Dr. Gundry's Diet: Plantains, Yay Or Nay?

Dr. Gundry's diet is based on the claim that lectins, a protein in common foods, are the anti-nutrients behind many long-term (chronic) health conditions like obesity, chronic inflammation, and autoimmune diseases. The diet plan cuts out foods that contain lectins, like wheat, beans, potatoes, nuts, and dairy. Steven Gundry, MD, a cardiologist, coined the term lectin-free diet after noticing the positive results from some of his heart patients.

The Plant Paradox Diet gained popularity and notoriety in 2019 when singer Kelly Clarkson said it helped her lose nearly 40 pounds. The plan is based on a book by Dr. Steven Gundry, appropriately called The Plant Paradox, in which people eliminate foods that contain lectins. However, many doctors have pushed back against this diet plan, citing the lack of research that links lectins with harmful effects on one’s weight.

According to Gundry and other lectin-free advocates, some foods are not only low in lectins, but they are high in antioxidants, omega-3s, and other nutrients to make them great foods to enjoy regularly.

There are some surprising foods on the yes and no list for the lectin-free diet. For example, brown rice is a no, but white rice is a yes. Coffee (black) is on the safe list, but beans are not.

Green plantains are a suitable addition to the Plant Paradox Diet as they do not contain lectins. This is because green plantains, which are unripe, do not contain resistant starch that becomes sugar.

Plantains are not on Dr Gundry's 'No List'

Plantains are not on Dr Gundry's "No List". In fact, they are on his "Yes List".

Dr Gundry's "No List" is a list of foods that are high in lectins. Lectins are a type of protein that can be toxic to the human body and cause illnesses and even death. However, not all lectins are harmful, and many foods that contain lectins are nutritious and healthy.

Dr Gundry's "No List" includes refined starchy foods, such as pasta, rice, potatoes, and bread; nuts and seeds, such as pumpkin, sunflower, chia, peanuts, and cashews; vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, sugar snap peas, legumes, green beans, chickpeas, and soy; fruits and vegetables such as all fruits except in-season fruit, ripe bananas, zucchini, pumpkins, squashes, melons, eggplants, tomatoes, bell peppers, and chili peppers; non-Southern European cow's milk products such as yogurt, Greek yogurt, frozen yogurts, American cheese, ricotta, cottage cheese, kefir, and casein protein powders; grain or soybean-fed fish, shellfish, poultry, beef, lamb, and pork; sprouted grains, pseudograins, and grasses such as wheat, einkorn wheat, kamut, oats, quinoa, rye, brown rice, white rice, barley, buckwheat, corn, corn products, corn syrup, and popcorn; and oils such as soy, grapeseed, corn, peanut, cottonseed, safflower, sunflower, and partially hydrogenated vegetable or canola.

However, plantains are not on this list. In fact, Dr Gundry includes plantains on his "Yes List", which are foods that are low in lectins. On this list, he includes pasture-raised chicken and beef, cooked sweet potatoes, leafy green vegetables, and extra virgin olive oil.

Dr Gundry's "No List" can be difficult to follow and isn't for everybody. He recommends using the list as a guide to healthy eating rather than as a set of rules. It is quite difficult to completely avoid all the foods on the list, and in fact, completely avoiding them all is not the goal. Instead, he suggests thinking of the "No List" as foods to minimize in your diet and the "Yes List" as foods to maximize.

For those considering the Plant Paradox diet, green plantains are a suitable addition as they do not contain lectins. This is because green plantains, which are unripe, do not contain resistant starch that becomes sugar.

Plantains are not on Dr Gundry's 'Yes List'

Plantains are not on Dr Gundry's Yes List

Dr Gundry's Yes and No Lists are based on his research into the effects of lectins on the human body. Lectins are proteins found in many foods, but primarily in legumes, grains, and nightshade vegetables like tomatoes and eggplants. According to Dr Gundry, lectins are toxins that plants produce to survive and shouldn't be eaten because of the many complications they can cause, including inflammation, intestinal damage, and weight gain.

Plantains are not on Dr Gundry's Yes List. In fact, they are on his No List. This is because plantains are high in lectins.

However, green plantains, which are unripe, do not contain resistant starch that becomes sugar. So, while green plantains are suitable for the Plant Paradox Diet, once they ripen and are no longer green, they will no longer be compatible with the Plant Paradox Diet.

Plantains are not mentioned in Dr Gundry's book 'The Plant Paradox'

Plantains are not mentioned in Dr Gundry's book The Plant Paradox. However, plantains are starchy foods that contain lectins, which are proteins that bind carbohydrates and aren't easily broken down during digestion. According to Dr Gundry, lectins are toxins that plants produce to survive and shouldn't be eaten because they can cause inflammation, intestinal damage, and weight gain.

The Plant Paradox Diet involves eliminating lectin-containing foods, but there’s no structured program unless you choose to do its 3-day detox or ketogenic program for cancer. The diet emphasizes whole and nutritious sources of protein and fat while banning nightshades, beans, legumes, grains, and most dairy.

Plantains are green when unripe and do not contain resistant starch that becomes sugar. Therefore, green plantains do not contain lectins and can be included in the Plant Paradox Diet. However, once plantains ripen and are no longer green, they will no longer be compatible with the Plant Paradox Diet.

Plantains are not mentioned in Dr Gundry's book 'The Plant Paradox Cookbook'

Dr Gundry's diet is based on the claim that lectins are "anti-nutrients" that can cause weight gain, inflammation, and chronic disease. He recommends avoiding foods with high amounts of lectins, such as wheat, beans, potatoes, nuts, and dairy.

While green plantains do not contain lectins, ripe plantains will contain some lectins. Therefore, according to Dr Gundry's diet, green plantains are suitable to eat, but ripe plantains should be avoided.

Plantains are suitable for the Plant Paradox Diet because they do not contain lectins

The diet was created by Dr. Steven Gundry, a former cardiac surgeon and physician, who wrote the book "The Plant Paradox: The Hidden Dangers in 'Healthy' Foods That Cause Disease and Weight Gain." In his book, Dr. Gundry argues that many plant foods, including legumes, grains, and nightshade vegetables, contain high levels of lectins, which can be toxic to the body.

However, plantains are not mentioned specifically in Dr. Gundry's list of foods to avoid. Plantains are considered a starchy food and are included in the list of foods to eat on the Plant Paradox Diet. They are also mentioned as a suitable food for those following the diet by Prime Planet, a producer and distributor of wholesale snacks, including green plantain chips.

It is important to note that the Plant Paradox Diet is a restrictive diet that eliminates many nutritious foods, and there is limited scientific evidence to support the idea that all lectin-containing foods are harmful. Some people, especially those with pre-existing digestive issues, may benefit from a lectin-free diet, but it is always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new diet plan.

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