Who else has adopted a gluten free , low or no lectins, low carb lifestyle?
I have been gluten free and almost grain free , low carbs, heaps of veges, for over a year. I’m now working on reducing lectins and reintroducing a little of the healthiest of grains, just the gluten and low/no lectin sort.
The science behind this is well established and has been discussed in other posts. I’m hoping we can stay on track with how to implement this diet in this thread.
Good dietary resource linkBTW Dr. Gundry has a bit of a Game show host personality but he is a good resource for lectins free living
creativeinmykitchen.com/coo...
Gundry is not who he claims to be. Excellent review and discussion here:
nutritionstudies.org/the-pl...
But... sometimes a blind squirrel finds an acorn:
Lectins, agglutinins, and their roles in autoimmune reactivities 2015 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/255...
"Abstract
Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins present throughout nature that act as agglutinins. Approximately 30% of our food contains lectins, some of which may be resistant enough to digestion to enter the circulation. Because of their binding properties, lectins can cause nutrient deficiencies, disrupt digestion, and cause severe intestinal damage when consumed in excess by an individual with dysfunctional enzymes. These effects are followed by disruption of intestinal barrier integrity, which is the gateway to various autoimmunities. Shared amino acid motifs between dietary lectins, exogenous peptides, and various body tissues may lead to cross-reactivity, resulting in the production of antibodies against lectin and bacterial antigens, followed by autoimmunity. The detection of immunoglobulin G (IgG) or immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies against specific lectins may serve as a guide for the elimination of these lectins from the diet. It is proposed that this process can reduce the peripheral antigenic stimulus and, thereby, result in a diminution of disease symptoms in some-but not all-patients with autoimmune disorders."
Reaction of Lectin-Specific Antibody with Human Tissue: Possible Contributions to Autoimmunity 2020 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/a...
"Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the direct reaction of specific lectin/agglutinin antibodies to different tissue antigens to confirm the theory that reactivity between them may contribute to autoimmunities. Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins found in nearly all fruits and vegetables. Undigested lectins can penetrate the gut barriers, provoking an immune response that results in the production of antibodies against them. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we reacted lectin-specific antibodies with 62 different tissue antigens. Wheat germ agglutinin-specific antibody was the most reactive with the tissue antigens (37 tissues out of 62), followed by red kidney bean phytohemagglutinin-specific antibody (20), soybean agglutinin-specific antibody (20), and peanut agglutinin-specific antibody (15). This reaction between anti-lectin antibodies and many human tissue antigens may be due to possible molecular mimicry and cross-reactivity. After our results confirmed that anti-lectin antibodies bind with human tissues, we wanted to determine the prevalence of these antibodies in the blood of 500 nominally healthy donors. The percentage elevation of antibodies against different lectins ranged from 12 to 16% (Immunoglobulin G), 9.7-14.7% (Immunoglobulin A), 12-18% (Immunoglobulin M), and 7.8-14.6% (Immunoglobulin E). Serial dilutions and inhibition study confirmed that these reactions were specific. Finally, we tested the lectin-specific antibody level in sera both negative and positive for RF and ANA and found that IgM anti-lectin antibody levels were highly correlated with RF but not with ANA level. The reaction of anti-lectin antibodies with human tissue components and their detection in RF-positive samples may describe mechanisms by which the production of antibodies against undigested lectins may contribute to the pathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases."
Modulation of immune function by dietary lectins in rheumatoid arthritis 2000 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/108...
"Abstract
Despite the almost universal clinical observation that inflammation of the gut is frequently associated with inflammation of the joints and vice versa, the nature of this relationship remains elusive. In the present review, we provide evidence for how the interaction of dietary lectins with enterocytes and lymphocytes may facilitate the translocation of both dietary and gut-derived pathogenic antigens to peripheral tissues, which in turn causes persistent peripheral antigenic stimulation. In genetically susceptible individuals, this antigenic stimulation may ultimately result in the expression of overt rheumatoid arthritis (RA) via molecular mimicry, a process whereby foreign peptides, similar in structure to endogenous peptides, may cause antibodies or T-lymphocytes to cross-react with both foreign and endogenous peptides and thereby break immunological tolerance. By eliminating dietary elements, particularly lectins, which adversely influence both enterocyte and lymphocyte structure and function, it is proposed that the peripheral antigenic stimulus (both pathogenic and dietary) will be reduced and thereby result in a diminution of disease symptoms in certain patients with RA."
