Nutrasal PhosChol Sunflower PPC

From brain health to heart health, and circulation to wrinkles, PPC might be the answer you are looking for. How could one supplement possibly help everything---it might sound too good to be true. However, any supplement or nutrient that is used by EVERY cell in your body is bound to have far-reaching and systemic benefits. It might sound too good to be true, or like some sort of fairy magic---but it’s just science.  

PPC is not an entry-level supplement because of the price point and knowledge involved. This blog, along with the other blogs I have written, will educate you on the science behind this supplement and answer questions and misconceptions surrounding PPC. 

The Science: 

All of your cells are built of the same raw material. They each have a cell membrane made out of the exact same material. That material is fat, otherwise known as lipids.  A majority of the lipids in your cell membranes are polyenylphosphatidylcholine also shortened to phosphatidylcholine or PPC.  

Polyphosphatidylcholine (PPC for short) is the lipid that makes up about 65% of the material in all of your cell membranes. Cell membranes are responsible for transporting nutrients into your cells and protecting your cells against invaders (infection) or free radicals.

If PPC is so important, why isn’t it in our diet? 

If you have a fat-rich, whole-foods diet, you may be getting enough phosphatidylcholine (PPC) in your diet. However, with the amount of oxidative stress, toxins, damaged fats, and processed foods in our modern culture, it's quite likely you are not getting adequate amounts from your food. 

Also, if you are trying to optimize brain function, heal from infections, brain injuries, or other symptoms, you will want therapeutic doses of PPC that are almost impossible to get through food sources alone. Using PPC supplements is backed by over 400 clinical studies and over 50 years of use in Europe.  

Nutrasal has been producing high-quality PPC liquid and capsule supplements since 1983. They are a family-owned and operated company that is dedicated to cellular and brain health. Nutrasal imports pharmaceutical grade purified PPC that provides 7X More 1,2 DLPC  and 3X More Phosphatidylcholine than any other PPC supplement

Nutrasal PhosChol is guaranteed to be 100% phosphatidylcholine. Nutrasal also offers a vet and children’s formulas. Here is a blog about using the children’s formula for TBI’s and other brain-related developmental issues. And here is the vet formula that I use for my little dog who has a spinal cord injury. 

Besides being highly purified, Nutrasal PhosChol also has an added benefit. It is the only phosphatidylcholine (PPC) formula that contains DLPC ( 1, 2 Dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine.)

What is 1, 2 Dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine?

1,2 DLPC is the most potent part of phosphatidylcholine. This nutrient in PPC is also an antioxidant that protects cells from free radicals. The lipid portion is used to build and maintain cell membranes and the antioxidant part is used to protect cells from oxidative stress. 

What is the difference between polyphosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylcholine and PPC?  

There is no difference.  They are the same nutrient. The scientific name is “polyphosphatidylcholine” and a common shortened name is phosphatidylcholine.  PPC is the abbreviation used for both polyphosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylcholine.

What is the difference between lecithin and PhosChol? 

Lecithin is a larger fat-based nutrient often called a phospholipid. It is found in your body and in many plants. It can be purchased as a powdered supplement and is used as an emulsifier in many supplements and beauty products. Lecithin contains choline molecules and choline contains phosphatidylcholine and some of those molecules are 1, 2 Dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine. When you take lecithin you get small amounts of phosphatidylcholine and 1, 2 Dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine, but nothing that is guaranteed or measured. 

On the other hand, when you take Nutrasal’s PhosChol you're getting up to 7X More 1,2 DLPC  and 3X more Phosphatidylcholine than any other PPC supplement.

What is the difference between sunflower lecithin and soy lecithin?

Sunflower lecithin is derived from sunflower seeds, while soy lecithin is from soybeans. In the United States, there is an alarming rate of soy allergies.  Soy is known as one of the Top 8 food allergies. According to the CDC at least 94% of all of the soy produced in the US is from GMO genetically modified soy crops. This presents a problem if you want to supplement with lecithin to increase your choline intake. 

Sunflower lecithin is non-GMO and not a common food allergen. The lecithin used to produce the original Nutrasal PhosChol is certified non-GMO and tested by PCR standards. 

What is the difference between Sunflower PhosChol and Nutrasal PhosChol liquid or capsules?

Nutrasal offers Sunflower PhosChol in liquid form only. Each 8oz bottle contains 43 servings. The liquid is a thick golden liquid that contains 2500 mg in 5ml/1 teaspoon. 

