Turns out your kids were RIGHT to hate their peas – they ‘trigger brain fog’
FOR years you've been trying to get your kids to eat their greens, but it turns out they might be right to shun them.
A new book suggests some vegetables and whole grains may actually be harming our health.
That's because they contain sticky proteins called lectins which, in high levels, are bad for the human body and can trigger "brain fog", IBS, and other unpleasant conditions.
The claim is made by US heart surgeon Dr Steven Gundry in his new book, The Plant Paradox.
He suggests that the lectins found in some plants are designed as a natural defence mechanism to paralyse bugs that try to eat them and that when humans eat them it can damage our health.
It doesn't happen straight away as we are bigger and have more cells than insects, but after years of eating these plants Dr Gundry claims they can cause allergies, brain fog, irritable bowel syndrome, fatigue and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
"Lectins enter our our joints, our nerve junctions, the lining of our blood vessels and our brain where they incite inflammation and autoimmune diseases," Dr Gundry told the
"I’m now convinced that all arthritis, most coronary artery disease, acne, eczema, and the autoimmune diseases are all caused or worsened by lectins."
Foods that are high in lectins include tomatoes, red kidney beans, wheat, peanuts, tomatoes, potatoes, peas and squash.
On his suggests that lectins "literally tear open little holes between the cells that line our intestines" which can cause a range of symptoms from food poisoning to autoimmune disease.
"Lectins are like little barnacles that look for specific sugar molecules in our blood, the lining of our gut, and on our nerves," Dr Gundry said.
"When they find a good spot to land, they cling to those cells, breaking down their ability to communicate with our immune systems.
"Then, they literally tear open little holes between the cells that line our intestines.
"This perforation is the cause of Leaky Gut Syndrome, which we’re learning can cause a great deal of unpleasant symptoms and autoimmune issues or symptoms similar to those of food poisoning."
Dr Gundry suggests swapping brown rice for white, whole grain bread for white bread and peeling your vegetables as most of the lectins are found in the skin and seeds of plants.
The idea that lectins might be bad for us has gained momentum in the last few years and supermodel Gisele Bündchen’s private chef reportedly limits the amount of tomatoes she eats as they cause "inflammation".
The question around whether they are actually bad for us has been around for years.
But most nutritionists and dietitians will encourage a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and whole grains.
Eating plenty of these foods has been lined to maintaining a healthy weight, lower risk of type 2 diabetes and reduced risk of heart attack and high blood pressure.
Nutritionist Susie Burell told that lectins can trigger an immune response in some people but for the most part they are not a cause for concern.
"Indeed for some individuals who may suffer from various gut conditions including Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative Colitis, dietary lectins may further irritate the gut.
But for the average person who consumes lectins in relatively small amounts, via different foods in their diets including grains, seeds, nuts and legumes, there is no cause for concern."
If you are struggling with gut issues it is best to speak to your GP before cutting out any food groups.
MORE ON DIET AND NUTRITION
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368