Plant Lectins Activate the NLRP3 Inflammasome To Promote Inflammatory Disorders 2017 jimmunol.org/content/198/5/...
"Abstract
Plant-derived dietary lectins have been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and celiac disease, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying lectin-induced inflammation. In this study, we showed that plant lectins can induce caspase-1 activation and IL-1β secretion via the NLRP3 inflammasome. Lectins were internalized and subsequently escaped from the lysosome and then translocated to the endoplasmic reticulum. Endoplasmic reticulum–loaded plant lectins then triggered Ca2+ release and mitochondrial damage, and inhibition of Ca2+ release and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species by chemical inhibitors significantly suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In vivo, plant lectin–induced inflammation and tissue damage also depended on the NLRP3 inflammasome. Our findings indicate that plant lectins can act as an exogenous “danger signal” that can activate the NLRP3 inflammasome and suggest that dietary lectins might promote inflammatory diseases via the NLRP3 inflammasome."
The immune system is immensely complex with many regulatory mechanisms. This indicates to me that the problems set forth in this paper are an issue for those that actually suffer from autoimmune disease:
"Furthermore, in another study [25], researchers found that IgG purified from the blood of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients had the capacity to bind to several lectins up to 50-fold greater than the binding capability of IgG from control"
I agree with you PB, but I also believe PD is an autoimmune disease: healthunlocked.com/cure-par...
My guess is lectins are fine if you are fine. I wish I was fine and could be eating a cheeseburger with tomato right now 
Whether PD is AI or not, I have Hashimoto's, so count me in for lectin free.
There is good evidence that PD is due to aggregations of alpha synuclein need to be broken down, but instead hang around and impair mitochondria. While it is true that alpha synuclein is thought to be an immune response, it occurs as a result of a toxic exposure rather than auto immunity.
But autoimmunity is often triggered by toxic exposure.
Toxic exposures trigger autoimmunity.
Park Bear
Thank you for this commentary on Dr Gundry.
My suspicions confirmed.
I cannot help but wonder if Gundry made a bet with someone that he could pull off giving the opposite of good nutritional advice. It worked so well he monetized it. Ethics free and laughing all the way to the bank.
What specifically is “opposite of good nutrition advice?” I know you are not one to sling accusations lightly so I’m wondering what you are referring to. Lectins? (Sincerely asking as I find him annoying but have taken his advice seriously.)
What I recall from his book, which I got rid of, is his recommendation to consume refined grain such as white flour instead of whole grain products. His website here:
gundrymd.com/dr-gundry-diet...
is not quite so bad, but he excludes some foods such as some nuts seeds and legumes that I regard as okay, because I do not take lectins seriously, and includes red meat which I regard as questionable due to allergic reactions to sialic acid.
Thank you PB. White flour?!?! I’m open minded and almost always willing to revisit a subject but that is not even worth considering in my opinion. Unfortunately, I appear to be sensitive to lectins. I learned about them from Dr. Paul Mason.
Now I will look up sialic acid.
Oh, today I read that cinnamon is a Sirt 1 activator like Resveratrol. 😊
youtube.com/watch?v=xRkRilP...
I understand that meat decreases life span. It’s a difficult conundrum though for people with autoimmune tendencies. avoiding grains, gluten, oxalates, lectins, casein can greatly help in reducing autoimmune inflammation that can promote or worsen PD. Sialic acid increases cancer tumor risk from what I read. But I did not read anything about it’s affect on autoimmune conditions. I’m personally really struggling with this because in my heart I’m a vegan. But I no longer can be because it makes me sick.
The point of the foregoing video is that red meat contributes to autoimmunity.
I’ve listened to many of his videos but not this oneI do not agree
Maybe he will persuade me otherwise but I doubt it
I will listen
Are you vegetarian? Is it part of your value system by chance?
13 minutes in to a 22 minute videoHe has not said anything thus far about autoimmunity
He’s talking about cancer risk and diabetes
The studies he is referring to are poorly done because they were not controlled.
