Choline and inositol are two members of the B complex family that are needed in order to manufacture lecithin in the body. Soy lecithin contains both choline and inositol, but much of our soy is genetically modified, so it's not the best choice.

Lecithin is found in egg yolks and sunflower seeds. Most people don't usually eat sunflower seeds, but they are great for you if you eat them raw and hulled. Some people are concerned about the cholesterol in egg yolks, but the lecithin in them helps the body use the yolk without elevating cholesterol. (Caveat: eating them within reason, is a good idea.)

One of choline's primary jobs is to help the body deal with fats. When you eat fatty foods, choline prevents them from accumulating in the liver. Nobody wants a fatty liver! As a Chaplain, I've wondered if people diagnosed with fatty liver were, in reality, short of choline.

Choline, teams with inositol, acting as an escort for fats by taking them to body cells where they are stored. If there is enough fiber in the diet, some fats will be passed through the intestinal tract.

However, for those who eat a high-fat diet from meat and processed foods, this may cause fat depots in your cells to continue to expand. Since you may not want bulging fat tanks in your cells, you could cut down on eating fried foods and processed meats.

One problem with fried foods is the grease they are fried in may become rancid, especially if it's used over and over. Commercial oils may have been greatly processed with chemicals that leave a residue, so it's not a good idea to have fried foods as a mainstay in your diet.

If you cut down on processed meats such as sausage, hot dogs, bacon, deli cold cuts, and others, you will do your body a favor. The chemicals, particularly sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite, have long been linked to causing cancer in various parts of the body.

Another problem with nitrites and nitrates is that they are a danger to people who eat a diet high in bacon and other processed meats. The chemicals can affect the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen. (National Cancer Institute, https://progressreport.cancer.gov . )

A physician told of a patient who had blood work done following a fast-food meal of a cheeseburger washed down with a milk shake. His blood actually had a white, greasy consistency that coated the inside of the test tube.

This is known as hyperlipidemia (hyper= very high, lipid = fats, emia = in the blood) and can last up to four hours, depending on the amount and kind of fatty foods eaten and how quickly the body processes fats.

It's best to eat very lean, organic beef, if possible. Although fat beef gives a better flavor, we trim much of the visible fat before preparing it.

If enough raw materials are present in the diet, lecithin will form naturally, mainly in the liver (nearly 90%). The liver has a great need for this vital supplement and uses it daily. However, most body cells form phospholipids; which is the larger family of which lecithin is a member.

Certain susceptible people actually develop cirrhosis of the liver, without a history of alcohol consumption. This is likely due to a deficiency of the vitamin choline since choline shortage can cause this. It can also cause gallstones to form, and hardening of the arteries.

Your kidneys also needs choline for health. A deficiency can cause tiny kidney tubes to become blocked by cholesterol deposits. A long time choline deficiency can cause hemorrhaging in the kidneys.

Inositol, the other member of the team, helps the liver produce lecithin. Look on them as necessary raw materials.

Another benefit of consuming lecithin is that, due to its high phosphorus content, it combines with iron, iodine, and calcium. The end result is increased brain power.

Since lecithin is part of cell membranes or walls, you can see that it is, in reality, a vital necessity to your daily health.

If your body produced no lecithin and you had none in your diet, the end result would be that your cell membranes would begin to harden and vital nutrients would no longer pass inside of cells to nourish them.

Wastes would begin to accumulate, which would slowly poison the whole body causing vital organs and glands to malfunction.

So, my friends, think about how you can stay healthy!