Episode 77: The Hidden Dangers In “Healthy” Food + Lectins Explained With Dr. Steven Gundry
This week I’m talking to heart surgeon and author, Dr. Steven Gundry. We discuss the hidden dangers in “healthy” food, his research on lectins and their damaging effects on our bodies, and why you just need to eat before you go to a party.
Here’s Dr. Steven Gundry:
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SHOW NOTES:
Chicago Printer Row Lit Fest Tickets
Plant Paradox: The Hidden Dangers In “Healthy” Foods That Cause Disease + Weight Gain
Dr. Gundry’s Diet Evolution
Dr. Gundry’s Website + Instagram + FB
Lectin Shield
Mushroom Pizzas
One Part Plant Cookbook
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16 Comments
Hannah Rose
May 25, 2017Jessica, I’m FREAKING OUT! Haha what the heck am I going to eat now… I’m half way through the episode and had to comment. I’m going to do some research more into this as I’ve noticed some uncontrollable weight gain that I’ve wanted to tackle. So interesting! I love how you share all sides of food and diet on your pod. You are amazing.
Kris
May 25, 2017I’m with Hannah Rose!! This podcast was really powerful for me and has left me wanting to learn more. What Dr. Gundry had to say was PHENOMENAL! Loved your audience questions — such a fascinating interview.
Becky
May 25, 2017For those freaking out or thinking about checking out this diet, I found James Hamblin’s piece at the Atlantic *really helpful.*
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/04/the-next-gluten/523686/
Here’s the very last paragraph: “Book publishers are rarely held accountable for publishing invalid health information. Rather, there seems to be an incentive to publish the most outlandish claims that purport to upend everything the reader has ever heard. This is a problem much bigger than any plant protein. Cycles of fad dieting and insidious misinformation undermine both public health and understanding of how science works, giving way to a sense of chaos. It seems that every doctor has their own opinion about how to protect your body from calamity, and all are equally valid, because nothing is ever truly known.”
Becky
May 25, 2017Also, I found it strange that Dr. Gundry says that *none* of us in the United States are originally from here? Has he forgotten about the indigenous people that still live here? Not only in the United States but in the rest of North and South America? Are they *really* the only people who should be eating plants from the New World? Is Gundry really basing his prescription from a research paper on anthropology he did as an undergraduate? I’m simplifying here, but honestly this seems like a bunch of hooey to me… and I haven’t gotten all the way through the episode, but this guy does make money selling books and supplements.
AR
May 31, 2017Becky, he has said this in several interviews – including on national TV! It got to me too. I’m surprised more people have not caught on to him saying that. I do find his theories of interest (knowing that lectins are just one piece of the puzzle) and will be testing some out, but wow, I wish he would stop saying that.
Pastaveia Monique
May 26, 2017Becky, I too, came across the Atlantic article a few weeks ago when Jessica share about him in her newsletter. The part that got me was: “Book publishing remains one of the industries that drives health trends, with “M.D.” being valuable currency on covers. It tells readers that this is the work of an expert to be used as a reference for your health.”
At first, I was like, “I dunno ’bout this guy”, he’s selling products that endorses his program –sounds like a conflict of interest?
However after hearing the entire pod, I came to the realization that we have to make the best decisions for ourselves. For some it’s eating gluten, meat + diary and others its the opposite but in the end we must do what is right for our own bodies. And let that be okay and not judge one another for what we eat or compare journeys + milestones.
Thanks for sharing your comment and Jessica; we appreciate you opening up a place to have open dialogue and community.
Sat Nam,
Pastaveia
Amy Leiter
May 28, 2017As with anything you always have to decide what is best for your body. As someone that has been struggling for over a decade, I have landed on leaky gut and endometriosis. I would say many eastern Drs. have alluded to what he is telling us not to eat. They have not cited lectin but they have cited many of the things that Dr. Gundry is saying to avoid nightshades, grains, beans, and legumes.
I am going to try to prepare some of my foods the way he is suggesting and just see. What I do know as I did get more sick eating gluten free foods and I did experience a lot of what he described in the podcast. So maybe there is something to how we prepare foods higher in lectin and how we eat certain things in moderation. I basically decided to be a flexitarian which is eating mostly plants and small amounts of meat and seafood. Best advice eat things in moderation stay away from foods from the store with more that 5 or 6 ingredients and eat as many whole foods as possible. And last but not least pay attention to what your body is telling you and mentally and emotionally how you feel. You are the expert of your body and it will tell you what is right if you listen closely.
Gus
April 9, 2019Hi Amy, I wonder if you have this thread still tagged to let you know if someone responds to your posting. Because I sure would like to hear whether your endometriosis has improved over the last two years. I am a recent Gundry convert and am delighted with my results – shed 9 kilos/20 lbs this year so far. But recently my friend’s daughter has been diagnosed with endometriosis and the medicos are urging her to undertake expensive surgery to relieve the pain. I doubt this is her best option – do you have any advice from your experience?