The original Nutrasal PhosChol (non-GMO soy) is available in liquid or capsule form.

Is phosphatidylcholine safe?

Purified PPC has been used as medication in Europe for over 50 years. Almost a billion doses have been used worldwide, with another 350 million used in European nations. There have not been any reported toxic side effects.  Choline and phosphatidylcholine supplements have been clinically researched for over 30 years.

How does Nutrasal Sunflower PPC liquid compare to NOW Sunflower Lecithin capsules?

Please keep in mind that comparing capsules of lecithin powder to Nutrasal PPC liquid is NOT comparing apples to apples. It is comparing a whole apple tree to the apple. Sure, you could eat the whole apple tree, but what you really want is the tasty apple. There is no need to consume the whole tree when all you want is the best part---the apple.  In fact consuming the whole would likely cause complications and unwanted side effects. The same is true of sunflower lecithin versus concentrated PPC Phos Chol.   

Remember, lecithin is the whole food from which PPC is isolated. The studied nutrient that has been proven to improve cellular membranes is NOT lecithin, it is PPC. 

Now brand boasts 1200mg of sunflower lecithin in 2 softgels. However, if you want a therapeutic dose of PPC, you must take 15 soft gels to equal just 1 teaspoon of Nutrasal’s PhosChol. The side effects of taking that much lecithin would include diarrhea, nausea, gas and headaches.  Additionally, there are other less helpful fatty acids in lecithin that would compete for absorption of the prized and well-studied DLPC.

What are food sources of choline?

Food sources of lecithin and choline are: 

• Egg yolks 1 large 147 mg
• Beef liver 3 ounces 356 milligrams
• Sunflower seeds ¼ cup 19 mg
• Soybeans ⅓ cup 107 milligrams
• Cod 3 ounces 71 mg
• Tuna 3 ounces 25mg 

To learn about choline, check out my other blog, Are You Getting Enough Choline?

Why would I choose Sunflower PhosChol over the original Nutrasal PhosChol?

Sunflower PhosChol is made from sunflower lecithin while the original Nutrasal PhosChol is made from soy. The soy that is used is non-GMO and is verified by PCR genetic testing. Some people have an allergy to soybeans and avoid soy products. The phosphatidylcholine molecule is extracted from the fat compounds in soy and not the protein portion.  Even if you are allergic to soy, it is likely soy protein that causes an allergic reaction.  Nevertheless, to avoid allergic reactions or sensitivities I recommend using Sunflower PhosChol. 

How to take PPC liquid: 

The flavor of PPC liquid isn’t delicious. Keep in mind that it is a concentrated phospholipid, not a fruit smoothie or ice cream. It is not formulated for your taste buds---it is formulated for your cellular health.  It has a thick consistency and is somewhat bitter. You can guzzle it down and chase it with something strong like almond butter or a frozen berry.   

Keep in mind a few tips:

Take your PPC with a meal or snack or chew your PPC. To absorb your PPC or any other liquid, you need your digestive juices and secretions. Those are only released when you chew.

To digest and properly absorb any type of fat, whether that is a whole-food avocado or PPC liquid, you need lipase enzymes. Those are made in your pancreas and saliva. When you chew your food, small amounts of lipase are released with the saliva in your mouth. More lipase is mixed with your food once it travels down to your small intestines. 

Here is a recipe for a cellular and brain-boosting protein shake. It is a great way to take your daily PPC and intake some other healthy nutrients. 

2 scoops Numedica Total Vegan Protein or Phytotein
1-2 TBSP of fiber
1-3 teaspoons Nutrasal PPC liquid
2 tablespoon seed cream (recipe below)

Optional ingredients to enhance taste cacao powder, stevia, monkfruit powder, frozen berries, maqui powder

Seed Cream Recipe:

• 1 cup organic raw sunflower seeds
• 1 cup organic hemp seeds
• ½ cup raw organic chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon Trace Minerals Concentrate or other non-flavored liquid mineral supplement

Pour seeds into bowl. Cover with filtered water and let soak 8-12 hours.  

After soaking use an immersion blender, Magic Bullet, Vitamix, food processor, or other blender to blend seeds.  Add water to desired consistency. 

If you want to make a single serving of seed cream combine

• 1 tablespoon raw organic sunflower seeds
• 1 tablespoon raw organic hemp seeds
• ½ tablespoon organic chia seeds 
• 1 cup filtered water
• 1 dash of celt, himalayan, or Real Salt

Let sit overnight so that the seeds are easily blended with additional ingredients.  Once blended the seed cream can be divided into individual servings and frozen.  I like to add a few tablespoons of seed cream to a non-dairy yogurt.  

