods

For food production, soya lecithin or sunflower lecithin is most often used.

Soya lecithin made from refined soybean oil with minimal heat treatment.

Sunflower lecithin produced by extraction of sunflower oil.

E 322 - natural herbal food supplement, natural emulsifier.

Lecithin: harm

Is lecithin harmful in food? This question is asked by many proponents of a healthy diet, with caution regarding food additives E.

To date, there are no studies confirming the negative impact of E 322 on human health. In addition, lecithin is an essential component of the human body. The substance is used not only in the food industry, but also in the medical. Lecithin is available in capsules and granules as a dietary supplement for the prevention of atherosclerosis, improve the functioning of the liver and nervous system.

Soya lecithin can be made from genetically modified raw materials - this is the main danger of the use of products containing lecithin, according to some consumers. There is also no official information about the dangers of using GM products, but their number is currently strictly regulated. In this regard, there are numerous discussions that you can join on our portal:

Soya lecithin is one of the most popular food additives in the food industry.

This plant emulsifier acquired special distribution on the American continent, displacing egg lecithin from use, the process of obtaining which is more time-consuming and costly.

Soy Lecithin - One of the Most Popular Food Supplements

But, what do we know about the benefits and harms of soya lecithin? Is this food supplement safe for the human body?

In the food industry, soya lecithin is known as an emulsifier encoded with E322. It is widely used in the confectionery business, in the process of making chocolate, in the production of margarine or baby food. Soy lecithin E322 significantly increases the shelf life of finished foods, simplifies the baking process and allows fats to stay in the liquid state longer.

Also, the food industry is known for soya lecithin E476, which is used as a stabilizer and is sometimes identified with its more famous relative. Only these two nutritional supplements are far from the same.

By the way, E476 is banned in a number of civilized countries of the world, while in our homeland this genetically modified substance is often present in chocolate and sweets, pastes, mayonnaises and sauces.

When choosing products, it is advisable to give preference to lecithin encoded E322

The benefits and harms of soy lecithin E476 are constantly debated, since this stabilizer large quantities can provoke the development of oncological diseases in humans, complex liver ailments with a violation of the basic functions of the gland, as well as an increase in kidneys and a decrease in their filtration. That is why, when choosing a finished product, it is very important to study its composition and give preference to products containing the emulsifier E322, rather than E476.

What does soya lecithin consist of?

What is soya lecithin? This emulsifier additive is very appreciated by food manufacturers, as it is a powerful natural antioxidant of plant origin.

The composition of soya lecithin includes:

b vitamins;
phosphates;
phosphodiesthiocholine;
choline;
inositol;
linolenic acid.

All these components take an active part in the nutrition of the cells of the central nervous system, the processes of transmission of impulses between neurons, maintaining the balance between inhibition and excitation.

You will learn more about lecithin from the video:

Emulsifier benefits

Soya lecithin emulsifier GOST 32052-2013 is useful only when it is made from natural and grown naturally soybeans.

It is better not to use soya lecithin with GMOs, which can often be found in ready-made foods, as large amounts of it can provoke the development of cancer ailments and significantly worsen general state human health.

The beneficial effects of soya lecithin on the human body are expressed in the following:

prevention of the formation of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels and a decrease in the concentration of harmful cholesterol in the blood;
improvement of contractile function of the heart muscle;
acceleration of metabolic processes in the body;
oxidation and breakdown of fats, as well as help in getting rid of extra pounds;
improvement of outflow and rheological properties of bile;
gallstone disease prevention;
a positive effect on the balance of trace elements in the body;
cell repair;
help in the work of the brain;
improvement of memorization processes and acceleration of information transformation;
protection against stress, elimination of feelings of anxiety, unjustified fears, nervousness;
weakening cravings for nicotine.

Lecithin helps put your nervous system in order and even quit smoking

Other lecithin obtained from sunflower oil. So, which lecithin is better: soy or sunflower? A similar question is of interest to many people who are interested in the composition of the products they use.

Naturally, a sunflower emulsifier is safer for human health, since it is not prone to cause allergic reactions, which cannot be said about lecithin made from soybeans.

Soy is not always well tolerated by the human body and this should be considered when choosing foods.

Application features

Soya lecithin, due to its positive effects and chemical properties, is currently successfully used in both the food and pharmaceutical industries.

In the food industry

Useful soya lecithin today can be found in a wide variety of pastries, chocolate products, sweets, margarine, mayonnaise, pastes and the like.

When added to foods, lecithin from soy has several options:

when kneading dough, enhancing the effect of gluten, soya lecithin increases the plasticity of bakery products, prolongs their shelf life and contributes to better baking of baked goods;
accelerates the dissolution of granules, for example, powdered milk;
enhances the action of antioxidants by binding salts of heavy metals;
prolongs the suitability of food.

What is chocolate soya lecithin? Chocolate soya lecithin is the component that gives the confectionery its familiar look.

Chocolate would not hold without lecithin

Chocolate without soya lecithin will not keep its shape and will take the form of an ordinary drink. Manufacturers of chocolate without soy lecithin E476 are considered good, since this food supplement is among the unsafe constituents. While the emulsifier E322 is not only allowed to be added to high-quality chocolate, but even recommended for use as a substance with a huge number of useful properties.

