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Does Lecithin Reduce Cholesterol?

High blood cholesterol is one of the leading risks for heart disease. You can use a number of options to reduce cholesterol levels, including medication, diet, exercise and supplements. One of the supplements that can lower your cholesterol level is lecithin.

  1. What Is Lecithin?

    • Lecithin is a fatty material made of choline and inositol. It is a component of all living cells that regulates nutrients moving through the cells.

    What Is Cholesterol?

    • Not all cholesterol is bad. Understanding which is which can help you make better lifestyle choices. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in blood lipids. It helps form cell membranes and some hormones. Cholesterol cannot dissolve in the blood. Lipoproteins have to transport choelsterol, hence, the last L in LDL and HDL. LDL cholesterol tends to clog arteries while HDL cholesterol is an effective transporter of cholesterol. In blood tests, both types of cholesterol are measured individually and added together. Your doctor won't be concerned if your HDL is high, only if the LDL is.

    How Much Is Too Much?

    • The measurement of blood cholesterol levels tells your doctor how much fat is in your blood. The measurement is in milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dL. Your measurement should be less than 200 mg/dL. Borderline high is considered between 200 and 239 mg/dL. High is considered 240 mg/dL and above. If your measurement is high or borderline high, you'll need to lower you cholesterol level.

    What Does Lecithin Do?

    • Lechithin mimics the function of HDL cholesterol with LDL cholesterol. Lecithin helps cholesterol and fat travel through the bloodstream by keeping it solvent in the blood so it doesn't attach to the artery wall. This action essentially turns LDL cholesterol into HDL cholesterol and moves it out of the body. However, medical and scientific studies have been inconclusive about whether this is what actually happens.

    How Do You Consume Lecithin?

    • You consume lecithin naturally through foods such as egg yolks, soybeans, grains, fish, legumes and peanuts. Supplements are also sold in capsule, powder or granular forms. The average person's diet contains 50 mg a day of lecithin, which is enough for the body to function properly. To lower your cholesterol, you will want to increase this amount by taking a lecithin supplement.

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