Titrating your dose of PPC liquid

As mentioned above, liquid PPC is a concentrated fat-based supplement. If you decide to start taking PhosChol liquid or increase your dose, you will be much more successful if you titrate your dose. If you begin by taking 1 full tablespoon, your digestive system---specifically your lipase enzyme production and pancreas, may not be equipped and you will end up with diarrhea. This is sometimes referred to as “disaster pants" for obvious reasons. Titrating your dose slowly over time, will allow your whole digestive system to adapt and absorb the PPC.  

The recommended maintenance dose is 1 tsp or 2500mg. However, many people trying to recover from brain-related symptoms see better results at higher doses. 

Here is a recommended titration schedule: 

This schedule will allow you to gradually increase your dose until you can take 1 teaspoon at a time or higher doses as desired.  Adding a digestive enzyme or tudca supplement can also help with digestion and absorption.  

What does Nutrasal PhosChol do for my skin? 

PPC is a beauty aid from the inside out. When we see fine lines and wrinkles, we usually reach for a topical treatment.  While these can be effective, wrinkles start at the cellular level and are caused by oxidative stressors. Common stressors that cause oxidative damage to your cells are:

• Air pollution including cigarette smoke
• High stress lifestyle/high cortisol and adrenaline
• Pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals in your food
• Lack of sleep
• High sugar diet/high insulin
• Alcohol use
• Chronic or acute infections

These and many other stressors create free radicals in your body. Free radicals are the molecules that lead to the oxidative stress that damages your cells. The result of the damage shows up as many symptoms including aging skin, spots, fine lines, and wrinkles.  

On the other hand, if you are fortifying your cells with healthy fats, including PPC, your cellular membranes will remain more flexible and less likely to incur free radical damage.  And the end result is smoother-looking skin and less wrinkles.  Lecithin, which naturally includes very small amounts of PPC is in almost every beauty product and topical treatment for dry skin. 

On a personal note, I have had a low thyroid and incredibly dry skin my entire life.  I often get dry heels that will crack and bleed if I do not monitor them conscientiously.  Since taking PPC as part of my personal health protocol, I have seen far less dry skin on my body. Overall my heels are less dry and crack less often. Hopefully, continued use will alleviate the cracking altogether. 

PPC does double duty as an anti-aging nutrient for your body, both inside and out.  It is an anti-aging and beauty nutrient that starts at the cellular level. 

What if I don't like it? 

PPC is not a supplement you take for the taste or a treat. It is a therapeutic nutrient intended to support cellular and total body health. I recommend adding to a protein shake, green drink, or other type of smoothie.  Alternatively, you can swallow the dose and follow up with a snack or meal to leave a pleasant flavor in your mouth. 

How do I use it?

I recommend 2-3 grams per day or 1 teaspoon per day for maintenance and prevention and 5-6 grams per day for healing brain-related symptoms or injuries. 

Are there any side effects?

There are no reported contraindications or side effects. 

How long before I see results?

There have been thousands of medical studies utilizing PPC supplements.  Most studies showed improvement in symptoms and blood markers at 6-9 weeks.  

Are there any limits to how long I can take it?

There are no reported side effects from taking PPC long term. 

Is PPC safe for Kids?

Yes, it is safe and effective for kids. Nutrasal makes a kid’s formula that is more palatable.  

Is PhosChol vegan?

Yes, the PhosChol liquid is vegan. The PPC 900mg capsules are NOT vegan. 

The PhoChol 600mg capsules come in vegetarian caps and ARE VEGAN. 

Can I take PhosChol with other products?

Yes, you can take your PPC with other supplements.  In fact taking a lipid supplement, like PPC, will help the absorption of other nutrients such as vitamin D and minerals. 

Nutrasal’s PhosChol is truly a supplement for cellular health.  Instead of a bandaid, PhosChol strengthens your cells enabling a root-cause approach to your symptoms.

Conclusion

Phosphatidylcholine is an important nutrient for every cell in your body.  It is a root's cause solution for cellular health and longevity. Nutrasal's PhosChol is the purest and most potent phosphatidylcholine supplement available. If you would like suggestions on how to implement Nutrasal's PhosChol into your health protocol, please schedule a consult with me, Carly Neubert BA, NC.