In pharmacology

Unfortunately, in order to make up for the lecithin deficiency in the body, a person will have to eat a lot of food products containing this soy emulsifier, which is not always useful and physically possible.

Therefore, pharmacologists decided that it would be more effective to take dietary supplement soya lecithin in capsules, each of which already contains the necessary amount of substance.

According to the instructions for use, granular soya lecithin is indicated for use in such cases as:

smoking addiction;
liver diseases, including ailments of viral etiology, which are accompanied by an increase in bile density and its poor outflow;
memory impairment, distraction, poor concentration of attention;
tendency to obesity, metabolic insufficiency;
multiple sclerosis;
cardiovascular pathological conditions that are accompanied by hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis of coronary arteries;
developmental delay of the child;
soya lecithin during pregnancy is indicated for both the expectant mother and her baby (it contributes to the normal development of the central nervous system of the fetus, protects the mother's body from stress, prevents possible disorders of the musculoskeletal system or fat metabolism).

One of the most famous dietary supplements containing soya lecithin is Solgar Lecithin, natural soya in capsules of 100 pieces.

Soygar Lecithin Soy - A Popular Food Supplement

This effective nutritional supplement allows you to quickly replenish the amount of lecithin that the body lacks and prevent the occurrence of complex pathological processes associated with its deficiency. Unfortunately, this drug is contraindicated for women who are in a position or are feeding their baby breast milk. Adults should take 1 capsule twice daily with food. Regarding the duration of the course of taking dietary supplements, you need to consult a specialist.

Contraindications and possible harm

Is soya lecithin harmful? Many supporters are interested in this. healthy eatingwho do not trust products containing food additives labeled "E". Currently, there are many scientific works on the benefits and dangers of the emulsifier E322.

Fortunately, none of them confirms the negative effect of soya lecithin, made from natural soya lecithin grown without the intervention of genetic engineers, on the human body. Therefore, E322 is considered to be an absolutely safe food supplement.

The only contraindication to the use of soya lecithin is individual intolerance to the components of the substance. Lecithin should also be used with caution in people who have a tendency to develop allergic reactions.

Another thing is lecithin, which is made from genetically modified soy. Such a product is capable of provoking the development of obesity, diseases of the endocrine organs, cancer ailments and the like.

Soya lecithin belongs to the group of nutritional supplements, it is a product of processing vegetable oil. There is a product already containing lecithin, and artificially enriched with it. The supplement is surrounded by myths and rumors, it is worthwhile to understand the dangers and benefits of soya lecithin.

Benefit

The required level of lecithin is important at any age, without it many organs and systems will fail. Beneficial features:

Prevention of atherosclerosis. The absence of lecithin is the basis for the accumulation of cholesterol in the blood. Clogged vascular tubes do not allow active blood circulation. Lecithin does not allow fat and cholesterol to combine, the risk of atherosclerosis is reduced.
The presence of phospholipids in the composition allows liver cells to recover. Excess fat is removed from the body, and the ability to cleanse harmful toxins returns.
Reducing the risk of gallstone disease. The plant product does not allow hard fat deposits to accumulate, stone splitting is accelerated.
Reducing the likelihood of a heart attack. Phospholipids help the body produce the essential amino acid L-carnitine. It gives the heart muscle energy, strength. Muscles receive protection against premature wear.
Preservation of nerve cells. Lecithin produces myelin, it forms a kind of protection of the nerve membranes. With gradual aging, the body needs to consume lecithin more and more for optimal functioning of the nervous system. With frequent stress, anxiety, stress, additional consumption of a soy product is recommended.
Lung protection. Surfactants are synthesized under the influence of a plant element. Under their influence, a protective film of the alveoli is formed. The lungs are protected against toxins, and the risk of cancer is reduced.
Prevention of diabetes mellitus, relieving the symptoms of an existing disease. Lecithin optimizes the production of insulin in the pancreas.
Extension of the reproductive age of men and women, protection against genital cancer.
Metabolism acceleration. Soybean plant element oxidizes fats, actively destroying them. It is advised to use in obesity.

The lecithin is necessary for the children's body for full development. Breasts receive a useful element from mother's milk, older children from food, for example, egg yolk, pumpkin, oily fish and others. Without this element, memory suffers, academic performance decreases, information is absorbed slowly.

Another property is the help in getting rid of smoking. Nicotine and lecithin irritate the same receptors. An additional intake of the element will allow you to deceive the body and defeat the harmful addiction.

Harm

Natural soya lecithin has minimal harm. It should be used with caution only with a tendency to allergic reactions. But if a low-quality product is used, then the risks are high to get a bouquet of diseases.

The producer often without measure adds soy product to sweets, mayonnaise, chocolate. The modified additive acts in the opposite direction - it does not benefit, harm. The use of large amounts of poor quality artificial lecithin contributes to nervousness, reduces intelligence, inhibits the production of thyroid hormones, and leads to obesity.

