Health Benefits of Lecithin: A Versatile Nutrient for Wellness

Avoiding Soy-Based Lecithin

3 User Reviews

100%

Write a review

Posted by Bev (Long Beach, CA/USA) on 03/29/2009

Lecithin if you have breast cancer.

Hi. I am concerned about using Lecithin since I have breast cancer. I have been told to stay away from any soy products. Any information is appreciated.

Replied by T
(Maryland, USA)
03/29/2009
★★★★★

I too am concerned about soy-based lecithin and I will not take it. You can get lecithin from egg yolks, and also organ meats if you eat those. Dandelion seems to be a good alternative if you'd rather get it from a supplement or plant source. It appears to be a good source of lecithin, along with many other vitamins and minerals in levels comparable to or exceeding commonly consumed vegetables.

http://www.groundreport.com/Health_and_Science/Eat-Your-Weeds-Dandelion
http://www.herbalremediesworld.com/benefits-of-dandelion.html
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/dandelion-000236.htm
http://www.seedsofknowledge.com/dandelion2.html

A caveat from one of the above sites: "If you have an allergy to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigold, chamomile, yarrow, daisies, or iodine, you should avoid dandelion." To this I would add that getting yours fresh from the typical back yard is probably not a good idea unless you're certain there's no heavy metals, pet waste, or pesticides in the soil. Supplements and teas are readily available if you have no access to 'clean' dandelions.

Dandelion is in general quite safe and very nutritious (all parts are edible). It seems to have a lot of potential to treat or support a wide variety of things from warts to liver and digestive issues to yeast infections, breast problems, inflammation, bone building, and much, much more. I refuse to call it a weed! This is one plant we could probably all benefit from looking into further.

Replied by Diamond
(Salisbury, Usa)
06/21/2011

T from Maryland, USA;

I do agree with you on the dandelions; I was reading where about its properties, uses, and it's benefits. I used to take the capsules with the roots included where I found they are just as good, now I am happy to say that I found dandelions fresh in the super market minus the roots which are just as good but I am happy just the same to find this veggie so good. Thank you.

Replied by Cathy
(Washington, Dc)
01/16/2012

After reading Ted's info about "pulling oil" with lecithin granules a few weeks ago I started taking 2 tablespoons per day, "drinking" it in my orange juice in the morning and in water in the evening. But I was a bit concerned about the soy intake so I looked online for non-soy varieties. I was unable to find any non-soy lecithin in granular form online. I ended up ordering a jar of pure raw liquid sunflower lecithin and I just braved my first spoonful. It doesn't taste as bad as I thought it would, but the consistency is rather glue-like. It sticks to my lips and teeth.

Wondering if anyone else has used this form of lecithin and if you have any better ideas for conveniently ingesting a full tablespoon twice a day?

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
01/16/2012
★★★★★

Cathy, liquid lecithin can be poured, a spoonful or so, into a smoothie for easy ingestion. It's very gooey, so after I pour it, I wipe the bottle opening with my finger, then wipe my finger with a napkin. It gets the goo off.

Replied by Timh
(Louisville, Usa)
01/17/2012
2048 posts
★★★★★

Cathy, Now Foods makes a "Sunlecithin" or "Triple Strength Soy Lecithin" in softgels, which are both better than standard soy softgels. I take extra Choline/Inositol to boost the good effects even further without added soy.

Replied by Judy
(Hong Kong, China)
09/05/2012

I am avoiding soy products because I have thyroid problem, so I bought a couple of jars of raw sunflower lecithin oil too before reading on Ted's thread that only granulated lecithin would work.

Did anyone have any success with detoxing with lecithin oil please? I worry about ingesting more oil when my liver is already overloaded.

Best Form of Lecithin

2 User Reviews

5 star (2)

100%

Write a review

Posted by Sarah (Winter Park, Florida) on 11/01/2021 8 posts
★★★★★

I believe the best form is granules, not powder, but sunflower is better than soy and I can't really find sunflower lecithin in granules.

Does anyone have recommendations on exactly what to buy that aligns with Ted's suggestions and where to get it?

Replied by BevilNC
(NC)
11/01/2021

You can get sunflower lecithin at a good price from vitamin shoppe online.

Sarah
(Winter Park, Florida)
11/03/2021
8 posts

You'll see though that all (or almost all?) sunflower lecithin comes in powder form, not granules. You can only find soy granules and I don't want soy.

Replied by Steve
(Uk)
11/07/2021

Now does a good sunflower supplement, cheap considering brand.

