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ANTINUTRIENTS - THREAD
Antinutrients are chemical compounds that you can find in some foods, including ones that are otherwise considered âhealthyâ, - ESPECIALLY grains, beans, legumes and nuts, but also some plant roots, vegetables, leaves and fruits.
Antinutrients are chemical compounds that you can find in some foods, including ones that are otherwise considered âhealthyâ, - ESPECIALLY grains, beans, legumes and nuts, but also some plant roots, vegetables, leaves and fruits.
These antinutrients can block the absorption of critical vitamins + minerals or create holes in our intestinal walls.
In nature, plants use antinutrients to protect themselves from predators. They help repel pests, bugs so the seeds are able to live + reproduce.
In nature, plants use antinutrients to protect themselves from predators. They help repel pests, bugs so the seeds are able to live + reproduce.
Think about it this way - a vegetable exists like any other organism, and does not want to be eaten.
Because the vegetable canât ârun awayâ from predators, they have developed internal defences to predation.
Because the vegetable canât ârun awayâ from predators, they have developed internal defences to predation.
The consumption of antinutrients can also lead to mineral deficiencies â particularly if you have a diet low in wholesome foods.
Not ALL antinutrients are entirely bad and you can help lower the content of the kinds that are.
Not ALL antinutrients are entirely bad and you can help lower the content of the kinds that are.
Examples include heat treatments such as boiling, roasting, microwave cooking and autoclaving. Others include processing methods such as dehulling, soaking and fermentation.
Some antinutrients can be beneficial in appropriate doses (polyphenols and flavonoids).
Even positive antinutrients can inhibit mineral absorption to some degree but are relatively harmless (and even beneficial) as long as you donât OVERconsoom them.
Even positive antinutrients can inhibit mineral absorption to some degree but are relatively harmless (and even beneficial) as long as you donât OVERconsoom them.
When eaten in very high concentrations, even âgood antinutrientsâ can inhibit digestion of copper, iron, zinc and vitamin B1, along with enzymes, proteins and starches found in plant foods.
It all depends on someoneâs unique reaction, so itâs key that you tune in to your own reactions to different foods so you can adjust your diet accordingly
When you sprout foods that contain antinutrients, the concentration of the antinutrients usually goes way down
When you sprout foods that contain antinutrients, the concentration of the antinutrients usually goes way down
The same can happen when fermenting foods, which produces incredibly beneficial probiotic foods.
Soaking, sprouting and fermenting are the simple practices of germinating seeds
They become easier to digest and your body can access their full nutritional profile.
Sourdough!
Soaking, sprouting and fermenting are the simple practices of germinating seeds
They become easier to digest and your body can access their full nutritional profile.
Sourdough!
Top Foods with Anti-Nutrients to Avoid
Legumes: cowpeas, peas, kidney bean seeds and peanuts contain antinutrients such as tannins, phytic acid, lectins and trypsin inhibitors.
During sprouting or germination, the seed coat is metabolized, thus eliminating the lectins.
Legumes: cowpeas, peas, kidney bean seeds and peanuts contain antinutrients such as tannins, phytic acid, lectins and trypsin inhibitors.
During sprouting or germination, the seed coat is metabolized, thus eliminating the lectins.
Thereâs a particularly problematic lectin (agglutinin) that is found in soybeans (and thus, in soy products like soy protein isolate)
Deep soy strikes again...
Deep soy strikes again...
Grains - The hulls of WHOLE grains contain the antinutrients phytate and saponins.
Certain grains â wheat, barley and rye â contain the antinutrient gluten.
Fermentation breaks food down with the help of beneficial bacteria. These bacteria digest and convert antinutrients.
Certain grains â wheat, barley and rye â contain the antinutrient gluten.
Fermentation breaks food down with the help of beneficial bacteria. These bacteria digest and convert antinutrients.
Vegetables - RAW cruciferous vegetables such as kale, radishes, cauliflower and broccoli, as well as leafy greens such as spinach and parsley, contain the antinutrient oxalic acid.
Oxalic acid can prevent the body from absorbing calcium.
Ditch the raw kale smoothies!
Oxalic acid can prevent the body from absorbing calcium.
Ditch the raw kale smoothies!
Phytic acid is found in the hulls of whole grains and seeds.
Dehulling thus decreases the antinutrients found in these foods.
Thatâs also why white rice is healthier than whole rice;
it doesnât have the hull!
Dehulling thus decreases the antinutrients found in these foods.
Thatâs also why white rice is healthier than whole rice;
it doesnât have the hull!
EVERY food has varying degrees of pros and cons.
Evolution has shaped human bodies so that we can eat and metabolize certain foods better than others.
Humans are perfectly capable of thriving on pastured meat, animal fats, wild-caught seafood, seasonal vegetables and fruits.
Evolution has shaped human bodies so that we can eat and metabolize certain foods better than others.
Humans are perfectly capable of thriving on pastured meat, animal fats, wild-caught seafood, seasonal vegetables and fruits.
Based on scientific evidence, antinutrients are a real thing and can cause health issues.
However, you should note that the benefits of eating certain healthy foods far outweigh the disadvantages of the antinutrients found in them.
However, you should note that the benefits of eating certain healthy foods far outweigh the disadvantages of the antinutrients found in them.
Overall, the effort of preparing foods to lower the anti-nutrients inside outweighs the nutritional content within. If you have the time, great.
If not, its likely more bang for your buck to avoid most of these foods.
If not, its likely more bang for your buck to avoid most of these foods.
Antinutrients are not something to worry about excessively, as long as the bulk of your diet is made up of the more bioavailable and nutritious animal fats/meats.
Problems occur when your diet is majority made up of these anti-nutrient containing foods eaten RAW and unprepared.
Problems occur when your diet is majority made up of these anti-nutrient containing foods eaten RAW and unprepared.
