Good Lectin, Bad Lectin
Jacob Farin, N.D.
At the Center for Traditional Medicine, we recommend that you structure your diet according to your body composition and your blood type. Eating an optimal balance of carbohydrates, proteins and essential fats can have a tremendous impact on your health and sense of well-being. Eating foods compatible with your blood type can also decrease your risk towards disease and illness. These dietary recommendations are based on the research of Barry Sears, Ph.D. and Peter D'Adamo, N.D.
We begin with a measurement of your lean body mass, body fat percentage and water percentage. Using these measurements, we then calculate your specific nutritional needs for carbohydrate, protein and fat. We recommend that every meal contain an optimal balance of these three essential nutrients (40% carbohydrates, 30% protein, 30% fat). This will help with good insulin balance for proper weight management, muscle mass growth, exercise endurance, tissue repair and replenishment of your body systems. It is also important that you consume sufficient protein to maintain your lean body mass, as well eliminate known food allergens and foods that are incompatible with your blood types to achieve optimal well-being.
Eating foods that are compatible with your blood type helps maintain optimal good health much more efficiently. On the other hand, eating foods which are incompatible with your blood type can cause irreversible clumping of cells in the intestinal tract and blood vessels. This occurs because all foods contain proteins called lectins. Lectins have the ability to selectively clump up with incompatible proteins found on cell surfaces, such as red blood cells. In order for the body to remove these lectin-cell complexes, an inflammatory reaction must occur. Over time this can weaken your immune system, leading to symptoms of many chronic illnesses, such as lowered resistance to viral and bacterial infections, urinary and respiratory infections, autoimmune arthritis, ulcers and cancers.
What can these dietary recommendations do for you? It depends on your health goals. Many people with concerns of weight loss have benefited greatly, often losing 12-20 pounds. Patients with cardiovascular diseases have noted significant decreases in their cholesterol and blood fat levels. Patients with fatigue usually experience an increase in energy and a general sense of well-being. If you would like to know more about how you can start eating healthier for optimal good health, contact the Center to schedule your dietary consultation.