So where do lectins come in? Lectins increase the permeability of the intestinal tract and allow valuable microbes to spill out . The reason we have this risk today is that <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/grain-brain-summary/">whole grain </a>has become so popular as a health food. For centuries societies removed the bran, or the part containing the lectin. But now that whole grain is touted as much more healthy, people are consuming more lectin as a result. This increases the risk of developing autoimmune disorders such as diabetes and Crohn’s disease.

Health foods and <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/the-bulletproof-diet-summary/">diets </a>are more popular than ever. You’ve probably heard the buzz around so-called superfoods like Kale, blueberries, or acai. And you are probably pretty aware that certain foods, like things deep-fried or full of added sugar, should be avoided. So avoiding the bad and eating plenty of fruits, veggies, and whole grains is the key to health, why are rates of obesity and inflammation-related diseases higher than ever?

Book Overview 

The bad news for humans is that it also causes brain fog and weight issues. One particularly bad culprit is the lectin found in wheat. It causes sugar to enter our fat <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/the-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks-summary/">cells </a>, where it is converted to fat and makes us gain weight. For our ancestors, having a “wheat belly” was an effective way to survive long winters. This made it a valuable part of their diet. For us, the side effects aren’t so welcome.

Like many diets, the author’s Plant Paradox Program tells you what foods you should cut out of your diet. He believes what you don’t eat is more important than what you do eat because eating the wrong things will lead to a harmful reaction in your body.  The author advises avoiding all legumes, which consist of lentils, peas, and all types of beans. These contain the highest lectin count. Also drop potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, and any fruit not in season. And obviously nothing containing wheat flour. A full list can be found online.

Lesson 3: Avoiding certain foods, doing three-day cleanse, and taking supplements will get you on the right track to full health.

A report examining the nutrient value of fruits and vegetables since 1940 showed a steady decline in vitamins and minerals. One explanation could be that we are using stronger fertilizers and pesticides. Luckily, nowadays we can supplement to get the vitamins our body desperately needs. The author advises taking vitamin B12 and vitamin D especially as they are so important. This way we can fill in the gaps where our diet can’t.

"Quite simply, plants don't want to be eaten - and who can blame them? Like any living thing, their instinct is to propagate the next generation of their species."-Stecen R. Gundry

Author Quote 

Lectin exists in the seeds, leaves, grains, and skins of most <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/the-botany-of-desire-summary/">plants </a>. When an animal consumes lectin, the protein binds to sugar molecules in the animal’s brain and nerves, causing them to not function properly.  The result is brain fog, which causes trouble focusing and memory difficulty. The sole purpose of lectin is to teach animals that they shouldn’t eat these plants in the future.

<a href="https://gundrymd.com/gundry-md/">Gundry </a>also says that just like a farmer prepares the soil for planting, you should prepare your <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/the-4-hour-body-summary/">body </a>for the diet. You can do this by doing a three-day cleanse where you will remove anything with even traces of lectin in it. This will enable your gut to start healing itself.

I’ve been wondering when a book would have me going “what the heck did I just read?!” and this book is it. I don’t know if I believe anything in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33630505-the-plant-paradox">The Plant Paradox </a>! There might be something to the idea that plants defend themselves against predators like us. But why we should discourage things that are known to help with heart disease and cancer such as whole grains, legumes, and some vegetables?! I would definitely do my own research after reading this one.

The Plant Paradox - Book Review

We all know that animals evolve to avoid predators. Think of a Monarch caterpillar, poisonous to birds, or a cuttlefish that can change color to avoid being seen. But did you know that <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/the-hidden-life-of-trees-summary/">plants </a>also have found ways to protect themselves? One secret weapon that a plant has to defend itself is in the form of the protein lectin.

Lesson 1:  Plants might make you experience mental cloudiness and weight gain because of the proteins they use to defend themselves.

Look no further than <a href="https://gundrymd.com/gundry-md/">Dr. Steven R. Gundry </a>‘s book, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33630505-the-plant-paradox">The Plant Paradox: The Hidden Dangers in “Healthy” Foods That Cause Disease and Weight Gain </a>. He’s a former professor of cardiothoracic surgery and the director of the Center for Restorative Medicine in California. In his book, he alerts us to the dangers of certain plant foods you have probably deemed healthy.

<ol><li>Plants defend themselves with proteins that confuse the human mind and may cause weight gain. </li><li>Whole-grain foods contain a protein known as lectin that can make your body attack itself. </li><li>Start the Plant Paradox Program by cutting out the bad, doing a three-day cleanse, and taking supplements and you will start feeling better.  </li> </ol>

Top 3 Lessons From The Voo

The side effects of wheat lectin don’t end at weight gain. But first, we need to understand a little about the way digestion works. Your gastrointestinal tract contains trillions of microbes that help you convert food to energy. Without these precious gut bacteria, you would starve to <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/a-beginners-guide-to-the-end-summary/">death </a>. So your body makes sure to keep them in the intestines. If they are somehow able to escape, your body will see them as a foreign invader and essentially begin attacking itself.

Lesson 2:  Your body can attack itself when you consume whole-grain foods because of the protein lectin.

The 52-year-old <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/deep-nutrition-summary/">nutrition </a>professor who wants a different perspective on plants, the 34-year-old that is curious about leaky gut because they think they might have it, and anyone who wants to try a semi-crazy diet plan to see if it might work.

Who would I recommend The Plant Paradox to?

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33630505-the-plant-paradox">The Plant Paradox </a>helps you make better food decisions and eat healthier by arguing that some plant foods that we think are healthy can actually be harming us and making it harder to lose weight.

The Plant Paradox - Book Summary 

He lays out which plant foods we should be avoiding, according to his research. He advises what to eat instead to have more energy, help your digestion, reduce inflammation, and maintain optimal weight. <a href="https://gundrymd.com/gundry-md/">Gundry </a>explains how the nutritional value of our fruits and <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/animal-vegetable-miracle-summary/">vegetables </a>have changed, and what our ancestor’s diets can teach us about what we should consume. I’ll be honest, some of it seems a bit controversial, but I suggest keeping an open mind and you will definitely learn something.

The Plant Paradox Summary will help you improve your diet and health by learning about plant foods that sound healthy but can actully harm you.

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