And this is a new area of research and it “may cause inflammation” I believe he is a vegetarian Mormon himself and if he is he is biased. It’s literally part of his religion.
There are thousands of accounts of people needing meat and getting well once reintroducing meat
The founder of PETAS daughter got deathly I’ll from being vegan and now advocates for eating meat.
Dr. Wahls was a vegetarian.
Dave Asprey was a vegan who got very sick
Dr Gundry your favorite, was a vegetarian who got very sick
And I was a vegetarian and often vegan who got extremely ill. My kids are no longer vegetarian and are doing better.
I don’t take this lightly as it has turned my life upside down.
You are lucky you get to not believe that lectins can cause problems. I’m not so lucky because I know from personal experience that they do
This issue is concerning red meat, not all meat. As to your complaint about controls, controls are implemented differently in observational studies as compared to interventional studies. In observational studies control is implemented by comparing results of different levels of exposure to the independent variable of interest, in this case consumption of red meat, versus the dependent variable, in this case levels of specific auto-antibodies:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
" We found a clear link between the levels and repertoire of serum anti-Neu5Gc IgG [an autoantibody] and Neu5Gc intake from red meat and dairy."
Neu5Gc is not produced in the human body but is absorbed from diet and incorporated into cellular membranes. In this matter there is no dispute about the causal mechanism so the observed association may be taken as a causation.
I am not personally invested in whether you accept this evidence or not. Personally I found it sufficiently convincing to restrict my consumption of red meat and dairy.
PB, I was was wrong in my response and I apologize. The whole subject of meat and my need to eat it is hard for me and is therefore emotionally very triggering.
Thank you for the new information. I appreciate it.
I would also be interested in a response. Thank you
Hi CC, I am gluten free, very low carbs (My daily Yakult probiotic drink is about all of my carbs) and am cutting out lectins too now (once I eat that last tomato on the counter).
Bolt, I didn’t know that! Or I didn’t remember that! So you are a member of the “diet that is awkward at social gatherings” club! ☺️
I’m torn about dairy bc there is conflicting info on it. Ghee is excellent. Some cheeses are good for the biome (aged cheese, goat cheese) and are very high in Spermedine which was my justification for cheese but now that I learned that Spermedine might not be good for us, no more cheese? 😞. Probiotics in yogurt?
I will do WHATEVER is optimum it’s just a matter of knowing what optimum is.
Oh, and regarding Spermedine, today I emailed the CEO of Do Not Age with a link regarding Spermedine & Parkinson’s asking his thoughts on it.
I go with the SCD on Cheese. Hard cheeses are okay (just don't tell them I use Parmesan cheese in the shaker container).
SCD? Don’t use that garbage cheese! That’s not even cheese, it’s a “cheese product.”
It's cheese! (with anti-caking ingredients).
I want to make coconut kefir or goat milk kefir. Have you done it?
Are you spying on me? I got down to my last bottle of Yakult today, so I am making coconut milk yogurt from it. Should be done in 2 more hours. I will post my recipe if it works.
😂.
List of food no lectins
Foods to eat on a lectin-free dietAll plant and animal products contain some lectins. Yet, fruits and vegetables that contain relatively little lectin include:
• apples
• artichokes
• arugula
• asparagus
• beets
• blackberries
• blueberries
• bok choy
• broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• cabbage
• carrots
• cauliflower
• celery
• cherries
• chives
• collards
• cranberries
• kale
• leafy greens
• leeks
• lemons
• mushrooms
• okra
• onions
• oranges
• pumpkins
• radishes
• raspberries
• scallions
• strawberries
• sweet potatoes
• Swiss chard
You can also eat all forms of animal protein on the lectin-free diet, including:
• fish
• beef
• chicken
• eggs
Fats, such as those found in avocados, butter, and olive oil, are allowed on the lectin-free diet.
Many types of nuts, such as pecans, pistachios, pine nuts, flax seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, and Brazil nuts, are also allowed.
Some kinds of nuts contain lectins, including walnuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds.
