Lectin-free diet: Difference between revisions
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The lectin-free diet forbids all foods that are high in lectins including [[legume]]s (beans, chickpeas, lentils, peas), [[grain]]s, [[fruit]], [[nightshade vegetables]] ([[tomato]]es and [[potato]]es), nuts, seeds and many others.<ref name="Rosenbloom"/><ref name="Amidor 2017">{{Cite journal|last=Amidor |first=Toby |year=2017 |title=Ask the Expert: Clearing Up Lectin Misconceptions |url=https://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/1017p10.shtml|access-date=2023-02-08|journal=Today's Dietitian |volume=19 |number=10 |page=10}}</ref> The first writer to advocate a lectin-free diet was Peter J. D'Adamo a naturopathic physician, best known for promoting the [[blood type diet]]. D'Adamo has argued that lectins may damage people's blood type by interfering with digestion, food metabolism, hormones and insulin production so should be avoided.<ref>Goldstein, Myrna Chandler. (2002). ''Controversies in Food and Nutrition''. Greenwood Press. pp. 221-222. {{ISBN|0-313-31787-9}}</ref> |
The lectin-free diet forbids all foods that are high in lectins including [[legume]]s (beans, chickpeas, lentils, peas), [[grain]]s, [[fruit]], [[nightshade vegetables]] ([[tomato]]es and [[potato]]es), nuts, seeds and many others.<ref name="Rosenbloom"/><ref name="Amidor 2017">{{Cite journal|last=Amidor |first=Toby |year=2017 |title=Ask the Expert: Clearing Up Lectin Misconceptions |url=https://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/1017p10.shtml|access-date=2023-02-08|journal=Today's Dietitian |volume=19 |number=10 |page=10}}</ref> The first writer to advocate a lectin-free diet was Peter J. D'Adamo a naturopathic physician, best known for promoting the [[blood type diet]]. D'Adamo has argued that lectins may damage people's blood type by interfering with digestion, food metabolism, hormones and insulin production so should be avoided.<ref>Goldstein, Myrna Chandler. (2002). ''Controversies in Food and Nutrition''. Greenwood Press. pp. 221-222. {{ISBN|0-313-31787-9}}</ref> |
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The lectin-free diet has been popularized by [[Steven Gundry]], |
The lectin-free diet has been popularized by cardiologist and former professor of surgery and pediatrics [[Steven Gundry]], who wrote the book called ''The Plant Paradox''.<ref name="Amidor 2017"/> Gundry says that "arthritis, most coronary artery disease, acne, eczema, and the autoimmune diseases are all caused or worsened by lectins."<ref name="Bee 2017"/> He also claims, according to physician [[Harriet Hall]], that lectins cause most human diseases, and erroneously claims that his diet will prevent and cure them.<ref name=sbm>{{cite web |vauthors=Hall H |authorlink=Harriet Hall |url=https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-plant-paradox-steven-gundrys-war-on-lectins/ |publisher=[[Science-Based Medicine]] |date=25 October 2022 |title=The Plant Paradox: Steven Gundry's War on Lectins |access-date=3 December 2023}}</ref> |
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Gundrys book argues that eating tomatoes incites "a kind of chemical warfare in our bodies, causing inflammatory reactions that can lead to weight gain and serious health conditions."<ref name="Hamblin 2017"/> When questioned about the high consumption of beans and grains amongst long-lived people in the [[blue zone]]s, Gundry says that such lectin foods are countered by their large intake of [[olive oil]] polyphenols, fish and red wine.<ref name="Hamblin 2017"/> Gundry has stated that his lectin-free diet consists of a "cornucopia of vegetables, like kale, spinach, broccoli and sprouts, avocados, limited amounts of high-quality protein sources, and some dairy products and olive oil."<ref name="Bee 2017">{{cite news|last=Bee |first=Peta |year=2017 |url=https://archive.today/20210825211319/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lectins-its-the-new-gluten-style-fad-f3nkm3f8s |title=The new gluten-style fad? It's lectins |work=The Times |access-date=25 August 2021}}</ref> |
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Gundry has a [[conflict of interest]], because he sells supplements that purportedly protect against effects of lectins. In one infomercial that lasted almost an hour, he pronounced that supplies are running low, and told viewers to act immediately and order as much as they could store. The necessity of supplements is similarly the crucial argument of his book, in which he writes "getting all of the nutrients you need simply cannot be done without supplements."<ref name="Hamblin 2017">{{Cite web|last=Hamblin|first=James|date=2017-04-24|title=The Next Gluten-Level Obsession Could Be Lectins|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/04/the-next-gluten/523686/|access-date=2023-02-08|website=The Atlantic|language=en}}</ref> Gundry sells a "lectin shield" that is "designed to neutralize the effects of lectins" for $79.99.<ref name="Hamblin 2017"/> |
