Autoimmune discovery

Following a diet that limited lectins (plant proteins found in grains and certain vegetables and fruits) and supplementing with a few key nutrients sent autoimmune diseases like lupus, Crohn’s and rheumatoid arthritis into remission for 93% of participants, says Steven Plant Paradox, Gundry, who M.D., successfully author of The tested his theory with hundreds of patients suffering from autoimmune conditions. “Autoimmune diseases are caused when our immune cells attack proteins in our body because they bear a striking resemblance to the proteins in lectins.” Gluten is the most well-known lectin, but there are others— some even found in favorite healthy foods such as quinoa and legumes. The feel-better steps:

● Make low-lectin picks

Organic produce is optimal since plants grown with genetically modified seeds have higher lectin levels, Dr. Gundry says. And choose sorghum, millet and Indian basmati white rice over lectinloaded options like brown rice, quinoa, wheat and legumes.

● Optimize gut health

A daily supplement strategy that includes prebiotics (try mixing 1 tsp. of psyllium husks in a glass of water), a probiotic with the strain Bacillus coagulans (like Schiff Digestive Advantage, $18 for a 50-day supply, drugstores) and polyphenols (100 mg. of grapeseed extract and resveratrol) makes the body less sensitive to lectins.