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Soybeans say it all! Soy Lecithin is a mixture of phospholipids which are derived from the process of soybeans which is used as a natural emollient in many different foods and industrial applications. Soy Lecithin is when soy beans lecithin is harvested. Soy lecithin is a by-product of soybeans. In order to produce Soy lecithin the soybeans are kept at a low temperature with a lot of moisture. This moisture allows the soybeans to hydrate and loosen the hull. For about a week the soybeans stay in a low temperature processing plant and are cleaned after a man of 10 days. The soybeans are then cracked into tiny pieces and the beans are separated from the hull and the soybean oils are extracted through a distillation process.
Soy lecithin is a by-product of soybean processing. It is an additive used as an emulsifier or lubricant found in many food consumed daily. If you check the nutrition labels and the ingredient lists on the food you purchased, you will find it used in small amounts usually less than one percent. Soy lecithin can be broadly classified into three types: natural or unrefined, refined, and chemically modified. Soy lecithin is used in baking products to make the dough less sticky and help it rise, it is used as an emulsifier in candy bars to prevent the cocoa and cocoa butter from separating.
Research indicates that soy lecithin significantly lowers cholesterol and triglycerides and increases the level of good cholesterol (HDL) in the blood. It is good for brain health. In fact, many researchers believe that soy lecithin is beneficial in treating dementia, amnesia, Alzheimer’s and other brain-related disorders. It has also proven beneficial in the treatment of gallbladder disease, liver disease, some types of depression, anxiety, and eczema.
Soy lecithin has many uses outside of just the food industry. It is used in the pharmaceutical industry to help with emulsification and encapsulation of drugs. It is used to enrich fat and protein in animal feed. It is used in the painting industry as a protective coating, helps to prevent rust, and helps maintain the mixture of pigment in the paint. It is also used as an anti-sludge and anti-gumming agent in motor lubricants and gasoline.
As mentioned, soy lecithin is one of the by-products of soybean processing. To produce lecithin, soybeans are kept and tempered at a consistent temperature and moisture for about a week in order to hydrate them and loosen the hull. The soybeans are then cleaned after a maximum of 10 days, cracked into small pieces and beans are separated from the hull, after which soybean oil is extracted through a careful distillation process. Once soybean oil is produced, Soya lecithin is then separated from the oil through the process of steam precipitation or centrifugation.
One of the most essential facts about buying lecithin that you have to know is that it is a complex mixture of phospholipids that naturally occurs in the body. Though it does have beneficial effects, lecithin is not an essential nutrient. It provides protection to the cell by facilitating the movement of fats, ions, wastes and nutrients in and out of the cell. It also keeps the cell structure strong and helps retain its shape.