Sarah
(Winter Park, FL)
11/24/2021
8 posts

That's the only one I can find in Sunflower but again, it's in 'powder' form not 'granules'. The only granules I find is soy.

With that said, I guess it's safe to assume that when you start using lecithin consistently, you could get detox symptoms like hair loss, amongst other things, right?

Best Form of Lecithin

Posted by Christine (Uruguay) on 10/11/2015
★★★★★

There's ample info to back the negatives of soy lecithin --go with sunflower! Let's start with the fact that hormones require fat for assimilation, and typically you'll find the highest concentrations there....for example, RBST, the hormone used in commercial milk production, is highest in butter, making it very important to consume grass-fed only. ALL fats act as a depository and carrier for more than hormones: know where and how your food is raised and avoid agri-chemicals and heavy metals by consuming organic or transitional only. Non-GMO soy is virtually non-existent anymore, fyi, no matter WHAT the label says!

Best Way to Take Lecithin

4 User Reviews

5 star (4)

100%

Write a review

Posted by Janet (Tennessee, US) on 12/17/2014

I got the lecithin granules that Ted recommends. How do I ingest them? I put some in my morning oatmeal and they cook along with it (melt?). But for the teaspoonsful later in the day? I put some in juice, but had to swallow the grains. I don't eat yogurt. Put some in applesauce and yuck! I don't want to waste it, but maybe warm tea or milk? Don't usually drink milk-it triggers my ibs. The thought of it in tea is repulsive, but I'll do what I must.

Replied by Joana
(Florida)
12/17/2015
★★★★★

Hi Janet, I used to take a lot of lecithin, when I was young , and it was a liquid. It tasted terrible. But I used to take one tablespoon full, closed my nose and swallow up and put something in my mouth right away. Do not mix it, just take plain with little water. God bless you!

Replied by Hans
(Seattle)
05/06/2018
★★★★★

For breakfast, I have 4T of wheat germ, 2T of lecithin, and 2T of ground flax seed with enough rice milk to make it liquid once most of the rice milk is absorbed by the mixture. All of the above is organic and non-gmo. This means that it has to sit for a while. I do like the taste, but others may not.

Best Way to Take Lecithin

Posted by Tee (Chicago, Il) on 03/28/2009

I just wanted to know can you add it to foods such as soup or take it straight up?

Replied by Maureen
(Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada)
03/29/2009
★★★★★

Yes, you can add lecithin granules to soup and eat it straight-up. You can also add it to blender drinks, oat meal, cereal, baked goods etc. etc. etc. Anyway you can think of eating it is good for you.

Replied by Marijane
(Florida)
12/17/2016
★★★★★

I have read from various sources that one should not use / take lecithin with anything hot, so putting it in hot soup is out!

Broad Benefits

2 User Reviews

5 star (2)

100%

Write a review

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.

Replied by Tina
(NSW)
02/25/2021
★★★★★

I started out with a tablespoon of the granules and after a couple of weeks switched over to a 1,200 mg tablet for convenience. 1 x 1,200 mg tablet a day.

john
(texas)
07/20/2024

Hi Tina,

May I ask which granulated brand of lecithin you took at the beginning?

How and when did you take your tablespoon dose?

Did you sprinkle it on food or took it away from food on empty stomach?

Or did you mix in a liquid like water or juice?

What is the brand of the tablets you take?

Thank you

Colitis

1 User Review

5 star (1)

100%

Write a review

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.

Dandelions and Lecithin

2 User Reviews

5 star (2)

100%

Write a review

Posted by Cindy (Usa) on 10/23/2013

Can anyone tell me if you have to eat dandelion flowers with anything else to get the lecitin value from them? I was looking it up and find references to having to drink milk too? I don't drink milk or eat soy(as much as that is possible to avoid) but want to help my liver with lecitin. thanks

Replied by Kelly
(Cambridge, Ma)
10/25/2013

Eggs are the best food source of Lecithin. (Only if they are cooked in a way that keeps the yolks soft, though.)

Replied by Andrea C
(Wales)
04/24/2014
★★★★★

Dandelion is the highest source of lecithin in the world. There is info on the net how to make oil out of everything. Love Andrea C xxx

Replied by Julia
(Tulsa, Ok)
04/03/2015

Use of SUNFLOWER lecithin will solve the soy hormone and hexane problem. Get non GMO and natural brands at the health store . It tastse nice too!

Replied by Wyandotte
(Canada)
08/14/2015
14 posts

About the hormones in soy products, I'm not sure that would apply to lecithin. As I understand it, the components of soy that are not good for our health are not present in the fat. I am willing to stand corrected.

