The Plant Paradox, by Steven R. Gundry, MD
If you’ve ever read anything about the paleo lifestyle or the autoimmune protocol (AIP), you’ve likely heard about lectins—a class of proteins especially abundant in grains and legumes that are said to cause a host of problems for human health. Lectins are thought to be a plant’s defense mechanism, a way for plants to protect themselves from being consumed by insects, animals, and humans, or to ensure that their seeds (offspring) remain intact as they pass through an animal’s digestive tract for later dispersal.
While lectins aren’t anything new, in his book, The Plant Paradox, Dr. Steven Gundry takes the discussion of lectins to a whole new level. Backing up his claims with research and clinical experience from his career as a cardiothoracic surgeon, Gundry attributes a variety of ailments—from sinus problems, obesity and Type 2 diabetes, to cancer, infertility, asthma, alopecia, migraines, depression, dementia, autoimmunity, and more—to lectin sensitivity. Gundry maintains that the more sensitive a person is to lectins (sensitivity can be measure in the blood), the less a person can tolerate lectin-rich food choices and remain symptom-free/ healthy. It explains, he says, why some people can eat grains (including wheat gluten), legumes, and dairy and feel fine, while others can’t. In the book, Gundry shares anecdotes about patients he has personally helped heal from cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and other afflictions prevalent in western culture. It’s worth noting that Gundry wasn’t always a believer in the influence of diet on one’s health. He changed his mind after encountering a cardiac patient who refused a quadruple bypass and instead used food and supplements to successfully reverse what Dr. Gundry had thought to be an irreversible condition.
Overall, The Plant Paradox is a fascinating read, brimming with information that when presented (with extensive footnotes), makes sense. In fact, the book covers so much ground that more than one reading might be required to digest all the details. Gundry’s topics range from explanations of generally accepted ideas, such as the details and history of A-1 versus A-2 casein and why A-1 casein should be avoided (translation: why goat and sheep dairy is a better choice than most cow dairy), to more controversial topics that might inflame even the most open-minded of health aficionados, (eg. whole grain bread is more harmful than white bread because whole grain bread contains BOTH wheat germ agglutinin (lectin) AND gluten (lectin)). And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The good news according to Gundry: pressure-cooking high-lectin foods such as legumes and certain grains reduce their lectin content considerably, so that many grains and legumes are not off the table if eaten in moderation.
The bad news (and it’s pretty bad if you ask me), there are some surprising wholesome foods on his “no” list. Are you ready? (You might want to sit down for this): pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, peanuts, cashews, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, and goji berries. Yes, you read those right. All those super healthy foods you’ve been purposefully adding to your whole foods diet are considered lectin-heavy and are denied on the Plant Paradox plan. (Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m still recovering from depression over cashews). So as not to leave you on a downer, I will say that 72% dark chocolate and red wine are permitted on the Plant Paradox eating plan, in moderation.
Gundry admits that it’s impossible to eliminate all lectins—lectins are prevalent in so many foods including dairy, eggs, nuts, seeds, soy, animal protein, fruits, and vegetables—but maintains that by following his low-lectin diet, i.e. by eating only the foods on his “yes” list and avoiding the foods on his “no” list, many modern diseases can be reversed and painful symptoms eliminated.
If you’re struggling with stubborn health challenges, Dr. Gundry’s plan is likely worth a try (and his book is certainly worth a read) because clearly the Plant Paradox diet has not only improved the quality of lives, it has saved them. If your health is strong but you’re interested in ways to reduce systemic inflammation to prevent disease, you might enjoy this book too. At the end of the day, because we’re all different—genetically, physiologically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually—only you can figure out which foods make you feel good and which foods don’t, but exposure to the information in Dr. Gundry’s The Plant Paradox definitely provides a new list of foods and a new perspective to experiment with.
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