What Is the problem with lecithin and other emulsifiers?

Lecithin and other emulsifiers present in highly processed foods can have several detrimental effects on health, particularly concerning gut health and appetite regulation. Andrew Huberman explains that emulsifiers can damage the mucosal lining of the gut, which impacts the signals that regulate hunger and satiety. This disruption can lead to overeating, as the body becomes less capable of detecting how much food and nutrients it has consumed, especially after switching from highly processed to less processed foods 1.

Emulsifiers cause structural changes at a micro-level in the gut. The neurons in the gut, which help signal the brain about the food's nutrient content, retract due to the presence of emulsifiers. This leads to a failure in deploying proper satiety signals, like CCK, making it difficult to stop eating at appropriate times 2. Additionally, this damage can affect the hormone signaling to the brain, further promoting overeating and making it hard for the body to accurately measure and respond to the intake of amino acids, sugars, and fatty acids 3.

These effects underscore the broader issue that a calorie is not just a calorie, meaning the quality and processing of food significantly impact health beyond simple caloric intake. The rise in health issues such as diabetes can be linked to the consumption of these highly processed foods, highlighting the importance of choosing unprocessed options 3.