what’s in your food? (part two)
This month we’re taking a look at the ingredient list and defining what some of those “mystery” ingredients are. If you are going to eat it, you should know what it is, right?
Soy lecithin is a commonly-used surfactant – or, thickener – in many foods on the market today, and may have health benefits. It adds creaminess to recipes and is a source of choline, which helps dissolve fat and cholesterol and can help regulate your kidney, liver and gallbladder function.
Lecithin is an essential nutrient that is required by your body, but not made in adequate amounts. Deficiency in lecithin can cause digestive problems, forget-fullness, nausea, intolerance to fats and joint and muscle problems. Supplementing is a great way to ensure that you have enough of this nutrient.
However, there are more risks than benefits if you choose the wrong kind of soy lecithin – and there are two types:
GMO vs. Non-GMO: When reading labels, search for the initials GMO (or GM, meaning genetically modified organisms) and non-GMO (non-genetically modified organisms). Genetically modified foods have been changed by biotechnology to be resistant to herbicides and insects. While on the surface this may appear to be a good thing to do, the problem with GM foods is that we don’t know the impact on the health of humans or the environment. Research is showing that the DNA fragments can be taken up by the bacteria in our gut and then transferred from this micro-organism to other microorganisms. What will be the long-term effect of bacteria in our gut being modified? The answer is unclear, but resistance to antibiotics and moderate to severe allergic reactions are suspected. Enough studies about the risks of GM foods have come out to cause consumers to demand non-GMO products.
Soy, along with corn, makes up the highest percentage of GM crops in the market, which means the soy lecithin you are eating may be genetically modified. Many commercial food companies use lecithin in nutritional bars, mixes, and baby foods, so make sure you check the label for non-GMO soy lecithin. Since the labeling laws of GM foods are still undergoing debate, the best way to avoid GM soy lecithin is to stay away from processed foods.