Jessica
April 9, 2019Hope you don’t mind, I sneak in here. In some instances (a lot of them), surgery does need to be preformed for endometriosis. Especially if it has spread to major organs (the rectum can also be extremely painful) and large cyst growth (cysts can twist or rupture which is incredibly painful). With that said, excision surgery is going to be the best option over ablation surgery. Ablation is burning it awhile, which can cause more inflammation. I do think that for many people with endo, the pain can be managed through lifestyle tools (food, movement, stress-management, etc). But they might also need surgery to come with that. I would check out our sister site. http://www.knowyourendo.com and check out the Ask A Dr. question and lifestyle tools to get more information! Thanks for leaving a comment here and congrats on your success with your new Gundry-lifestyle!
Deborah Myers
May 29, 2017Jessica,
I borrowed his first book “Diet Evolution” from the library and have been on the recommended meal plan for the past two weeks that he has in the book. I gave up all starch and sugar for the past two weeks. It was a totally enlightening experience. I’ve been a professed vegetarian, yet a very “bad” one. I have more energy, my bodily aches and pains have gone away, and I have been losing approximately 1/2 to 1 pound per day. I am eating more than I have ever eaten in the past 3-4 years. For all the naysayers, just borrow the book, read i,t. try it for a couple of weeks and see what you think and feel. This is not for everyone….it does take a little bit of getting used. Yet, what is the price of feeling better without medicine(s).
Pastaveia
May 30, 2017Great advice, Deborah!!
Jackie
June 1, 2017Hi Jessica – I have conflicting feelings about this podcast because part of me just doesn’t want to hear what else I should remove from my diet. However, the other part of me (and lucky for me, the stronger part of me) felt something that I haven’t felt in a long time – HOPE. I understand people’s concerns about the diet he suggests but as a 27 year old living with chronic pain from Rheumatoid Arthritis – I can tell you that you get to a point where you will try ANYTHING. And if this helps me live with less pain, then I’m going to do it. And if I try it and it doesn’t work, then at least I know. Everyone’s health journey is different and I appreciate the work you do here so that people can find what works for them!
Erin
June 2, 2017I personally thought this was fantastic and super interesting. I am reading Eat Wheat, by John Douillard right now and there is a lot of cross over. I think you may dig that book to and all he has to share. I think at the end of the day they are so many diets, trends, crazes. What we have to know is ourselves and we have to heal our digestion first and foremost. That is the root of it all. Much of what we do is approach from a symptom standpoint, even if it is considered green, healthy, and clean (from the current trends) Everyone is going to have a different approach and a different story around their diet and health of their gut, because we are all different and have different pasts that have laid the groundwork.
I was shocked to hear that this pissed people off so much, rather than take something in that may be contrary to what are beliefs are. Stop the judgments!
-E
Sam Shone
August 7, 2017I enjoyed this podcast. It’s the first of your’s I’ve listened to. I see that Dr. Gundry’s book has gotten the attention of Joel Fuhrman as I came across this on fb —
“The truth is, the scientific evidence does not support the view that lectins are harmful to our health. What is harmful to our health is promoting this idea which has led to many people being afraid to eat health-promoting foods like beans and tomatoes.
It is acceptable to have a theory, but this idea about lectins being “disease-causing” and that people need to avoid beans, vegetable and nuts in order to get healthy and lose weight, has been thoroughly disproven by the thousands of studies documenting the health and longevity benefits of these foods. The most recent book warning against lectins is full of twisted and incorrect information that will further confuse and harm the public – who are already eating an insufficient amount of plant foods.”
https://www.drfuhrman.com/learn/library/articles/115/the-real-story-on-lectins#.WYCv04NEpQU.facebook
Alissa
October 25, 2017I just listened to this podcast and was hell bent on buying the book and changing my entire diet. With the research Dr. Gundry references it would be stupid to not change your diet! Then I started to look into it and was disappointed to find that none of the research he references in his book actually backs up what he is saying. Jessica are you still following this diet? If so would finding out that there’s no legit research/science change you decision? For anyone interested in a scholarly review of his book and claims please check out this article:
http://nutritionstudies.org/the-plant-paradox-by-steven-grundy-md-commentary/
It’s written by the acclaimed T. Colin Campbell.
Jessica
October 30, 2017Alissa,
I’m not 100% following this diet and you know I LOVE Dr. Campbell. BUT I do follow some of the book’s suggestion with great success. I know now that nightshades and I aren’t friends and brown rice is a culprit to me not feeling my best. I think with everything you have to do what works for you. And whether it’s the lectins or the grains or them being nightshades themselves…it has helped me by doing these things in moderation. Dr. Gundry also has dozens of testimonials in his book that show how it’s helped people. I think it’s still worth a read to see both sides and you might find something in the book that resonates with you. Thanks!