While most plant foods contain lectins, you can choose to eat low lectin alternatives, such as broccoli, sweet potatoes, and strawberries.
you have mentioned that you are on gluten free diet for the last one year. have you noticed any benefits sonce then?
Yes! That was the first change I made before introducing anything else so I know the difference was actually going gluten free.
Cc you mentioned you used to be a prolific passionate baker. Would you say your consumption of baked glutinous goodies were in the high range before PD?
I understand your passion for baking and I loved cakes and pastries, especially with French buttercream topping I can’t ever seem to perfect to my liking. I harassed a few bakers but they won’t share their secrets! I was devastated when I thought I had to give up on cakes during certain period of my life. Now I make some gluten free cakes occasionally for treats and glad that gluten free organic options are getting better, although they’re still quite glycemic.
No. Definitely not. I baked for my family and ate little of it and low sugar unless a holiday. “Healthy baking” was my passion. I now know there is no such thing. I never partook in the SAD diet.
You obviously had better self-control than I! I can't imagine smelling the delicious baked goods and not partaking in the delight. I bake very infrequently for this very reason still. I LOVED sweet things including chocolates, pastries, etc. I have always had a very high metabolism and very strong, so I didn't think I had to watch what I ate while always trying to maintain/gain weight.
Didn't experience problems until the early 2000's when the farmers started using glyphosate massively as a pre-harvest crop desiccant. cornucopia.org/2017/10/glyp...
I’m annoyingly self disciplined. I’m a party pooper for sure! ☺️ I’m constantly learning from you! Thank you for the link!
Listen to this podcast. drhyman.com/blog/2021/06/30...
Dr. Mark Hyman reveals that he was in the 50th percentile for glyphosate levels despite his efforts to eat as cleanly as possible.
Scary thought.
😨
I’m hoping only certified organic will help me. Maybe lower lectins will help. I used to get most of my produce from local farms via the farmers market. They promised it was organic but they weren’t certified bc they are too small. I now wonder…..all those berries and greens….who knows. 😞 The chance of me getting hit with this at 45 was so low. I am still in shock. Female, very healthy lifestyle, how?!?! I haven’t had genetic testing but I know I should. I just don’t want to know how bad it is. My Dad has it.
park_bear has some Intel around using adenosylcobalamin (a form of b12, I think?) in the case of LRRK2 mutations.
There's also the ambroxol GBA thing.
Might be some benefit in getting tested. Understand why you don't wanna tho. Feels irrational but it's a bit scary.
It apparently doesn't matter whether you actively pursue organic foods or not, and still get exposed to significant glyphosate according to that podcast. Even certified organic crops contain glyphosate nowadays, albeit in lesser amounts.
I know what you mean - I like to support local farmers claiming organic and tend to buy the crops, but it's most likely they're not all organic if not certified organic, and probably get contamination from the nearby farming fields even if the farmers are honest. researchgate.net/figure/Geo...
Interesting discussions here quora.com/Are-vegetables-at...
Also, certain fruits and berries are notorious for pesticide loads, including organic pesticides. Blueberries don't need anything and grow well except birds steal them, but I can't grow a single decent organic apple without spraying on my property and I have dozens of apple trees. downtoearth.org/environment...
Yes, I'd love to learn about your methylation panel test results, and perhaps then you may be able to target your healing strategy, which may even apply to your family.
Glyphosate needs to be banned but also worried about what else we'll then need to worry about with replacement chemicals. Very frustrating.
I suspect you are in the US where Round_Up is everywhere there are cash crops... your LOCAL farmer can not stop his neighbour from apply on HIS fields and if the R_Up is spread (applied) in windy or even light breezy condition it could easily be 2 or 3 fields away from the target.
Thanks for posting so many great things. Since I have Pigd subtype I would very much like to fix my gut. Please help me find recipes for a week on a non-gluten and non-lectin diet. I want to try this for a three month trial
I posted a link to a website above with a Cook book and a ton of info
There is also the The Autoimmune Paleo Diet mindd.org/diet/autoimmune-p...
MDS is Doubling down on nutrition and lifestyle
Confronting Dr. Gundry On Lectins | Inflammation & Leaky Gut. 
The Decision to Take Medication or Change your Lifestyle?
Ketogenic lifestyle & parkinson
