Funny you should mention it as I've just been reading something very very interesting on lectins................................. Lectins are a complex subject but a good book makes it clear. There are many types of lectin and some are good guys and some are bad guys. I will soon post up a detailed reply that will be worth reading. Now, in my vanilla (flavoured life), the kids have just got back from swimming and I'm going to play cricket with them. Ben ----- Original Message ----- From: Wally Day <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, December 03, 1999 5:34 AM Subject: [P-F] Lectins in food > > > Btw are sunflower seeds 'allowed' ? > > Don't think so, but I don't even eat enuts as I > > think they're full of > > lectins and other undesirables. > > I recently did a little research on lectins as I was > completely confused as to why lectins were > "undesireable". Here is the most concise definition of > lectins I could find: > > "Lectins are non-enzymatic proteins that exist in > biological systems as "decoders" for the > complex language saccharides produced on the cell > surface. In addition, they have a variety > of other functions that make them vital to different > taxa by playing a substantial role in > agglutination, tissue regulation and development of > organisms." > > I also found that almost everything we eat contains > lectins (including meats and other foods considered > paleo), and that there are a number of different types > of lectins. In other words, lectins are naturally > occurring substances we normally ingest, and if they > cause problems it is because of a sensitivity to a > particular lectin or "type" of lectin, not lectins in general. > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place. > Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com