All About Liposomes

All About Liposomes

Liposomal vitamins and minerals are a huge trend right now. There is a lot of excitement  around these types of supplements, many manufacturers are offering  liposomal something right now. What are liposomes? Is it just a marketing gimmick, or is it a huge discovery worth trying? Let’s find out!

WHAT ARE LIPOSOMES?

The word “liposome” is derived from Greek terms “lipos” – fat, and “soma” body. There is a lot of science behind this, which you can read about in scientific literature, but we would like to translate it into a more digestible, less intimidating language. Simply put, it is a ball of fat with two layers of phospholipids, one layer being hydrophilic (attracting water) and the other being lipophilic (attracting fats). Every cell’s membrane is also made of a similar two-layer structure.

Imagine a liposome as a fat-based three-dimensional ball-shaped cage that is able to contain, protect, and carry a particular molecule from one place in the body to another. For example, Vitamin C, which is a water-soluble vitamin, “trapped” in this fatty liposomal cage can be easily taken to the area of the body where it belongs, instead of just passing through the digestive system, not being absorbed and being eliminated with urine. 

We recognize three different types of liposomes based on their size and structure, which determines not only how much of the nutrient is encapsulated inside of it, but also the half-life of the molecule (how long does it take before the lipid layer gets broken down and the nutrient is released and absorbed in the body). 

WHY ARE LIPOSOMES BETTER?

Liquid liposomal supplements are a great alternative for those who have problems swallowing pills, and one of their greatest benefits is the ability to transport nutrients right where they belong, which is our cells. They can carry water-soluble and fat-soluble nutrients effectively, and protect them on the way to our cells, so the amount of nutrients lost during the transport is minimal, compared to non-liposomal pills and powders. 

Even though they can cost more initially, you are actually going to get more bang for your buck! For example, common Vitamin C supplements have a rate of absorption around 8%, the rest of what you ingest  gets eliminated with urine. Liposomal Vitamin C has a rate of absorption up to 95%! See the difference? I personally want to get maximum out of the supplements I pay for, I don’t want to pee out most of it and experience little to no benefits! That would be a really expensive pee! 

WHAT LIPOSOMAL NUTRIENTS ARE AVAILABLE?

There are a few different nutrients available in this form on the market, and there are also many different brands that make liposomes. They are not all made the same, so choosing the right brand is also important. Lipids are quite fragile, sensitive to light and temperature, so how and where things are made should matter to you as a consumer. 

Our trusted brands we stand by are PuraThrive and QuickSilver Scientific. They offer several key nutrients in the liposomal form known to be vitally important for the optimal function of a human body. 

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the most popular nutrients available in liposomal form. It has several important roles in the body and it is involved in many physiological processes. Because it is a water-soluble vitamin, our body is not able to create a reserve of it for later use. If you take more than your body needs, it simply gets eliminated. 

As we mentioned before, our body only absorbs 7-8% of Vitamin C from common supplements, it would take a lot of non-liposomal supplements to meet your daily needs.  Boosting our immunity by very high doses of Vitamin C every day can have dangerous side effects because our natural detox system has to deal with it in order to eliminate it later via urine, which can overburden our liver and kidneys. 

Very high doses of this nutrient can cause diarrhea, and some studies even showed that high levels of supplemental Vitamin C intake can contribute to kidney stones. Liposomal Vitamin C solves this problem by its high absorption rate.

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
Vitamin B12 is one of the most important nutrients for our health, so it is quite concerning that Vitamin B12 deficiency is a very common problem. Cobalamin is only available in animal based foods, vegans absolutely have to supplement with methylcobalamin, which is the activated form of Vitamin B12. Methylcobalamin should also be a supplement of choice for everyone suffering from MTHFR mutation related issues.

B12 is also a water-soluble vitamin, and it is so important for every cell in our body, that making sure it is delivered right where it is needed is critical. Encapsulating it in the liposome is a very effective way to do it! If you want to read more about B12 (and all the other vitamins from the B family).

Vitamin D
This is probably the most studied and most well-understood vitamin out there. It is also extremely important for our health, immunity, skin, and bone quality, it is a vitamin superhero! We recognize two types of it – Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3. 

Vitamin D2 can be found in a plant-based diet, but Vitamin D3 is actually the type that is most essential for human health, and this type can either be found in animal products (mostly liver, fatty fish, bone marrow, eggs) or manufactured in our own bodies using Vitamin D2, cholesterol and exposure to UVB rays from sunshine.

We covered this whole fascinating process in the past, so if you are interested in more details, check the article out and scroll down to the Let the Sunshine In section. 

Vitamin K2
Vitamin K2 is a fat soluble vitamin, it activates protein osteocalcin, which is responsible for proper storage of calcium and phosphorus. If these minerals accumulate in the wrong parts of the body, it can become a massive issue. For example, too much calcium in our joints, heart, and arteries can cause atherosclerosis, which makes us fragile, inflexible, and vulnerable to heart disease. 

In our body, Vitamin D3 plays a major part in the delivery of calcium, and Vitamin K2 is crucial for the storage of calcium, so these two vitamins are best if taken together. That is why we offer it in one bottle as Liposomal Vitamin D3 + K2. Of course, there is much more to Vitamin K2.

Turmeric/Curcumin
Turmeric is a rhizome from a ginger family, and curcumin is a powerful anti-inflammatory compound extracted from turmeric. If you are a fan of Indian cuisine, you are probably familiar with what turmeric tastes like (and how difficult it might be to remove the bright orange stains it leaves on the clothes or a cutting board), but do you know all the benefits of this versatile plant? We wrote an extensive post about turmeric, so you can get all the details there! 

Liposomal Turmeric and Liposomal Curcumin Gold are an excellent boost for your immune system. It has all the benefits of regular turmeric root (or dried powder you might have in your spice rack). Wrapped in this amazing liposomal goodness, these valuable pigments can be easily transported and absorbed by your body at the cellular level. A healthy body can only be composed of healthy cells!

Multivitamin Bomb – Liposomal Ultra Vitamin
Maybe you don’t want ten different bottles of ten different vitamins. Maybe you know for sure you have no significant deficiency, but you still want to support your body with all the important vitamins. Maybe you (like us) are a big fan of prevention, and you understand that doing some work today will prevent you from a breakdown (and possibly a huge financial loss because of an expensive treatment) later. 

Or maybe you just want to give this liposomal thing a shot, you don’t know where to start, but you want to cover it all. Choose Liposomal Ultra Vitamin, which is the most bioavailable blend of all the basic vitamins your body needs and craves!

CONCLUSION

It really can’t be said that one vitamin is less important than another vitamin or mineral. Peak health is not achieved by focusing on one nutrient (unless you have a deficiency, then, by all means, fix that first), health is a question of balance, equilibrium, working simultaneously on all aspects, addressing what we call all pillars of health. 

Especially now, in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, especially during fall and winter, supporting your immune system should be the main focus. If you have any questions about liposomes (or anything health and nutrition-related, really), feel free to contact our health coach here at Life Enthusiast. 

We are not saying that supplements that are not liposomal are not good enough and you should toss them away. But we can confidently say that if you want the best possible absorption of whatever micronutrient you need, liposomes are the way to go. They will deliver micronutrients right where they belong with an excellent absorption rate, which will save you both time and money. 

There are many nutrients that are difficult for our bodies to absorb, and there are also many bodies with insufficient capacity to absorb because of all kinds of health issues. Liposomal technology is an excellent and effective solution! No more expensive urine, get the most of your supplements right now!