Replied by Ally
(Uk)
10/29/2015

Hi,

If sunflower lecithin comes from sunflower seeds - would it be possible then to get lecithin just by chewing a couple of tablespoons of sunflower seeds along with drinking roasted dandelion tea? Thanks

Replied by Pay It Forward
(PNW)
02/25/2022
59 posts
★★★★★

The 'value' is in Dandelion's leaves & roots. Dandelion is a blood purifier which aids in the process of filtering and straining wastes from the bloodstream. It is useful in treating obstructions in the gallbladder, liver, pancreas, and spleen. The leaves aid in the elimination of uric acid. Use the root primarily for problems related to the liver, spleen, stomach and kidneys, and the leaf for liver, kidney, and bladder concerns. The leaves and root can make an excellent food or tea, rich in minerals, including for growing children... The flowers are used to treat a backache, depression, headache, menstrual cramps, and night blindness.

Detox

4 User Reviews

5 star (4)

100%

Write a review

Posted by Kaybe (Bristol, TN) on 01/24/2009
★★★★★

Concerning Lecithin for Detox: I understand to take granulated lecithin for 5 of 7 days to detox the body from a lifetime of heavy metals, etc. Should this be taken regularly, forever, or just every so often for detox?

Detox

Posted by Patricia (Elmont, New York) on 01/11/2009

Please add a new topic for lecithin. I remember reading some comment from Ted where he mentioned lecithin pushing instead of oil pulling. Cannot find it anywhere. Do we use the lecithin same way as sesame oil or do we just ingest it? Thank you.

Replied by Ted
(Bangkok, Thailand)
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

Replied by Rose
(Milparinka, Australia)
04/23/2014

Once food has been broken down by acids in the stomach, various enzymes in the small bowel from the gall bladder and pancreas and absorbed into the body' it cannot return to the bowel so I don't know how 'free heavy metals, petroleum etc' supposedly floating around in our bodies causing toxicity can be taken up by these oils, returned to the bowel and excreted. You are talking rubbish!

Replied by Gh
(Oz)
10/12/2015
★★★★★

It's not rubbish, Rose. Lecithin can remove toxins that are in fat cells. Search 'phospholipid exchange therapy'.

http://www.ibcmt.com/2012-05-26-IBCMT-PhospholipidTherapy.pdf

Replied by Cato
(Canada)
12/20/2015
★★★★★

Lecithin produces methyanine - then cysteine - then glutathione. Glutathione is a detoxifying antioxidant and immune booster. It makes metals and other toxins water soluble and binds to them, taking them out of the body. Lecithin stimulates macrophages (immune cells) to increase.

Replied by Cato
(Canada)
12/20/2015

Here's a study on how lecithin increases immune cells via phosphatidylcholine:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18846580

Replied by Bruce
(Washington)
06/13/2024

Rose, let me tell you a story. At the gym I go to there is a steam sauna. This one guy was doing a detox to get healthy. He would bring a couple of gallons of homemade green juice with freshly juiced grass from the local river banks, Dandelion leaves, and wheatgrass, along with Celery and Cucumber and Steam distilled water. After a few weeks of doing this daily one day his body "dumped" and I was not there that evening to witness it but all the people that were there told me about it and the man himself. What happened was that whole sauna started to stink to high heaven of Diesel fuel. Come to find out he was a diesel mechanic and all that hydrocarbon poison that you said does not hide in our bodies was coming out of him. I was there the next day and you could still faintly smell the diesel. I inquired about it was excitedly told the story by those who had been present. Keep an open mind, Rose.

General Feedback

Posted by Cindy (CH, WI, USA) on 04/26/2009

i would like to add lecithin to my diet but am concerned after reading soy can cause problems with hormones and i am menopausal. could you please ask Ted?

Replied by Jean
(International Falls, MN)
05/14/2009

if you are worried about soy lecithin, you can poach an egg and get it that way too. you want to cook it to just doneness be careful not to over heat it as it changes the properties. i am not sure how much lecithin an egg has i just know it does my son is special needs and we were told to give him poached eggs for the lecithin a few times a week for nerve support

Replied by Edensong
(Nashville, Tn)
01/14/2010

Because of the soy issues with common lecithin products, I'd like to share that you can purchase sunflower lecithin. It is non-GM, allergy-free, GRAS approved. Just google it and you'll find suppliers.

