By Luke Sumpter Reviewed by: Erin Willis

Today, there's no shortage of recipes out there to infuse any dish, whether sweet or savoury, with the magic of cannabinoids—whether for recreational or medicinal purposes. However, making edibles is as much an art form as growing cannabis is, and there are several things you can do to take your edible game to the next level. One of them is using lecithin to add better structure and more potency to your cannabis edibles.

Keep reading to learn all there is to know about lecithin and what it can do for your edible game.


Understanding Lecithin and What It Is

Lecithin is an umbrella term for a host of emulsifying fats. It is a common ingredient in processed foods and, as you'll learn further down in this article, may also have certain health benefits. Below we'll run you through the basics of what lecithin is, where it comes from, and how it's used.

Sources of Lecithin

Lecithin refers to natural fats found in:

  • Egg yolks: considered the best natural source of lecithin
  • Soybeans: a popular source of vegan lecithin
  • Sunflower seeds and oil
  • Avocados
  • Whole grains
  • Cauliflower
  • Cabbage
  • Meats
  • Peanuts and other nuts
  • Milk
lecithin cources

Common Uses of Lecithin

Lecithin is a group of phospholipids and an emulsifier—in other words, a type of fat that is commonly used as a natural food additive to help ingredients bind together (especially those with a tendency to separate). In the processed food industry, for example, lecithin is a staple ingredient used to help bind ingredients like liquids (such as water) and oils, which normally repel each other.

Besides helping to bind ingredients in food, lecithin also plays a vital role in the body. It makes up cell membranes (i.e. the protective barrier that contains a cell's structures and information), and there's also research to suggest that lecithin may be beneficial for the treatment of liver[1] and gallbladder[2] disease. Moreover, studies have also explored the use of lecithin in the treatment of dementia and cognitive impairment[3].

Lecithin in The World of Weed Edibles

So, lecithin is clearly an important ingredient in the making of processed and pre-cooked foods. But what about cannabis edibles? Could lecithin help take your homemade edible game to a new level? Thanks to its efficacy as an emulsifier, it seems using lecithin in your cannabis edibles can not only improve their texture but also impact their potency.

The Role of Lecithin in Making Weed Edibles

As we mentioned earlier, one of the most common uses of lecithin in processed foods is as an emulsifier. When making cannabis edibles, lecithin and lecithin-rich ingredients like those mentioned above can have exactly the same effect, helping to bind together the ingredients in your edible recipe (much like eggs are sometimes used to thicken bastes and sauces or improve the texture of baked goods). Moreover, lecithin is particularly good at blending oils and water/other liquids that usually want to separate from one another, making it very effective at ensuring your cannabis oil or butter spreads evenly through your entire recipe.

How Does Lecithin Impact The Strength of Cannabis Edibles?

Besides helping to bind the ingredients in your edibles, lecithin may also improve their potency. More precisely, research shows that lecithin and other dietary fats in edibles increase the amount of cannabinoids our bodies are exposed to[4] when we consume them. Cannabinoids like THC and CBD (among others) are fat-soluble, meaning they need to be extracted into some kind of fat in order to be bioavailable (or, available to your body). If you've ever tried eating dry weed or brewing it into tea, you likely found that out the hard way. Using lecithin in your cannabis edible recipes, therefore, may increase the amount of cannabinoids available to your system when you ingest your homemade cookies, brownies, space cakes, etc.

leithin in endibles

The Benefits of Using Lecithin in Cannabis Edibles

Thanks to its effectiveness as an emulsifier, using lecithin in your cannabis edibles has many benefits. These include:

  • Improving Bioavailability of Cannabinoids and Other Fat-Soluble Compounds

Using lecithin in your edibles recipes can help improve the bioavailability of cannabinoids and other fat-soluble nutrients[5], such as vitamins A, D, E, and K. If you're interested in getting as much potential out of the cannabis you put into your edibles, using lecithin is a great way to do just that.

