Depression

[Guest guest]

One question, followed by a comment. Doc Saul mentions

below that brains are a good source of lecithin. I am unable to get

organic brains locally, but I do buy organic marrow bones. I usually

eat some once a week. I checked the USDA Nutrient database at

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/cgi-bin/nut_search.pl but was unable to

find anything on marrow. I am wondering if anyone knows whether

bone marrow contains the same lecithin as brain? With the

possibility of Mad Cow Disease, I would not touch either marrow or

brain unless it came from organic animals. But the organic marrow

is a treat!

 

One comment about lecithin granules. Many years back I

found one particular brand which is much superior in taste than

others, made by Lewis Labs. Really great in my morning smoothie.

It is even good enough to eat plain. Feels odd in my mouth chewing

on the dry granules, but the taste is great. Lecithin also

emulsifies fat & water -- so if I make a smoothie with oils or fats

like flax seed oil or coconut oil, the lecithin makes it real smooth

with no clumpiness.

 

Alobar

 

 

-

" Frank " <califpacific

<alternative_medicine_forum >

Tuesday, September 02, 2003 7:17 PM

Depression

 

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Lecithin is found in egg yolks and most soy products. Three

tablespoons daily of soya lecithin granules provide about five grams

(5,000 milligrams) of phosphatidyl choline. Long-term use of this

amount is favorably mentioned in The Lancet, February 9, 1980.

Lecithin supplementation has no known harmful effects whatsoever. In

fact, your brain by dry weight is almost one-third lecithin! How far

can we go with this idea of simply feeding the brain what it is made

up of? In Geriatrics, July 1979, lecithin is considered as a therapy

to combat memory loss. Studies at MIT show increases in both choline

and acetylcholine in the brains of animals after just one lecithin

meal! Supplemental choline has even shown promise in treating

Alzheimer's Disease. (Today's Living, February, 1982)

 

Lecithin is good for you. How good? Each tablespoon (7.5 grams) of

lecithin granules contains about 1700 mg of phosphatidyl choline,

1000 mg of phosphatidyl inositol, and about 2,200 mg of essential

fatty acids as linoleic acid. It also contains the valuable

fish-oil-like, omega-3 linolenic acid. It is the rule, not the

exception, for one or more of these valuable substances to be

undersupplied by our daily diet.

 

Lecithin tastes crummy. How crummy? Well, the lecithin that is

available in capsules is the most popular. These are sold at health

food stores and are admittedly convenient, but are also expensive. In

order to get even one tablespoon of lecithin, you would have to take

eight to twelve capsules! Since a normal supplemental dose is three

or more tablespoons daily, that's a lot of capsules to swallow. Much

less costly is liquid lecithin. A taste for liquid lecithin has to be

acquired, shall we say. It is easier to take if you first coat the

spoon with milk or molasses. After taking liquid lecithin, it is wise

to have a " chaser " of any dairy product or, again, molasses. Beef and

sheep brains are also an excellent source of lecithin, but don't

expect me to recommend them.

 

Probably the best way to get a lot of lecithin easily is to take

lecithin GRANULES. Stir the granules quickly into juice or milk. They

won't dissolve, but rather will drift about as you drink. Lecithin

granules can also be used as a topping on any cold food. Ice cream

comes to mind. Also, they are not bad if stirred into yogurt. If you

put lecithin granules on hot food, they will melt and you will then

have liquid lecithin.

 

If that " brains " comment a while back is still bothering you, please

bear in mind that all supplemental forms of lecithin are made from

soy beans. An alternate non-soy source is egg yolk. Generally,

maximum benefit is obtained when you eat the yolk lightly cooked

(such as in a soft-boiled egg).

 

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