UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

Why should we avoid these foods, they assist or aggravate autoimmune diseases. The edible portion of these plants is the seed, which contains the embryo. The plant’s mission is to pass on its genes, because the plant can’t move around, in the wild it relies upon animals to spread its seeds. Therefore the seed is designed to withstand digestion, moving through the body in order to be replanted in different soil.  Several properties of a seed that allow it to survive the gastrointestinal tracts which it depends on potentially causing harm and an a inflammatory response.

Lectins

Lectins are plant proteins that bind to carbohydrates. There are many different types of lectins, and not all of them are harmful, Here are two types of lectins in particular that are known to cause a problems in humans are agglutinins and prolamins.

Agglutinins function as a natural insecticide and can be an aggravating factor in autoimmune diseases. The effects of lectins within our bodies can be faint and hard to recognize, but some agglutinins are very dangerous. Ricin, a lectin in castor beans, is fatally toxic even in very small amounts.

Prolamins are necessary proteins for seed growth, and therefore they are not easily digested. Gluten is a prolamin, and most grains contain a prolamin and is similar in structure to gluten. Prolamins contribute to the cross-reactivity experienced by so many with a gluten sensitivity.

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) – grains are especially harmful when it comes to agglutinins. They have been engineered to produce more of their natural insecticides, which may give us a heartier crop, but one that is more inflammatory. Nowing this, if you choose to include grains in your diet, I recommend opting  for non-GMO types. Modern day grains have been bred so that they no longer resemble the grains that our ancestors consumed, best non gmo required!!!

What is lectin found in – (specialized proteins) High levels of lectins  may be found in grains, legumes, beans, peanuts, dairy and plants in the nightshade family.

What foods are high in lectins –  Grains, nightshades like tomatos, peppers, potato and eggplant. Gluten found in wheat, rye, barley, malt, and maybe oats also legumes and all beans including soy and peanuts.  Dairy including all milk products, milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir. Yeast, except brewer’s and nutritional.

 Almonds, not sure how to categorize. Is a peanut a nut or a legume, are quinoa a grain or a seed,  it doesn’t matter they are all seeds. Grains are small, hard, dry seeds, with or without attached hulls or fruit layers, harvested for human or animal consumption. Agronomists call the plants producing such = seeds grain crops. main types of commercial grain crops are cereals such as wheat and rye, and legumes such as beans and soybeans

What is considered a grain –  Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or cereal grain is a grain product. Bread, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortillas, and grits are types of grain products. Grains are divided up into two subgroups, Whole Grains and Refined Grains.

Are Nuts considered a grain – Grains, beans, nuts and seeds are all in the same family as they are actually all seeds. Grains grow from the seeds of grasses, such as wheat, corn, oats or rice. Nuts, such as almonds, pecans, and walnuts, come from the seeds of trees.

What are grains and Legumes – Legumes are plants in the Fabaceae or pea family. The part that we eat is the bean or pea is the seed and sometimes the pod as well. This family includes beans, clover, alfalfa, lentils, peanuts, chickpeas, lima beans, soybeans, and others. The edible portion of these plants is the seed, which contains the embryo

What is included in a grain free diet –  Barley, corn, durum, kamut, millet, oats, rice, rye, sorghum, spelt, tuff, triticale,  all varieties of wheat, wild rice and whole grains. Gluten is found in barley, rye, wheat and any foods derived from these ingredients.

What is an anti nutrient – Lectins, saponins  and phytic acid is considered an anti-nutrient, which means those who follow paleo nutrition have probably eliminated it from their diet. Phytic acid is a substance found in many types of plant foods, such as grains, legumes, peanuts, soybeans, nuts, and seeds.

Potatoes contain phytic acid – Sweet potatoes and potatoes contain little phytic acid but yams and other starchy staples have levels of phytate that we should not ignore. The phytic acid content of arrowroot is unknown, but it may contain a significant amount.

What foods are high in oxalates – Vegetables that contain high levels of oxalate include rhubarb, okra, leeks, spinach, beets, and Swiss chard. To reduce how much oxalate you get, avoid almonds, cashews, and peanuts, as well as any soy products. Grains such as Bran Flakes, Fiber One, wheat germ, and quinoa are also higher oxalate foods

What are phytates and oxalates – the best way to get calcium and other minerals is simply to eat a varied diet, including dark greens. Note, people who form calcium oxalate kidney stones may have to limit their intake of oxalates. With phytates, it’s a similar story. They are found in whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes.

Kale high in oxalates – If you eat a lot of it, yes, you can get kidney stones. So kale is off the hook, it contains 17 milligrams of oxalate to spinach’s hundreds of milligrams of oxalate. Spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables like Swiss chard are oxalate dense vegetables.

Foods high in oxalic acid – This includes: spinach, rhubarb, tomatoes, collards, eggplant, beets, celery, summer squash, sweet potatoes, peanuts, almonds, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, parsley, and cocoa. Grapefruit juice.

Tea’s and  oxalate – Green tea contains only a fraction of that amount .23 to 1.15 milligrams per gram, and black tea contains between about 4.6 and 5.1 milligrams per gram. The difference in oxalate content would at worst render green tea less harmful than black tea, even without its propensity to bind to calcium oxalate.

Fruits low in oxalate –  meaning they contain less than 2 milligrams per serving. These include bananas, cherries, grapefruit, grapes, mangoes, melons, green and yellow plums and nectarines. Canned fruits including peaches and pears and dried fruits such as raisins are also low in oxalate.

way to reduce oxalate

1. Eat fewer high-oxalate foods
2. Increase the amount of calcium in your diet
3. Limit the vitamin C content of your diet
4. Drink the right amount of fluids every day
5. Eating the right amount of protein daily

Paleo diet –  Eating paleo means eating veggies, fruits, meats, fish, certain fats and nuts, some seeds. And it means removing grains like breads, pastas, rice, beans, soy, dairy, certain vegetable oils, and refined sugar from your diet.

Cashews even raw –  take note that these nuts have actually been steamed and are not entirely raw. This is because raw cashews contain urushiol, which is the same chemical that you’d find in poison ivy. It can cause the body to have a very similar reaction to one experienced from poison oak .