Gundry has a [[conflict of interest]], because he sells supplements that purportedly protect against effects of lectins. In one infomercial that lasted almost an hour, he pronounced that supplies are running low, and told viewers to act immediately and order as much as they could store. The necessity of supplements is similarly the crucial argument of his book, in which he writes "getting all of the nutrients you need simply cannot be done without supplements."<ref name="Hamblin 2017">{{Cite web|last=Hamblin|first=James|date=2017-04-24|title=The Next Gluten-Level Obsession Could Be Lectins|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/04/the-next-gluten/523686/|access-date=2023-02-08|website=The Atlantic|language=en}}</ref> Gundry sells a "lectin shield" that is "designed to neutralize the effects of lectins" for $79.99.<ref name="Hamblin 2017"/> |
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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Toby Amidor, a registered dietitian, wrote in October 2017, that lectin is an antinutritive and/or toxic substance, but preliminary studies have revealed only minute evidence of harm of lectin consumption. Lectins found in mushrooms had also anticancer activity.<ref name="Amidor 2017"/> But lectins can also produce more severe reactions because they interfere with metabolism and cause irritation to the gut lining. [[Megan Rossi]], a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the [[British Dietetic Association]] has commented that a lower lectin diet may be helpful for some individuals, but most people tolerate lectins well. Lectins are also relatively easy to remove by cooking and other forms of preparing like soaking, but raw food could be problematic. She also noted that some investigations indicated that a wheat intolerance may be linked to lectin.<ref name="Bee 2017"/> |
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Preliminary studies have revealed health benefits from lectin consumption and minute evidence of harm.<ref name="Amidor 2017"/> Foods high in lectins such as beans and grains are soaked and boiled to significantly reduce their lectin content. [[Megan Rossi]], a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the [[British Dietetic Association]] has commented that lectins are relatively easy to remove by cooking and preparing in the right way so are not a concern for most people. She also noted that studies have shown that lectins possess "potential anti-cancerous effects".<ref name="Bee 2017"/> |
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A 2019 article in the ''[[World Journal of Gastroenterology]]'' said that lectin-restricted dieting was set to become a "big food trend".<ref name=trend>{{cite journal |vauthors=Panacer K, Whorwell PJ |title=Dietary Lectin exclusion: The next big food trend? |journal=World J Gastroenterol |volume=25 |issue=24 |pages=2973–2976 |date=June 2019 |pmid=31293334 |pmc=6603809 |doi=10.3748/wjg.v25.i24.2973 |url= |doi-access=free }}</ref> |
A 2019 article in the ''[[World Journal of Gastroenterology]]'' said that lectin-restricted dieting was set to become a "big food trend".<ref name=trend>{{cite journal |vauthors=Panacer K, Whorwell PJ |title=Dietary Lectin exclusion: The next big food trend? |journal=World J Gastroenterol |volume=25 |issue=24 |pages=2973–2976 |date=June 2019 |pmid=31293334 |pmc=6603809 |doi=10.3748/wjg.v25.i24.2973 |url= |doi-access=free }}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 22:12, 4 May 2024
The Lectin-free diet (also known as the Plant Paradox diet) is a fad diet promoted with the false claim that avoiding all foods that contain high amounts of lectins will prevent and cure disease.[1] There is no clinical evidence the lectin-free diet is effective to treat any disease and its claims have been criticized as pseudoscientific.[2][3][4]
Overview
The lectin-free diet forbids all foods that are high in lectins including legumes (beans, chickpeas, lentils, peas), grains, fruit, nightshade vegetables (tomatoes and potatoes), nuts, seeds and many others.[2][5] The first writer to advocate a lectin-free diet was Peter J. D'Adamo a naturopathic physician, best known for promoting the blood type diet. D'Adamo has argued that lectins may damage people's blood type by interfering with digestion, food metabolism, hormones and insulin production so should be avoided.[6]