Replied by Earlygirl
(Sacramento, California, Usa)
03/01/2012

Regarding lecithin and the concern about soy/estrogen, here is an interesting article which essentially states that there may not be an issue.

http://journals.lww.com/epidem/Fulltext/2011/05000/Lecithin_Supplements_and_Breast_Cancer_Risk.33.aspx

Replied by Nellb
(Long Island, US)
06/13/2014

Just wanted to thank Edensong for the sunflower lecithin recommendation.

Herpes

7 User Reviews

5 star (6)		86%
1 star (1)		14%

Write a review

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

Replied by Jacqui
(Brisbane, Qld Australia)
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!

Replied by Anita
(Si, Ny)
05/21/2010

what kind of lecithin did you ingest? Soy, egg, sunflower? thank you!

Replied by Bo
(Edgbaston, Birmingham, Uk)
10/21/2010

Regarding the 2500mg of Lecithin... Is it only for 1 month daily for a cure or does one have to take it when outbreaks occur? & for maintenance? It's been decades of monthly attacks and am at wits end!!!

Replied by Anita
(Ny)
10/23/2010
★★★★★

I started sprinkling non-gmo lecithin on my egg breakfast in July (fairly consistently-maybe missed 7 days since). I used to have monthly facial outbreaks. I've had 2 minor OB (I did ICE, h2o2, lysine, vit. C as well) which consisted of a very small pinhead size scabs. I just continue sprinkling. Kinda scared to stop... Lol

Replied by Thankful
(A, B)
12/07/2010
★★★★★

LECITHIN!! Thank you Freddie from Buckey!!!! I recently contracted the virus, and had breakouts AT LEAST twice a month. I'm talking big, bubbly ob's that itched and were devastating. I tried all the remedies but once the bump emerged there was NOTHING I could do but wait for it to clear up on its own. After reading the comment from Freddie & doing some research of my own, I decided to try Lecithin. I take 2-3 soft gel pills (1200mg) per day. I also wipe my genitals and lower back with DMSO on a cotton ball nightly. I haven't had a breakout in over 4 months and I'm praying I will never have another one. My diet is pretty good, but I do drink wine (red & white) and have not had an issue. I even started having little helpings of chocolate every so often which before would cause a breakout within hours. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS REMEDY. I hope this helps someone :)

Replied by Catherine
(Wellington, New Zealand)
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!

Replied by Maryland
(Los Angeles, Ca, Usa)
09/03/2011
★☆☆☆☆

I took 2400mg of lecithin then up to 4800mg of lecithin daily for two months and the only change I noticed was that my breasts seem fuller :)

But the outbreaks kept coming..

Replied by Falala
(Shreveport, Louisiana, Usa)
12/31/2012
★★★★★

I tried Freddies remedy - 2400 mg lecithin every day. I bought 2 large bottles that contained 100 softgels each. I decided I would take all of the lecithin until I ran out. 3 months worth with absolutely no outbreaks or symptoms. I usually get an outbreak every 2 months. I get tingling every month, but not since I began taking lecithin! Since I am done with both bottles, I am going to take a break and see if there are any changes. Bue, if a breakout occurs, I will go purchase another bottle of softgels and begin taking it again.

Replied by Enzy1
(Khi, Pak)
01/05/2013

hey all... So I have been taking lecithin for a few days and it is keeping the outbreaks a bit in control... Im also supplementing it with oil of oregano, vit c, lysine and beta immune complex... I have a lot of faith in lecithin after reading the post by Freddie and the others that have followed... however, could you pls tell me if this needs to be continued even after a month and if any of u have had recurrent OBs after taking lecithin...pls lemme know!!

Replied by Allison
(Houston, Texas)
03/09/2013

Herpes could be brought on by Aspartame, the sugar free substitute often found in sugar free drinks, gums, cookies, yogurts, protein powder, and others. So lecithin may still help control herpes, but make sure you are not ingesting aspartame. You can find this information under cures for herpes. Wished I had knew this instead of ignorantly chewing sugar free gums for years and all along getting herpes simplex cold sores.

Replied by Annabell
(Miami, Fl, United States)
04/25/2013

To Allison from Houston, Texas,

THANK YOU! Last week I ate 6 greek yogurts in one day! The day after a cold sore appeared this is the worst one yet. It's HUGE. It was going away after I dabbed it with hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol and tea tree oil but I made the mistake of putting neosporin on it before it completely scabbed over.

I just googled aspartame in greek yogurt and sure enough the particular brand I bought contained aspartame!!! Not to mention I was also taking maca capsules. I am getting ready to purchase egg yolk lecithin and use it as part of my regimine which includes lysine, vitamin c , red marine algae, zinc, stress forumula b complex, and some other vitamins.

From now on I will stick to eating PLAIN yougurt.