  • Increasing Potency

Lecithin causes your system to be exposed to more of the cannabinoids in your edibles, resulting in a stronger buzz. Whether you're a recreational cannabis user or a medical patient, using lecithin can increase the potency of the effects you feel when consuming edibles. This is obviously very attractive for recreational users looking for a stronger high, but it may also appeal to medical patients wanting to ensure they get maximum relief from their symptoms/ailments when medicating with an edible.

  • Improving Digestion

Lecithin hasn't earned its place as a staple ingredient in foods for nothing. Apart from being an excellent emulsifier, research also shows that lecithin can greatly benefit digestion[6]. On the one hand, emulsified fats are easier to digest and absorb by the body. However, as a key ingredient in the bile produced by the gallbladder, lecithin also plays a key role in breaking down fats in the stomach and small intestine. Moreover, lecithin can also help regulate the speed at which food moves through the digestive system, further helping aid the overall digestive process. Some sources also claim that lecithin may improve the mucous lining your intestines[7], making digestion easier (particularly for people with colitis, IBD, or other digestive issues).

  • Improving Edible Structure

Last but definitely not least, lecithin can have a big impact on the texture and quality of your edibles, making them more enjoyable. Emulsifiers like lecithin or lecithin-rich ingredients will help the ingredients in your edible recipe bind together and combine, making for a uniform, delectable final product. And that's important because, after all, edibles shouldn't just be potent, they should taste great too.

weed dough

How To Use Lecithin To Make Edible Recipes

So, you know what lecithin is, where it comes from, and what it can do for your cannabis edibles. Now, here's how to use it in your cannabis recipes and elevate them to the next level:

  • To use lecithin as a dough conditioner for recipes such as space cakes and brownies, take 1 tsp of lecithin to every cup of flour used in your recipe, dissolve it into the liquid ingredients, and prepare your dough and baked goods as normal. You should notice a notable improvement in the texture and consistency of the final product.
  • To use vegan lecithin as an alternative to egg yolks in your baking, combine 1 1/2 tbsp of vegan lecithin granules with 2 tsp of water for every egg yolk called for in your recipe. Eggs are a key ingredient in baking because they are the best natural source of lecithin and have an excellent binding effect. If you're vegan, you'll want to replace the eggs in a non-vegan recipe with the mixture described here to ensure your baked goods retain their structure and palatability.

Lecithin: Safety and Side Effects

Lecithin is a staple ingredient in all kinds of processed foods. It is considered safe for human consumption even as a supplement at doses of up to 30g daily. However, like other ingredients, lecithin may cause unpleasant side effects in some people or at high doses, including:

  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Stomach pain
  • Fullness

Does Lecithin Enhance The Experience of Taking Cannabis Edibles

Lecithin is an umbrella term that refers to a group of emulsifying fats. A common ingredient in processed foods, lecithin is also present in a wide variety of natural foods, including eggs, soybeans, sunflower seeds/oil, avocados, meat, and more. Thanks to its effectiveness as an emulsifier, lecithin can serve as a great additive to cannabis edibles (especially baked goods such as brownies, cookies, and space cakes), helping to improve their structure, texture, and potency. Moreover, lecithin can also help aid digestion and improve the bioavailability of other nutrients in food, particularly fat-soluble vitamins. If you're looking for a simple way to take your cannabis edibles to the next level, a sprinkle of lecithin might be all you need.

External Resources:
  1. Dietary lecithin protects against cholestatic liver disease in cholic acid https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Nutritional approaches to prevention and treatment of gallstones - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. Lecithin for dementia and cognitive impairment - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. Dietary fats and pharmaceutical lipid excipients increase systemic exposure to orally administered cannabis and cannabis-based medicines - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. Fat-Soluble Vitamins - Diet and Health - NCBI Bookshelf https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  6. LinkedIn Login, Sign in | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com
  7. Lecithin as a Therapeutic Agent in Ulcerative Colitis | Digestive Diseases | Karger Publishers https://karger.com
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: