Food supplement E322 (lecithin): features, application and reviews

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

The food additive E322 or lecithin was discovered at the end of the 19th century. It was found in egg yolk.

E322 is a substance that the human body uses as a fuel and material through which cells are formed.

Many people are afraid of the letter E in the composition of products and wonder if the food additive E322 is dangerous or not. Whether lecithin harms the body, where it is used, in what products it is contained - is discussed in this article.

Natural sources of lecithin

Lecithin has a color similar to protein. It is usually in the form of a powder or liquid.

It can be found in the following products:

• pumpkin and sunflower seeds;
• liver;
• nuts;
• butter (butter and vegetable);
• milk;
• egg yolk.

Basicdestination E322

There are two main roles of lecithin:

• antioxidant - helps extend product shelf life;
• emulsifier - helps blend foods that don't mix normally (water and fat).

Lecithin has an excellent function - to reduce the surface tension of liquids that do not mix. It can even combine liquid and solid matter into one whole (in this case it becomes a dispersant). If solids are mixed, then E322 prevents them from sticking to each other.

As an emulsifier, lecithin can be used not only for the manufacture of food products. It is also used with great success in cosmetics, inks, paints, fertilizers and explosives.

What foods use E322?

Food industry is the main industry where this additive is used. And this is natural, because, as mentioned above, lecithin acts as an antioxidant and significantly increases the shelf life of the product.

E322 can be found in the following foods:

• ice cream;
• bread and baked goods (makes dough plastic);
• confectionery (pastries, cakes, chocolate);
• milk powder, cocoa (makes them more soluble);
• condensed milk;
• margarine;
• pasta (except durum varieties);
• vegetable oils (refined).

Should I eat foods with lecithin?

Of course it is. After all, the food additive E322 has only a positive effect on the human body. A lack of lecithin in the human body can adversely affect its he alth.

• First of all, the nervous system will begin to suffer. A person will feel constant fatigue, insomnia will haunt him, his mood will constantly change, and attention will decrease significantly.
• Lack of lecithin negatively affects the digestive system. A person begins to be disturbed by constant indigestion, diarrhea, bloating.
• High blood pressure - also as a result of a lack of lecithin.

Is food additive E322 dangerous or not? No, because lecithin is not GMO! This is an important element that is necessary for the normal functioning of the body.

Benefits of lecithin

Lecithin belongs to class 4 - it is almost not dangerous.

The impact on the human body of the food additive E322 is extremely positive. Almost half of the liver consists of this substance. Lecithin is also found in the cells that surround the spinal cord and brain. It is simply necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system.

Food supplement E322 performs the following functions in the human body:

• Maintain normal liver function. Lecithin prevents various diseases: cirrhosis, hepatitis, obesity, intoxication.
• Activation of bile production.
• Helps the body eliminate toxins.
• Lecithin is an excellent antioxidant, it helps to cleanse the human body of all substances,that interfere with its normal operation.
• Removes cholesterol, reducing its level by 15%.
• Improves circulation.
• Improves fat metabolism.
• Increases resistance to stress and reduces fatigue.
• Helps the absorption of vitamins E, A, K and D.

Those who watch their figure should also pay attention to this nutritional supplement. Carefully study the composition: if there is E322 and there are no harmful products, then you can safely eat this food. The supplement helps to reduce weight, because it improves metabolism!

Harm of lecithin and contraindications

The food additive E322 does not bring harm to the human body. The only exceptions are those people who are allergic to egg yolk.

E322 is the strongest allergen! If you ignore this fact, you can harm your he alth. Who should limit or minimize their lecithin intake:

• pregnant women;
• nursing mothers;
• children;
• people allergic to yolk.

You should definitely monitor the body's reaction to this food supplement. If you observe symptoms such as nausea, frequent dizziness and high salivation, then be sure to reduce the use of food supplement E322. Seek medical attention if these symptoms persist.

The industrial E322 should be treated with extreme caution. It is obtained from soy. Some manufacturers, trying to save money, use raw materials with GMOs, and this can adversely affect human he alth.

Use of lecithin in other industries: medicine

Lecithin has a beneficial effect on the body as a whole, but this is not its only advantage. E322 is widely used in medicine and helps relieve the symptoms of certain diseases:

• Gastritis, ulcers and colitis. Food supplement E322 protects the gastric mucosa from harmful components.
• Psoriasis and dermatitis. Lecithin greatly alleviates the condition of a patient who has skin diseases.
• Fibromatosis of the uterus, diseases of the mammary glands and mastopathy. Regular intake of lecithin prevents the occurrence of tumors in the genital organs. E322 increases libido.
• Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. E322 improves brain activity.
• Lecithin lowers blood sugar.

Cosmetics

Lecithin is simply indispensable in the cosmetics industry. Reviews confirm that this substance is often included in skin care, hair care and decorative cosmetics.

Emulsifier and antioxidant lecithin:

• gives skin elasticity and saturates it;
• cares for problem skin and relieves inflammation;
• prevents aging;
• improves hair condition;
• normalizes the sebaceous glands.

Other industries

E322 properties were also useful in other industries:

• Production of paints, solvents.
• Ink making.
• Productionfertilizer.
• Creating vinyl flooring.
• Explosives making.

Where E322 is made

Russian manufacturers are leading in the production of lecithin. According to reviews, high-quality E322, which does not contain GMOs, is produced in the following cities:

• Kaliningrad region, city of Svetly;
• Amur Region, city of Blagoveshchensk;
• in the Krasnodar Territory;
• St. Petersburg;
• Moscow.

The following countries also produce lecithin:

• Japan;
• America;
• Netherlands.

Here, lecithin is created exclusively from egg yolk. E322 is produced for both food and industrial purposes.

But still, if lecithin is so useful, why do many people have a negative attitude towards this nutritional supplement and try to avoid it? It's all about the quality of the lecithin. It is not uncommon that the manufacturer is unscrupulous about the creation of E322 and uses it for the manufacture of GMOs. According to reviews, it is this substance that most often adversely affects the body.

Currently, there is control over the produced raw materials, so low-quality lecithin can be found less and less. If the manufacturer nevertheless applied GMOs, then he must indicate this on the packaging of the manufactured goods.

It is not recommended to completely abandon the E322, you just need to choose those manufacturers who are conscientious about their work and produce quality products.