What Are the Benefits of Lecithin Granules?

Lecithin is a fat-like substance produced by the liver that is a key building block of cell membranes in the human body and is essential to maintaining overall health. Most people don't consume enough lecithin in their diet, so supplementation is a good idea. Lecithin granules, which are made from soy flour and liquid lecithin, can be added to smoothies, cereals and shakes.

Heart Health

• Lecithin granules have long been associated with promoting a healthy heart, mostly due to their ability to break up cholesterol into smaller masses and preventing it from building up in artery walls. Decreasing fat and cholesterol in the blood stream leads to increased cardiovascular health.

Love Your Liver

• While the U.S Food and Drug Administration hasn't approved lecithin's use as a treatment for fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis or liver disease, the BGA (Germany's equivalent of the FDA) has published reports saying it believes that lecithin does treat all of these liver disorders.

Bi-Polar Disorder, Alzheimer's and Dementia

• Phosphatidylcholine, lecithin's ingredient, is also essential to nerve function. Several small studies have sought to determine whether using it as a treatment for Alzheimer's, bipolar disorder and dementia is effective. However, results so far have been inconclusive.

Prevents Gallstones

• Gallstones form in the gallbladder when there is an excess of cholesterol in the body that cannot be processed. Because lecithin breaks down cholesterol and fat and allows it to mix with water, those broken-down particles can be carried out of the body faster, leaving the gallbladder with less work to do. So, if you've got gallstones, taking lecithin granules won't remove them but they will help prevent new gallstones from forming.