Reduce excess fat and improve cellular communication
(NaturalHealth365) Choline is one of the more valuable nutrients of a healthy diet. This “unpopular” nutrient helps us get rid of toxins; absorb more nutrients from food; and prevent excess fat from being stored in the liver. Let’s not forget the most important reasons for a healthy diet – enhanced cellular communication; stress reduction and protection against disease.Why should you care about a choline deficiency? Honestly, (most) people suffer from chronic health problems because of a poor diet. And, believe it or not, obesity; reproductive issues; even cancer can be associated to a lack of choline.
Avoid toxic overload using the right nutrients
Choline was discovered in the 1930’s and studied for its ability to prevent fat and cholesterol from building up in the liver. In fact, did you know that choline protects the liver and is a key component to maintaining good health? This is important to know since, according to the Institute of Medicine, only 10 percent of Americans get an adequate amount of this nutrient.
Science reveals that choline gives cell membranes the ability to transfer both water and fat-soluble molecules into our cells and waste products out. In other words, without choline – our cells would become toxic!
Improved cellular communication will reduce chronic stress
Choline contains chemical structures called methyl groups. This is what helps cells communicate with each other, and are used by the body to turn genes on and off. They have been shown to reduce inflammation and boost detoxification. This process called, “methylation” is essential for a healthy life and reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease, depression and Alzheimer’s disease.
Research published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) journal; found that choline can even lower stress. For example, researchers found that pregnant women who ate 930 mg. of choline per day had 33 percent lower levels of cortisol compared to women who ate only 430 mg. daily.
It’s widely known that elevated levels of cortisol, the “stress hormone” can lead to lots of health problems – especially babies exposed to high levels (in the womb) have a higher risk of developing type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure and other stress-related disorders.
A smart way to prevent excessive cell death and disease
A study of men and women fed intravenously (IV) with solutions, which contained adequate methionine and folate but lacked choline developed fatty livers and other signs of liver damage. However, when choline was provided all signs of liver damage were resolved.
A recent study looked at 57 adults who were fed a choline-deficient diet under controlled conditions found that 77 percent of men, 80 percent of post-menopausal women, and 44 percent of premenopausal women developed fatty liver, liver or muscle damage. These health issues were resolved when choline was placed in the diet.
In choline deficiency, liver damage seems to be the result of increased (apoptosis) cell suicide when deprived of choline. Another recent study showed that 51 men and women fed a choline-deficient diet showed signs of DNA damage.
A nutrient rich diet has many rewards
Choline isn’t (technically) a B vitamin, but is included since it works closely with other B-vitamins. In fact, it works closely with folic acid and vitamin B12 – to process fat and keeps the heart and brain functioning as they should. The way to get choline in your diet is to include foods that are high in lecithin – which the body breaks down into choline.
Foods that contain what you need to produce choline are: pasture-raised eggs; grass-fed beef; organic vegetables like, cabbage and cauliflower; organic (non-gmo) soybeans and chickpeas. Naturally, dark leafy green vegetables like, collard greens and kale – are a great choice. And, of course, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, mushrooms, and organic (non-gmo) soy lecithin are additional good choices.
There is no “Recommended Dietary Allowance” (RDA) for choline but getting enough of this valuable nutrient is not difficult providing you avoid overly-processed foods. Remember, dead food promotes death and whole (natural) foods promote life.
About the author: Blanche Levine has been a student of natural healing modalities for the last 25 years. She had the privilege of working with some of the greatest minds in Natural Healing including Naturopaths, Scientist, and Energy Healers. Having seen people miraculously heal from all kinds of dis-ease through non-invasive methods, her passion now is to help people become aware of what it takes to be healthy.
Sources:
http://www.vitaminstuff.com/choline.html
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/othernuts/choline/
http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/choline
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19906248
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