By Rebecca Maynard Patient Care Advocate
For most of my life I thought I ate pretty clean. I ate according to the food pyramid; made sure I washed my fruits and veggies, and only occasionally allowed myself to entertain my Rolo & Cherry Coke addiction. For the most part, I was a steak and potato kind of girl. I loved my food and life was good… until my corn and tomatoes turned on me.
Symptoms of Lectin Intolerance
People can usually tell when they have encountered food such as corn or tomatoes that does not agree with them. They experience symptoms such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, heartburn, or nausea. Some less obvious signals of lectin intolerance include headaches, fatigue, acne, psoriasis, mood disorders, swollen joints, or water retention. Symptoms of lectin intolerance can seem confusing because they are often culprits for many other health compromises. For example, swollen joints may be treated as arthritis. Regardless of the arthritis treatment, the swelling does not subside. This is when it is time to look deeper. If your treatment isn’t actually treating anything, something else must be wrong. Degenerative and autoimmune disease symptoms such as those associated with hypertension, osteoporosis, dementia, arthritis, and type 2 diabetes are exacerbated by lectin intolerance.
What are Lectins?
Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins of varying degrees found in plants. In excess, this protein can become toxic. Research has found that this protein impedes gastrointestinal repair and causes inflammation in the gut lining in individuals with insufficient amounts of stomach acid, proteolytic enzymes, or secretory IgA antibodies. The most common lectin-containing foods include grains, legumes, nightshades, and dairy. “Paleo” is the new buzz word in diet and nutrition. As we do not advocate fad diets, eating like a cave man has been around, well… since cave men! 200,000 years hardly qualifies as a fad diet. If you exchange notes with a Paleo-inspired eater, you probably won’t hear complaints about food intolerance symptoms. This could explain the popularity of Paleolithic inspired nutrition and lifestyles, as well as segue into a deeper understanding of food intolerances. This is because anti-inflammatory diets are void of lectins.
How Can You Help Me?
Our team of healthcare professionals at Wellness Alternatives has helped many people overcome an inability to repair from degenerative and autoimmune diseases. We help our patients understand the complexity and impact of eating foods that are not right for them through a series of lab testing, self assessment, natural supplements, and nutritional consultation. We test for specific immune drivers like lectins, as well as nutritional support through your wellness journey. We help you mend from overlooked, misdiagnosed, or mistreated chronic health conditions.
Contact our office at 636-227-4949 and visit us on the web at www.stlwa.com.