What Is the Lectin Free Diet?

By jolene

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The lectin-free diet is a diet popularized by Dr. Steven Gundry, a former heart surgeon who proposed the diet after switching his focus to food and supplement-based medicine. When he popularized the diet, he described lectins as the main danger often found in the American diet. He subsequently wrote a book on alternative food choices, recipes, and methods to avoid lectins. Per his book, he aims to help people lose weight and improve their health.

Lectins are often found in various foods. Since some experts believe that lectins can be harmful if consumed in great quantities or poorly cooked, lectin-free diets are proposed. Generally, a lectin-free diet is free of legumes, pulses, most grains, seafood, eggs, and many types of fruits and vegetables.

1. Dr. Steven Gundry

Dr. Steven Gundry is an American doctor who formerly specialized as a cardiac surgeon. He conducted cardiology research in the 1990s and was one of the pioneers in heart transplant surgery for infants. He has switched his focus to diet and food and currently runs his own clinic. He is also a New York Times bestselling author for books and is best known for his disputed claims regarding the inflammation caused by lectins. The Plant Paradox diet proposed by Dr. Gundry suggests avoiding all foods that contain lectins. He also sells supplements that he claims to reverse and protect against the damaging effects of lectin.