They are found in all plants, but raw legumes (beans, lentils, peas, soybeans, peanuts) and whole grains like wheat contain the highest amounts of lectins.
Lectin is a carbohydrate-binding protein that can be found in varying amounts in most plants, including beans, pulses, grains, fruits and vegetables (eg, potatoes, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, zucchini, carrots, berries, watermelon), nuts, coffee, chocolate, and some herbs and spices (eg, peppermint, marjoram, nutmeg).
Lectin-free fruits include pomegranates, lemons, beets, blackberries, blueberries, apples, plums, sweet oranges, tangerines, and dates.
Most types of fruit – especially goji berries, cherries and blackberries (seasonal fruit is thought to be lower in lectins). Most types of vegetables – especially butternut squash, pumpkin and 'nightshade vegetables' like: peppers, tomatoes, aubergine, and potatoes.
Lectins everywhere
“Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruit, and berries, including blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries, and many other fruits like pomegranate, grapes, cherries, quinces, apples, watermelon, banana, papaya, plums, and currants are also sources of dietary lectins.”
Eggs Eggs too are included in the lectin-free way of life, but must be pasture-raised.
Because of their precise carbohydrate specificities, lectins can be blocked by simple sugars and oligosaccharides.
While bananas do contain lectins, they are not considered to be a major source of lectins. Bananas are a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They are also low in calories and fat. Lectin is a protein that is found in the pulp of ripe bananas and plantains.
In addition to cranberries, you can find lectin blockers in many other fruits, especially oranges, peaches, and blueberries.
Sooooo good recently found out that A1 regular style dairy yogurt is loaded with pro inflammatory lectins.
As lectins reach the small intestine, they can bind to receptors on the intestinal cell lining and cause damage. Larger amounts of lectins are found in certain plant foods like legumes, wheat, seeds, nuts, and some fruits and vegetables.
The best ways to mitigate the toxic effects of lectins are traditional food preparation methods, which include soaking, sprouting, and fermenting grains and legumes. You can ferment flour before cooking with it. Sourdough bread and a traditional flatbread from India called dosa are both made from fermented flours.
If consumed regularly, eating potatoes, legumes, grains, and other foods high in lectins and saponins can increase the risk of autoimmune diseases or flares in those who are genetically predisposed. [2] Fortunately, sweet potatoes do not contain these compounds!
Because lectins can trigger an immune response, they have been linked to autoimmune inflammatory conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes.
Cucumber contains a protein called lectin which Dr Steven Gundy, a respected heart surgeon and cardiologist, has studied in great detail and has found a link between memory loss and lectins.