Ingredient Profile: Sunflower Lecithin

Lecithin

Lecithin comes from the Greek lekithos, meaning egg yolk, and is a term used to describe yellow-brownish fatty substances that occur naturally in animal and plant tissues.

It is used in foods and supplements to provide a smooth, moist texture and to keep ingredients from separating. Because we want to blend oil based cannabis with water based medicinal herbs or other water ingredients AND we are committed to creating products that are cruelty-free, we use sunflower lecithin in some of our tinctures. 

 

Sunflower Lecithin

Sunflower lecithin is made by dehydrating a sunflower and separating it into three parts: oil, gum, and solids. The lecithin comes from the gum. It is processed through a cold press system like the one used to make olive oil.

 

Sunflower Lecithin vs. Soy Lecithin

Most companies use soy lecithin in their products. But there are three big issues with using soy lecithin:

  • Many people are allergic to soy.
  • Most soy is genetically modified.
  • Soy lecithin is often processed with chemicals.

Sunflower is the opposite. Most sunflower is organic, not genetically-modified, and is not processed with chemicals. It is also not considered a top allergen.

Because soy lecithin is cheaper, you will find it in the majority of commercial products. We have chosen to use sunflower lecithin, despite the added cost, as pure ingredients are our number one priority.

 

Health Benefits

Lecithin is essential to your body. Sunflower lecithin is rich in choline and other essential fatty acids such as phosphatidylinositol (say that three times fast!), and some people take it as a supplement.

Lecithin supplements have been shown to help support the body's natural cleansing process and assist in supporting healthy functionality of the liver. Sunflower Lecithin has also been known to support heart health and body care.

So while soy lecithin is really just an empty additive, certified organic sunflower lecithin has positive health benefits while also holding our tinctures together and helping to deliver wonderful herbal blends.

This is also interesting and can be logically applied to all cannabinoids including CBD: “Since lecithin contains phospholipids, the process of encapsulating the THC, and making it water-soluble and absorbable, can be completed prior to ingestion. This liposomal encapsulation process that lecithin facilitates, makes edibles especially potent, since the micelles that it creates serve as a disguise for the THC resin inside the body, allowing it to be absorbed more readily. https://wakeandbake.co/lecithin-cannabis-oil/