The additive is allowed in the production of many food products, it is found under the code E322.

Contraindications

Natural lecithin is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance. Artificial additives should be taken in minimal quantities or completely eliminated in the following cases:

the first months of pregnancy;
thyroid disease;
pancreatitis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis and phases of their exacerbation.

Is it possible for pregnant and lactating women

During pregnancy, you can eat foods containing lecithin. It is present in all plant and animal tissues. Most of it is found in legumes, nuts, sunflower seeds, egg yolk. You can get healthy lecithin with special vitamin complexes for pregnant women. Usually they are always recommended by a gynecologist.

Pregnant women are not recommended to put on products with industrial additive E322. The additive is obtained from soybean oil, its cheapness is often associated with the use of transgenic varieties. Artificial lecithin is added to the following products:

ice cream;
mayonnaise;
sweets;
margarine.

Women carrying a baby should avoid products with the addition of genetically modified soy. A large amount in the diet can disrupt the development of the fetus. It is advisable to avoid products with E322 in the first trimester.

But what about during feeding? Lecithin in a large number present in breast milk, it does not need to be consumed additionally by the baby. It is useful for the mother to receive an element from natural sources. In the first months, you should abandon products with industrial additives - canned food, mayonnaise, chocolate.

Structure

Vitamin Composition:

B1, B2, B6, B9, B12;
vitamin E
vitamin PP;
choline.

The product contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as linoleic acid, phosphates, phosphodiethylcholine, inositol.

Storage

If a useful element is present in natural products, then traditional storage rules must be followed. Vitamin complexes are stored according to the instructions.

How to choose

To provide the body with lecithin, it is worth choosing vitamin complexes with this supplement or natural products containing this element. How to choose a vitamin product?

You need to choose an additive made from soya beans, not sunflower. Soybeans contain higher quality phospholipids.
It is important to ensure that unmodified soybeans were not used in the manufacture.
Lecithin is available in the form of grains or in the form of an oily liquid. It is advisable to choose an additive in the form of oil, since in the manufacturing process, higher-quality technologies are used to produce phospholipids.

E322 (another name is "soya lecithin") is a food supplement of the class of emulsifiers and antioxidants. It prevents quick spoilage. food products and allows you to get a homogeneous mixture of components that under normal conditions cannot be mixed with each other.

Is E322 harmful or not? It is believed that this supplement is not only not harmful, but also useful. At least, there is no evidence to convincingly prove its negative effect on the body. Therefore, it is approved for use in the Russian Federation, Ukraine, the countries of the Customs Union, the EU, the countries of the British Commonwealth, the USA and Canada.

Natural lecithin in any body performs the most important function of transporting vitamins, minerals and trace elements to all organs and tissues. Without it, in principle, metabolism is impossible.

That is why its synthetic analogue is widely used in the medical, cosmetic and food industries.

Get it as a by-product in the production of any refined vegetable oil. When processed, E322 is similar to brown wax with a light nutty flavor, soluble in any fat. Then it is divided into various fractions - liquid, large granules or fine powder of the same color.

Application

In industry, food additive E322 is used in the production of dairy products, chocolate and products from it, creams, soufflé, marmalade. Still - mayonnaise, margarine, any dough products. She is "responsible" for increasing the shelf life, preventing the processes of decay and the development of mold. It helps to keep cocoa products to a trade dress - whitish plaque is not formed.

There are no legislatively established restrictions on its use in the food industry. The limit concentration is also not established.

In cosmetology it is generally difficult to find a product where E322 is not included. It is part of creams, tonics, lotions, masks, shampoos and hair balms, lipsticks.

Pharmacological production offers E322 in its pure form as a useful dietary supplement.

It is also added to oil paints, grease-based solvents, pesticides and fertilizers.

Effect on the body

Without lecithin, the human body simply cannot function. And even more - about a third of it consists of the liver and kidneys. However, it is better to get lecithin from natural products. They are rich in nuts, meat, offal, egg yolk, butter, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Its deficiency leads to interruptions in the metabolism, the processes of new cell production and tissue renewal slow down, toxins and toxins accumulate in the body. One more side effect - taken medications are not fully absorbed, their benefits are reduced.

The harm of the emulsifier E322 is that its excess, unlike natural lecithin, which is excreted from the body without problems, accumulates in the tissues. This leads to the fact that further allergies to foods rich in lecithin may develop.

Is there any harm?

The effect on the body of E322 is due to the phospholipids contained in its composition. Its effectiveness as a dietary supplement for diabetes, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, liver, joints and spine has been proven.

However, some facts are alarming:

Most often, E322 is produced from genetically modified soy. No one can predict what will happen to a person in the long run after using it.
According to some reports, soybean processing products negatively affect memory and reduce brain mass.
It contains isoflavonoids harmful to the thyroid gland.
Soy has a negative effect on the body's ability to absorb amino acids.
It is not proven, but it is believed that lecithin can cause premature birth.

Doctors prohibit the use of dietary supplements, which include E322, with individual intolerance to the substance and in the presence of violations in the endocrine system.

Video on the topic of the article