Lectins
What slows things down
Proteins that stick to the sugars of the intestinal wall — the most famous of the misunderstood molecules.
Effects
Some proteins of raw beans cling to the sugars of the gut wall. The one in red kidney beans causes violent vomiting and diarrhea within a few hours: it is one of the best-documented poisonings of plant origin.
The phytohemagglutinin of red kidney beans makes red blood cells stick together in the laboratory, hence its name, and violently irritates the gut wall. Poisonings happen mostly with beans soaked and then cooked at low temperature, in a slow cooker: gentle heat can even multiply their toxicity before destroying it (FDA, 2012).
Canned beans and well-cooked legumes no longer contain it. The reputation of lectins in some fashionable diets does not rest on human trials.
Sources: FDA, Bad Bug Book, 2012
The remedy
To put in perspective: cooking at a full boil destroys them almost entirely. The only real danger is the undercooked red kidney bean — a dozen raw ones are enough to make you sick — not hummus or bread. This counter tracks raw and sprouted forms, where they really survive.
Where to find it (11)
- Alfalfa
- Bell pepper
- Broccoli sprouts
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Kaiware (daikon sprouts)
- Peanut
- Radish sprouts
- Snap bean
- Snow pea
- Tomato