Why are lectins bad for you?

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You’ve likely heard people mention the popular lectin, gluten – it’s one of the most common lectins out there. But it’s not the only one. In fact, lots of the “healthy” foods you’ve been trained to eat for centuries are still full of dangerous lectins, including foods labeled as “gluten-free”. 

When it comes to educating yourself about these harmful compounds you might want to look at studies of sources of lectins, kinds of lectins, amounts of lectins, the lectin content of foods and lectin levels in the recipes you make. But no matter the lectin, one thing is for sure… Humans can’t digest lectins.

So, when you choose categories of foods to consume that are high in lectins — like nightshade vegetables, for example — they make it all the way through your gut unchanged. During the digestive process, some types of lectins might even bind to the cell membranes that run along the wall of your small intestine.1 This process allows lectins to communicate with the cells, triggering a response from your body. Regardless of any preexisting health conditions, your body’s response may include something like:

● Nausea

● Diarrhea

● Vomiting

● Upset stomach

● Bloating and gas

● Weight gain

Of course, all human bodies are different. But people who eat a lot of raw, lectin-rich foods (like raw beans, raw kidney beans, lentils, and nightshades) may be more likely to develop such symptoms. Depending on the type of lectin, they may also interfere with human health in other ways. They might interrupt the absorption of vitamins and minerals in your body. Because of this, lectins are often called “anti-nutrients.”

Now, some people are more sensitive to lectins than other people. Again, everyone’s body is different. But if you have experienced digestive issues for some time or you suffer from an autoimmune condition, you could be even more sensitive to lectins.6 Either way, it’s a good idea to chat with your doctor about starting an elimination diet that removes lectins. Ask them about the risks of changing your diet in general. From there, listen to your body and see if a lectin-free diet could be the right thing for you. 

The good news is, if you take the principles of Healthy Wealth’s diet to heart, you can learn to reduce or remove lectins from your diet and support your overall health and wellbeing. And although it will require making some lifestyle changes, going lectin-free may be easier than you think. So, how do you know what foods to consume and what to steer clear of? Here is a compact list of foods to avoid.

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