Greg Davis
11-11-2008, 10:48 AM
http://www.t-nation.com/readArticle.do?id=2612737
One dissenting opinion on beans in general that's worth mentioning comes from my respected colleague Loren Cordain, Ph.D., of The Paleo Diet and The Paleo Diet for Athletes fame. He's concerned about substances in beans called lectins. Lectins are a mixture of protein and carbohydrate that aren't digested and broken down and can bind with any tissue in the body, creating problems in susceptible people. So all beans and legumes are on Cordain's "avoid" list, along with grains.
I think Cordain is really smart, but I'm not sure I agree with all of his recommendations. Obviously, some people might have a problem with beans, but if you're not one of them, I think they're fine. (For what it's worth, eggs are also on Cordain's "avoid" list.)
One dissenting opinion on beans in general that's worth mentioning comes from my respected colleague Loren Cordain, Ph.D., of The Paleo Diet and The Paleo Diet for Athletes fame. He's concerned about substances in beans called lectins. Lectins are a mixture of protein and carbohydrate that aren't digested and broken down and can bind with any tissue in the body, creating problems in susceptible people. So all beans and legumes are on Cordain's "avoid" list, along with grains.
I think Cordain is really smart, but I'm not sure I agree with all of his recommendations. Obviously, some people might have a problem with beans, but if you're not one of them, I think they're fine. (For what it's worth, eggs are also on Cordain's "avoid" list.)