April 24, 2019 · Written by Foodtolive Team

Are Lectins Bad for You

Are Lectins Bad for You

Lectins are protein components found in many nutritious plants. Some experts claim that lectins could contain ‘silent molecules’ that cause problems in our immune system among other chronic conditions.

However, other experts indicate that most foods rich in lectins are also rich in other essential nutrients. Therefore, the nutritional benefits obtained may surpass the insignificant, and unconfirmed, adverse health effects associated with lectins.

Exploring this issue further requires a deeper understanding of the terms we are using. Starting by defining lectins themselves.

What Are Lectins

Mayo Clinic defines lectins as protein molecules that occur naturally in plants. There are many types of foods that have high levels of lectins, for example, tomatoes, beans, wheat, potatoes and many kinds of grains. Lectins are protein molecules that protect the plant during growth. Lectins do not have any nutrient value when taken in foods.

Are Lectins Empirically Bad For You

Studies reveal that consuming food containing high percentages of raw lectins may lead to adverse health outcomes. However, this line of reasoning is quickly outweighed by the sheer amount of lectins one would have to take daily, to achieve the said adverse outcomes. You would need to consumer exorbitantly higher amounts than what is found in an ordinary diet, essentially going out of your way to eat lectins.

It is also important to understand that lectins are broken down through the cooking process, and this eliminates any health risks completely. Furthermore, foods that have lectins are often healthy and well balanced. A lot of studies support the value of sticking to a healthy diet, which includes taking fresh fruits, whole grains, and vegetables, the diets that advocate exclusively for foods containing lectins are not the kind that nutritionists recommended.

So, unless you plan on eating nothing but uncooked vegetables and grains containing high amounts of lectins, chances are lectins are not bad for you.

Rely on dieticians to diagnose food allergies

If you take an assortment of foods that bring about sickening symptoms, it is challenging to denote the distinctive cause of the problem without the help of a professional health practitioner. This could be an allergic response or diet intolerance or an issue away from food altogether.

If you have this problem, it is always advisable to work closely with a certified dietician to assess and diagnose what could be causing the symptoms. Some healthcare facilities have healthcare professionals, who have specialized in gastrointestinal conditions, and can help address your health issue.

Sometimes dieticians may advise you to stay away temporarily from some food types that are believed to be causing your allergic responses, time and again. When these food types have been eliminated from your diet, they then can be restored slowly and keenly in a bid to denote the one that could be causing your food-associated allergy. Founded on this as well as other related assessment methods, a certified dietician can give you a contextual recommendation.

It is wrong to generalize the adverse health effects of lectins and claim that it is bad for everyone’s health. What is more, staying clear of most food categories known to have lectins is wrong. This can only happen under the guidelines of a certified dietician and founded on scientific evidence. Dieticians provide a clear structure of healthy foods that can be customized to meet individual needs. This strategy leads to positive health outcomes as compared to keeping away food categories and expect positive health results.