Lecithin for Weight Loss

Losing weight is not an easy battle and people will try almost anything to help the process. Unfortunately not every product on the market is worth the effort or money--some are even bad for your health. Lecithin, however, seems to have a direct link to weight loss and is an active ingredient in many weight loss supplements.

What Is Lecithin

Lecithin, a lipid that is comprised of choline and inositol, is one of the main components within the cell membranes. It has many different functions not the least of which is controlling the amount of nutrients that flow in and out of the cells. Lecithin occurs naturally in soya beans, yeast, peanuts, fish and the yolks of eggs. It is added as an emulsifying agent to foods such as chocolate and margarine.

Lecithin is also available in powder form, tablets or as a main ingredient in some weight loss shakes. The Lecithin contained in most supplements has its origin in soya beans.

There are many different claims made in defense of Lecithin including its ability to do any of the following:

*Transportation and metabolization of fat
*Helping improve performance a endurance
*Contributing to the improvement of mental acuity and reaction time

Lecithin as a Fat Emulsifier

The ability of Lecithin to act as a fat emulsifier is one of the major factors that contributes to its popularity as a weight loss aid. The addition of lecithin during the processing of margarine is because of the way the oil reacts to water. Normally oil when float on top when you add it to water, but if you add an emulsifying agent the oil and water will mix together. In addition to the processing of margarine lecithin is also good for cleaning up oil spills. Though it is effective in breaking up fat in foods does it have the ability to break up fat cells in the body so they can be removed through the metabolism process?

Does Lecithin Help with Weight Loss?

For most people losing weight is a difficult task and for some it is almost impossible. They try and fail and thus attempt to turn toward any product that might make it easier. In addition to dietary supplements containing lecithin many people are also attempting various fat burning products as well. In spite of all the hype about lecithin, no scientific evidence has been presented that shows any kind of connection between the use of lecithin and a person's ability to lose weight.

Lecithin does not possess any ability metabolize enough fat in the body to contribute to any significant weight loss though there is some supporting documentation that supports the theory that the presence of lecithin in the bloodstream may help the fat remain solvent thus preventing it from attaching to the arterial walls and causing the arterial walls to thicken (atherosclerosis) both of which are primary causes of heart disease. This ability of lecithin to assist with keeping fat in the blood solvent is the reasoning behind claims that the consumption of products containing soya decreases your chances of developing heart disease.

Health Benefits of Lecithin

In spite of the absence of any scientific evidence linking consumption of lecithin to weight loss, there are certainly health benefits to be derived from taking lecithin. As identified in the previous section there is evidence to support the theory that lecithin that lecithin helps fat in the bloodstream remain solvent and thus decreases the chances for you to develop cardiovascular disease. Maintaining a healthy heart is one of the basic elements of a long and healthy life.

Lecithin: The Final Choice

The reality is that although lecithin is good to maintain fat solvency in the bloodstream attempting to use it to lose weight is useless. Though supplements will help with your over all general health the only way you will really lose weight is through healthy eating and performing exercises that will increase the rate at which the body burns fat (metabolism).