Sunflower Lecithin: What You Need to Know

Lecithin: The Basics

Are you familiar with lecithin? Essential for the proper functioning of the human body, lecithin is a substance made up of fatty acids naturally found in the tissues of your body. Lecithin is found in many foods, including soybeans, egg yolks and sunflower seeds. Taking lecithin as a supplement has been shown to improve liver function, cholesterol levels, arthritis and high blood pressure.

Sunflower Lecithin: The Benefits

Sunflower lecithin, specifically, is created by dehydrating a sunflower and separating it into three parts: oil, gum and solids. The lecithin is derived from the gum and processed through a cold press system. In the food additive world, sunflower lecithin works as an emulsifier—suspending fats and oils, keeping them from mixing with other substances. Sunflower Lecithin aids in emulsifying fats, enabling them to be dispersed in water, which is why many recipes like homemade vegan butter, plant milk and cookies call for sunflower lecithin powder. Plus, this ingredient is rich in choline and other essential fatty acids such as phosphatidylinositol.

Sunflower Lecithin vs. Soy Lecithin

While soy lecithin is currently more common than sunflower lecithin, the latter may be a better alternative. Soy is a top allergen, often genetically modified and typically processed with other chemicals. On the other hand, sunflower is organic, not a common allergen and is ideal for those trying to avoid GMOs in their food. Not to mention, the extraction process for sunflower lecithin is gentler than soy lecithin, not requiring harsh chemicals. Due to its cost-effective nature, soy lecithin often appears in commercial products, but sunflower lecithin is likely worth the extra cost for many manufacturers due to the ingredient’s unique composition.

Why Market Acceleration Group?

Although sunflower lecithin has been available in the marketplace for decades, we’ve recently added it to our product offerings. You would be hard-pressed to find a distributor who does their homework to the same degree as the Market Acceleration Group. We only source from the highest-quality producers to get the very best ingredients for our customers. Would you like a sample of sunflower lecithin? Contact our team of experts at [email protected] today!