The lectin-free diet has been popularized by cardiologist and former professor of surgery and pediatrics Steven Gundry, who wrote the book called The Plant Paradox.[5] Gundry says that "arthritis, most coronary artery disease, acne, eczema, and the autoimmune diseases are all caused or worsened by lectins."[7] He also claims, according to physician Harriet Hall, that lectins cause most human diseases, and erroneously claims that his diet will prevent and cure them.[1]
Gundrys book argues that eating tomatoes incites "a kind of chemical warfare in our bodies, causing inflammatory reactions that can lead to weight gain and serious health conditions."[8] When questioned about the high consumption of beans and grains amongst long-lived people in the blue zones, Gundry says that such lectin foods are countered by their large intake of olive oil polyphenols, fish and red wine.[8] Gundry has stated that his lectin-free diet consists of a "cornucopia of vegetables, like kale, spinach, broccoli and sprouts, avocados, limited amounts of high-quality protein sources, and some dairy products and olive oil."[7]
Gundry has a conflict of interest, because he sells supplements that purportedly protect against effects of lectins. In one infomercial that lasted almost an hour, he pronounced that supplies are running low, and told viewers to act immediately and order as much as they could store. The necessity of supplements is similarly the crucial argument of his book, in which he writes "getting all of the nutrients you need simply cannot be done without supplements."[8] Gundry sells a "lectin shield" that is "designed to neutralize the effects of lectins" for $79.99.[8]
Reception
Toby Amidor, a registered dietitian, wrote in October 2017, that lectin is an antinutritive and/or toxic substance, but preliminary studies have revealed only minute evidence of harm of lectin consumption. Lectins found in mushrooms had also anticancer activity.[5] But lectins can also produce more severe reactions because they interfere with metabolism and cause irritation to the gut lining. Megan Rossi, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the British Dietetic Association has commented that a lower lectin diet may be helpful for some individuals, but most people tolerate lectins well. Lectins are also relatively easy to remove by cooking and other forms of preparing like soaking, but raw food could be problematic. She also noted that some investigations indicated that a wheat intolerance may be linked to lectin.[7]
A 2019 article in the World Journal of Gastroenterology said that lectin-restricted dieting was set to become a "big food trend".[9]
Physician Harriet Hall wrote in October 2022 in Science-Based Medicine, that Gundry's diet was not science-based and that following it risked dietary deficiencies.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Hall H (25 October 2022). "The Plant Paradox: Steven Gundry's War on Lectins". Science-Based Medicine. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ a b Rosenbloom, Cara (2017-07-06). "Going 'lectin-free' is the latest pseudoscience diet fad". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2019-12-17. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ Warner, Anthony (27 July 2017). "Lectin-free is the new food fad that deserves to be skewered". New Scientist. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ Torborg, Liza (2018-09-14). "Mayo Clinic Q and A: What are dietary lectins and should you avoid eating them?". Mayo Clinic News Network. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ a b c Amidor, Toby (2017). "Ask the Expert: Clearing Up Lectin Misconceptions". Today's Dietitian. 19 (10): 10. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ Goldstein, Myrna Chandler. (2002). Controversies in Food and Nutrition. Greenwood Press. pp. 221-222. ISBN 0-313-31787-9
- ^ a b c Bee, Peta (2017). "The new gluten-style fad? It's lectins". The Times. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ a b c d Hamblin, James (2017-04-24). "The Next Gluten-Level Obsession Could Be Lectins". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ Panacer K, Whorwell PJ (June 2019). "Dietary Lectin exclusion: The next big food trend?". World J Gastroenterol. 25 (24): 2973–2976. doi:10.3748/wjg.v25.i24.2973. PMC 6603809. PMID 31293334.