Replied by Kenny Lee
(Florida)
08/02/2015

Lysine, lysine, lysine. Lecithin probably contains some lysine. Lysine, lysine, lysine ... every day, and you will never have herpes again. Probably works against shingles as well, as these are sister viruses which live in the sheathing around nerves. Arginine is to be avoided, and that means NO CHOCOLATE and peanuts. Lysine, lysine, lysine!

Did I make myself lysinely clear? :-)

Stephanie
(TX)
02/26/2021

Lysine cured my husband's shingles.

Replied by Mary
(Arcadia, Ca)
05/31/2016
51 posts

I worry to take lecithin because soy lecithin is GMO. Will sunflower lecithin work just as well?

Blessings,

Mary

Replied by Shaw
(Fayetteville, Nc)
04/01/2017

How many capsules of Lysine should I take every day. Because I have HSV 1 simplex. And I want to be completely healed from it. So when I go get another test done it will come back negative for herpes. Thanks

Replied by Littlew
(Boston)
04/02/2017

Hi Shaw – probably different for everyone but when I have an outbreak I take 2000mg in the AM and 2000mg in the PM. I do this only when I have an outbreak. I do not take Lysine as a daily supplement nor do I take it for anything else. While taking the lysine I also use my Herpecin lip balm and either hydrogen peroxide directly on the outbreak, or I mix a small batch of very strong Willard Water, and soak it for five minutes several times a day. When I do this it usually doesn't even come out to play. It's my power play. I'm sure others who have suffered this their whole life as I have their own tricks of the trade. Try to stay out of the sun as well during and a general lowering of life stress always helps. Good luck.

Replied by Eddie
(Lusaka, Africa, Zambia)
01/07/2018

I want the same lecithin tablets, where can I buy or order it, coz in Zambia the whole chemistry, they don't stoke it

Replied by Briana
(Baltimore, Md)
09/06/2018

Is this true? I had GH for 7 years. Will it go away in a month of taking lecithin? Any certain diet to follow also and did you get check up at dr and became negative of virus?

Replied by Almostfamous
(Tampa)
06/15/2021

Are you saying you took lecithin for 30 days and were cured Or that you take it daily some 20yrs later?

Improved Memory

1 User Review

5 star (1)

100%

Write a review

Posted by Deirdre (Atlanta, GA) on 04/17/2009
★★★★★

I've been taking lecithin now 2x a day with every meal. I bought the gel caps at Whole Foods (their generic brand). The first thing I noticed was that my memory improved dramatically. I was frustrated the day before I started the lecithin that I couldn't for the life of me remember the name of one of my childhood friends! The next day, a few hours after taking lecithin, the full name of my childhood friend popped into my head along with the name of her dog (Chadsie). Not sure yet about the pulling oil effect that Ted speaks about, but will report back in a month or two. Wanted to report my initial findings...

Lecithin Tips

1 User Review

5 star (1)

100%

Write a review

Posted by Sue (Townsville, Qld, Australia) on 04/27/2009
★★★★★

You can add lecithin to your cooking by replacing some of the fat/oil in the recipe with it. I use it in muffins that way with good results. I've also seen health recipes where you dissolve it in water and use that instead of oil. So if the recipe requires you to "fry an onion", use the 2tblspns of both lecithin and water instead. Just start off with the water and lecithin in the pan then when hot start cooking. It is good.

Replied by Diamond
(Salisbury, Usa)
06/21/2011

Sue, from Australia;I tried soy milk and I had some problems adjusting to soy, I also can no longer drink regular milk as it too affects me so I have tried dream rice which I seem to tolerate very well.

I am wondering now how important is it really to take the Lecithin? I found that selenium and magnesium with calcium and vit. D is great for the brain/memory.....Thanks & good luck

Liquid vs Granulated Lecithin

1 User Review

5 star (1)

100%

Write a review

Posted by Gean (Salina, KS) on 03/13/2009

Would liquid lecithin be just as good as the granulated? Thank you.

Replied by Maureen
(Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada)
03/15/2009
★★★★★

To Gean from Salina, KS. According to Carlson Wade author of Lecithin Book, What You Need to Know, published 1980. The best lecithin is pure lecithin granules which contain over 95 percent phosphatides and about 2 percent soybean oil. Compare that to liquid lecithin which contains approximately 61 percent phosphatides and about 37 percent soybean oil. He cautions against Lecithin Powder which may be altered therefore may be not pure lecithin.

Lecithin
Health Benefits

Health Benefits of Lecithin: A Versatile Nutrient for Wellness