Perhaps a relative, friend or even the media might have mentioned gluten. Alternatively, you could have come across it through other means. Gluten has been receiving nothing less of positive attention, however, there is more than what meets the eye. This is because it is a kind of lectin that is present in plants.
Lectin adversely affects health. In fact, gluten intolerance might just be caused by it as it actually lectin intolerance.
Lectins
They can be described as a group of plant protein that is readily available in vegetables. Their main function is to protect the plants from both human beings and animals. Not all of them are toxic but a majority are. The toxic type is responsible for the discomfort following their consumption. The main aim is to discourage human beings and plants from consuming them hence the discomfort they cause.
Their scientific definition is that of a protein that binds to carbohydrates. They do not have an immune origin and are known to agglutinate the cells of the human body. When lectins are consumed, they clump carbohydrates together before attaching to them to the human body cells. The body cells that are easily accessible are usually the target. Sialic acid (brain sugar) is the main victim. However, the protein is highly susceptible to bacteria, viruses, as well as many other diseases.
Adverse Effects
These sticky proteins can cause serious damage to the normal functioning of the human body. Inflammation is the common way by which the body reacts to its toxicity, some of the sensitivity symptoms include gas, diarrhea, leaky gut, digestive issues, nausea and bloating. All of which result in great discomfort.
Because lectins have a high susceptibility to bacteria and viruses as well as the fact that they bind to body cells, means that you are likely to get sick compared to individuals who do not consume gluten foods. You can read the definitive guide to lectins and Lectin Shield here.
Weight gain is yet another negative effect of the consumption of this dangerous protein. In fact, if its consumption is not checked it can result in obesity. Nonetheless, there are some individuals who consume it specifically to gain weight in the course of winter. The extra fat helps in keeping them warm during the cold weather.
Foods Rich in Lectins
There are certain foods that contain high concentrations of lectins and should be eliminated in the diet. Some include wheat, rice, peanuts, split peas, lentils, barley, soy, potatoes, red kidney beans, and lima beans.
Despite the fact the consumption of lectins is associated with discomfort, all of them are not toxic. In case of constant discomfort, go for medical consultation for SIgA or weakened IgA. SIgA can be described as the lining of the gut that shields the body from the harmful effects of dangerous toxins that have ingested.
It sounds like there are so many foods containing that it would be impossible to avoid them completely. Some will have a harder time than others, and that’s why supplements were invented! There’s one that will reduce the effects of lectins, even though it’s still a great idea to reduce them in your diet. Check out this blog about Lectin Shield. It will provide you with a lot of information about what’s in the supplement. And for a clear understanding of how it helps, we suggest listening to the man that created them, Dr. Gundry, in this interview about effects of Lectin Shield. He goes into the science of blocking the negative effects of lectin while staying lectin avoidant.
Gut Flora and Sensitivity to Lectins
The degree to which one can be after the consumption of lectins is highly dependent to just how well their gut flora is equipped to fight against them. This means that sensitivity varies from one individual to the next.
Tiny microorganisms inside the digestive system are what constitutes the gut flora. These microorganisms affect metabolism, the level of preparedness of the human body to defend itself, processing, and digestion of nutrients.
Healing
The organism that constitutes the gut flora and the host have a symbiotic relationship. This is because they receive shelter and in turn assist in fighting diseases. The best way of combating lectins and keeping the gut healthy is to stop consuming foods that contain them.
Avoiding them is the first step to healing your gut because there are other factors that damage the gut. These factors include sugars and carbs, these should be lowered and instead increase the consumption of proteins as they are more beneficial. Other ways of healing the gut include the following:
i. Eating vegetables that are pressure cooked.
Consumption of certain vegetables like romaine lettuce and celery
iii. Consumption of some fruits like pineapple, citrus and others.
iv. Incorporating foods like eggs and seafood in the diet.
Looking up recipes on Pinterest on Lectin Shield and reducing lectins
Conclusion
The medical world is very busy trying to determine more health effects of the consumption of lectins. Nonetheless, it is a personal decision to begin the journey of completely recovering from sensitivity to lectins. In fact, a single week without eating foods rich in lectin is enough to make your gut healthy once more. Therefore, quit lectins today.