The lectin myth under the magnifying glass

We are usually constantly bombarded with wrong, eccentric or exaggerated information and it is especially difficult to review the supposed facts when this same information is distributed by medical authorities. Such is the case of Lectin in the USA that is now hitting Latin America. Lectin is a protein that can be found in different amounts in most plants, including beans, legumes, grains, fruits and vegetables, nuts, coffee, chocolate, and some herbs and spices. Still, it is grains that contain the largest amounts compared to other foods. When we cook, most of the lectin is destroyed and weakens its ability to bind to cells. Not long ago a best-selling book went on sale, which promotes a lectin-free diet to reduce certain medical conditions. Such as autoimmune diseases, allergies and even cancer. The author and other promoters of this diet believe that foods containing it help reduce inflammation. They also lead to weight gain and are toxic to the body. The problem is that there is very little research on the effects of lectin on the body and what there is has been over exaggerated, it has been taken very directly without considering other factors. For example, research that is not recent determined that lectin can survive digestion. And by doing so, it could create many imbalances in the body. The problem with this is that foods with large amounts of lectin, such as beans, are not eaten raw. We soak and cook them, which causes the content of this compound to be significantly reduced. And as such, it is not a potential problem for the body. Additionally, the health benefits of consuming whole grains and legumes far outweigh any concerns about the small amount of lectin found in these foods. A much more recent article has even put a question mark on the negative in lectin. And it has shown how in certain quantities, in theory, it could help fight cancer. Eliminating everything that has lectin from our diet can be very wrong. Forgetting the benefits of nuts, fruits and vegetables, at this point would be ridiculous. More research is needed and what’s more, a better application for it. If you still want to stop eating anything, better go to a professional. You could be endangering your health.