The #1 protein you may want to reconsider
Do you feel constantly bloated like you’re pregnant? Or get this subtle, but nagging sense of hunger an hour after eating a full meal? How about stiff joints or headaches?
Sometimes these symptoms can feel so crippling that even the simple act of watching TV or getting out of your car can be a chore. I remember getting headaches a few times a month. They would usually happen after exposure to beautiful sunny weather (high heat), after waiting too long to eat a scheduled meal, or skipping my morning coffee. Once these headaches took over, my whole day was shot. They were not migraines that would last for days (though once in a while I had ones that extended to the next day), but felt equally debilitating. All I wanted to do was lay down, close my eyes and hibernate.
It took me many years to figure out the culprit and the truth is, the root cause for some could be a number of things like stress or food sensitivities. Mine was the latter—specifically, wheat and grains.
As a Filipino-American, I grew up eating rice with every meal and had 2-3 servings in one sitting. As a toddler I remember having just rice with soy or fish sauce. Yum. And like any other kid, I would pick out vegetables from my plate and set them aside for “later.” Combine rice-centric meals with snacking on cream cheese-filled pastries and spaghetti dinners and I soon became a walking inflammation time bomb. Can you relate?
Lectins
When it comes to foods we eat, wheat and grains can often be one of the root causes of inflammatory, immunological and autoimmune reactions for many people. Aside from their beneficial fiber, vitamins and mineral content, whole grains also contain a type of protein that may wreak havoc on your gut: gluten!
Gluten (which is actually a combination of two proteins that give it its elasticity: glutenin and gliadin) happens to be the most infamous kind of lectin—a protein found in plants that binds to carbohydrates, including sugar molecules. Even if you don’t have celiac, gluten can still do damage on your gut lining. Lectins can also latch onto bacteria and viruses, helping them stick to the cells they are searching for, causing you to get sick more often if you have a lectin sensitivity. As if that weren’t enough, lectins can also lead to a “leaky gut” (holes in your gut barrier) which can then cause diarrhea, bloating, excessive gas and weight gain (most of which I experienced on the daily), to name just a few!
Lectins are sometimes called anti-nutrients because they prevent your body from absorbing certain nutrients. Consequently, poor absorption of vitamins and minerals equate to brain fog, fatigue and a myriad of digestive issues. Lectins are found in all plants, with some having a higher content than others. They are a plant’s defense mechanism against animals who want to eat them! Sounds kinda crazy, but lectins are a way for plants to propagate their species by making whatever eats them sick. Renowned cardiologist, Dr. Steven Gundry writes all about this mind-blowing phenomenon in his book The Plant Paradox.
So besides grains, what other foods are lectin-rich? Brace yourself because you’re not going to like the answer (I sure didn’t). Ready? Here we go:
Peanuts (RIP peanut butter)
Soy
Cashews
Legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas)
Nightshade vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, egg plant, goji berries),
Cucumbers, zucchini, squash
Peas and sugar snap peas
Green beans and sprouts
Grain-fed and farm-raised animal proteins
There is hope
I know, I know—WTH is left to eat, right? Well, plenty, actually! Here are just a few:
Leafy greens, kale, spinach, arugula
Bok choy, celery, onions, garlic
Beets, radishes, asparagus, mushrooms
Herbs like mint, basil, parsley
Almonds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, pecans
Grass-fed/pasture-raised meats and wild-caught seafood
Red wine, champagne, aged spirits
The list goes on!
When I decided to give The Plant Paradox a go, I suffered from major carb withdrawals. Every single craving of every single “bad” dish came rushing to the surface. I had imagined it to be what drug addicts must have felt on their first few days in rehab, but maybe minus 10x :) I also got an intense headache that made me rethink whether or not the whole thing was going to be sustainable (I had no prior experience with any type of elimination diet).
I remember on the first day after the scheduled late afternoon snack, I took a two-hour nap. I thought that if I woke up still feeling like shit, I would stop the madness and speed off to the nearest In-N-Out. Since I woke up feeling better, however, I kept going.
Mind-blown
On the third day of the protocol, I felt like Neo from The Matrix once he discovered his powers: I had a renewed sense of mental clarity and A LOT of energy. The energy part was new to me since I had lethargy all my life. I kept thinking of how much I had been missing out on all these years! Over the next few days, the gas, bloating and headaches also went away and I was losing weight in all the right places. Because I felt so damn good, I was no longer irritable and moody. It truly was an amazing feeling!
Here are a few things to which I attribute the success of my very first elimination diet:
➤ 1. A clear “why” and a decision
During that time I had undergone surgery and wanted to heal quickly and properly. I decided ahead of time that I was going to stay consistent no matter what.
➤ 2. A whole lot of preparation
When you embark on a new journey of any kind, doing as much prep and planning as you can will practically guarantee success. For me, this meant shopping on a Sunday morning, rinsing, chopping, proper storing and meal prepping.
➤ 3. Keeping my “why” top of mind
As my body was adjusting to the new ways it was being nourished, I had to make sure that my mind kept up as well. There were still times in the beginning where cravings were strong and my brain was screaming at my stomach to be fed. Remembering that I was in it for the long haul kept me from falling off the wagon.
If you are suffering from digestive issues, constant fatigue, headaches and other bodily inflammation, you may want to consider looking at lectins as a possible culprit. And as always, speak with your health care practitioner before removing any major food groups from your diet, especially if you are taking medication specific to your health conditions.
Jumpstart your gut health and achieve vitality by downloading my free guide here! If you’re ready to gain energy, clarity and high levels of serotonin, I’d love to help. Book your free Gut Check Sesh here and let’s make it happen!
