I Answer a Question About Lectins and Polyphenols

I Answer a Question About Lectins and Polyphenols

Below is a question I received from a registered nurse followed by my response.  I hope my response will steer her and others away from “The Plant Paradox” by Dr. Steven Gundry. I also hope to persuade readers of this blog to start looking at nutrition through a (w)holistic lens.

Question

Is there a list of foods in the lectin category?  And also I am trying to find a list of ( I probably have the word wrong) Prophenols.  I know dark berries have these if it gives you a clue.

My Response

I hope all is well.

I’m assuming that you’re asking about lectins due to the release of the book “The Plant Paradox”, by Steven Gundry MD.  I’ve investigated his claims and have decided that they are not backed up by any evidence.  In fact, I think Dr. Gundry is a charlatan and should be ashamed of himself for publishing nonsense that further confuses the general public and other MDs on what constitutes a healthy diet.   He is also a snake oil peddler.

The best reviews I’ve come across are by T. Colin Campbell, Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry from Cornell University and by Michael Greger MD from nutritionfacts.org.

Click here for T Colin Campbell’s article.

Click here for Dr. Greger’s video.

As for your other question, are you referring to polyphenols?  If so, there are many different types of polyphenols.  Berries are a good source of a number of types.

There really is no definitive list of foods for all polyphenols as over 4000 distinct species of polyphenols have been identified.  In general, if you eat a plant based diet dominated by a variety of fruits and veggies, whole grains and beans, you should receive the benefit of a synergistic effect of polyphenols and other phytonutrients.

Click here for a related article that discusses the synergistic effect of nutrients in food.

Stay healthy and strong!.