Some plants have sticky proteins called lectins that can get into your body, stick to your cells, and make you sick if you're sensitive to them.
Scientific Claim
Lectins are plant-derived proteins that can translocate across the intestinal barrier, bind to mammalian tissues, and trigger inflammatory or autoimmune responses in susceptible individuals.
Original Statement
“Lectins, which are another type of defense compound, can cause many people problems. Lectins are actually very common. They're found in many foods like beans, lentils, peanuts, whole grains, and many vegetables. These lectins actually cross the blood brain barrier, and they can travel all throughout the body. Once inside, they can bind to tissues and disrupt normal cell function, contributing to inflammation and autoimmune reactions in sensitive individuals.”
Context Details
Domain
immunology
Population
human
Subject
Lectins
Action
translocate and bind to
Target
mammalian tissues, triggering inflammation or autoimmunity in susceptible individuals
Intervention Details
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (0)
Contradicting (2)
This study is about how immune cells use antibodies to grab and process germs, not about plant proteins (lectins) leaking through the gut and causing inflammation.
This study says eating plants is good for you and that worries about lectins causing harm might be exaggerated — it doesn’t prove lectins leak through the gut and cause inflammation.