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COMPREHENSIVE ALLERGY RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE - THE TOP 14 ALLERGENS AND BEYOND

COMPREHENSIVE ALLERGY RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE - THE TOP 14 ALLERGENS AND BEYOND
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LECTIN INTOLERANCE

This is very simplified information about lectin intolerance – there are more resources available at the end of the page for further reading for those who are interested in knowing more.

What are lectins?

Lectins are also sometimes called hemagglutinins, they are carbohydrate binding proteins found in many plants. They act as a first line of defence in plants as a way to make themselves less likely to be eaten.

What causes a lectin intolerance?

Other food intolerances are usually the result of a lack of metabolic enzymes. You can read more about them on the Food Intolerance Page. You could say that lectin intolerance is caused by poor food preparation.

Eating foods high in lectins without cooking them can cause them to not be digested as quickly as other foods. The proteins then either start to become digested lower down in the digestive tract which can cause pain and discomfort or the lectin proteins can bind to the cell walls of the gut and pass into the bloodstream. This second route can cause an immune response to lectins in the bloodstream, causing symptoms which can look like food poisoning.

Can you be allergic to lectins?

The simple answer is no, lectins are a large group of proteins which differ in shape. Allergic reactions are usually determined by shape of proteins. You can be allergic to some of the proteins which are functioning like IgE allergens like hevein, chitinases and wheat agglutinins which can also be problematic for those with coeliac disease.




Which are the symptoms of a lectin intolerance?

As these proteins are difficult to digest most of the symptoms are related to gastrointestinal discomfort suffered. Symptoms may include:

    Nausea
    Vomiting
    Diarrhoea
    Bloating and inflammation
    Flatulence
    Stomach cramps
    Abdominal pain

Which foods contain lectins?

The Fabaceae family of plants are the most strongly associated with lectins, these are generally legumes and beans. They include:

    Black Eyed Peas
    Black Turtle Beans
    Borlotti Beans
    Butter Beans
    Cannellini Beans
    Chickpeas
    Edamame Beans
    Fenugreek
    Flageolot Beans
    Garbanzo Beans
    Green Beans
    Haricot Beans
    Kidney Beans
    Lima Beans
    Mung Beans
    Peanuts
    Pinto Beans
    Soya Beans
    Tamarind
    White Beans

You can read more about Legumes on the dedicated page.


Another family of plants which contain moderate amounts of lectins are the Nightshades, also called the Solanaceae family of plants. These include:

    Aubergine (Eggplant)
    Bell Pepper
    Chilli
    Goji Berry
    Gooseberry
    Potato
    Tomato
You can read more about Nightshade foods on the dedicated page.

Other foods containing moderate or high amounts of lectins include:

    Ackee Fruit
    Agave
    Almonds
    Bamboo Shoots
    Barley
    Buckwheat (Common and Tartarian)
    Canola
    Cashew
    Cherry
    Cacao
    Corn
    Courgette (Zucchini)
    Cow’s Milk
    Cucumber
    Grape
    Hazelnut
    Jackfruit
    Oats
    Okra
    Pumpkin Seeds
    Quinoa
    Rapeseed
    Rice
    Sunflower Seeds
    Wheat

Many of these foods are highly processed before we eat them, for example, sunflower, canola and rapeseed oils, so they may not have as much an effect on a person with a lectin intolerance than other foods. You can read more about any of these foods from the dedicated Food Allergy Index or you can download a Lectin Factsheet from the Allergy Resources Ko-fi Shop for just $0.50 (£0.40 or €0.45).


What about animal lectins?

Casein, a component of cow’s milk is high in lectins. Lectins are found in the meat of other animals like cows and chickens, but these foods are generally cooked before being eaten, so are not as much of a concern as plant-based lectins.

Are lectins bad, do I need to avoid them?

No, foods containing lectins are excellent sources of fibre and protein, they just need cooking properly to minimise the risk. Lectin free diets are discounting a whole lot of important foods containing much needed vitamins and minerals. If you have an additional health condition like leaky gut, Chron’s Disease, colitis or Irritable Bowel Syndrome you may want to reduce foods containing them in your diet or consult your doctor.

How do we inactive lectins in the food we eat?

Soaking legumes or cooking for a long time at high heats will inactivate the proteins. Problems are more likely when raw legumes are not soaked before being cooked or are cooked at too low a temperature for too short a time.


Further Reading

Harvard - Antinutrients - Lectins
Healthline - Lectins
IBD Relief
Science Direct - Lectins


Articles and Journals

Antinutrients: Lectins, goitrogens, phytates and oxalates, friends or foe? 2022
Are Dietary Lectins Relevant Allergens in Plant Food Allergy? 2020
Dietary Lectins: Gastrointestinal and Immune Effects, 2020
Nutrition and gut health: the impact of specific dietary components – it's not just five-a-day, 2020
Effect of corn lectins on the intestinal transport of trace elements, 2019
Dietary Lectin exclusion: The next big food trend? 2019
Lectins, colitis and colon cancer, 2000


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