A Stream of Consciousness Post: A bump-date, are lectins poisonous?, should you be worried about insulin resistance, and sunsets!
Hello, Friend! Happy Tuesday!
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For whatever reason I’m having a difficult time nailing down one specific topic to write about today. So, you’re getting a mishmash of reflections, thoughts, and pregnancy reflections.
Topic 1: Being a little sick + pregnancy
I have a little cold right now, and somehow it kept me up most of the night last night. Just me and my belly rolling around all night. Thankfully, I’ve been relatively lucky with sleep lately, definitely better than the beginning of my pregnancy. But, as a typical back sleeper, the transition to sleeping on my side has been hard enough as it is, adding in a dripping nose wasn’t helpful. TMI? ; )
(Side note: I have found this pillow super helpful for supporting my new side sleeping, in case you’re in need!)
Good news: I’m feeling much better today, enjoying a little tea and honey right now, and am hoping that it was just a 2 day thing and we’re moving forward now. *fingers crossed*
Regarding pregnancy… I’m definitely getting bigger these days! I guess that’s to be expected, but it’s interesting just how much more challenging certain movements are. Like, when I’m sitting on the couch and want to lean forward to get something off the table in front of me… grunts galore! hah!
I’ve “only” gained 9 pounds so far, which is surprising. (That’s from the day I found out I was pregnant…. I actually lost a few pounds in the beginning there due to the whole nausea thing.) Though, I saw on one of my pregnancy apps today that this week the baby (currently papaya-sized) starts going through weeks of growth spurts where they can increase weight by like 25% per week! Crazy!
Also surprising… did you know that when you’re pregnant you blood volume increases by as much as 50%?! That is just remarkable to me! I can definitely feel it when doing any kind of “cardio” activity… things get more challenging much more quickly!
Regardless of all of that, I’m feeling pretty good overall! I’m super thankful to still be moving well, able to workout and walk regularly, and excited to be feeling the baby move regularly now!
New topic: Lectins
Tom Brady has a thing against lectins, right?! Or is that nightshades? Or do they fall into the same category?
Regardless, some people out there (incorrectly) believe that lectins are poisonous.
First of all, lectins are “are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are found in most foods. They can be harmful. Kidney beans are toxic but only if eaten raw, which no one does; proper cooking neutralizes the lectins and makes kidney beans safe to eat. Not only safe, but beneficial. Lectins play essential roles in human physiology. Among their many important functions, they regulate cell adhesion and are the first-line defense against invading microorganisms in the innate immune system.”1
Foods with lectins include whole grains, many fruits and veggies, beans, peanuts, and soy, among others.
The argument presented in the book The Plant Paradox is that plants, fruits, or veggies that have lectins are poisonous to humans, thus causing us to gain weight/be generally unhealthy if we consume them. (FYI, the book received a 26% for scientific accuracy on the Red Pen Reviews site I’ve mentioned on the blog before.)
Turns out, there are no human studies, studies with control groups, or systematic reviews to back up the claims that lectins are poisonous to humans.
It’s unreal how much fear-mongering there is out there about different types of foods. It’s almost as if people will say whatever they want, with little science behind it, just to make money… oh, wait.
Next we’re going to find out that the Liver King has been taking massive amounts of steroids all along, while claiming he wasn’t… oh, wait.
Bottom line, eat tomatoes or whole grains if you enjoy them and they fit within your goals/plan.
Topic 3: Insulin Resistance + Focusing on the wrong things
I just saw an article today about a new diet called GOLO. It’s a pill you take before each meal, which apparently counteracts insulin resistance.
Yes, insulin resistance is a factor in how we use what we eat, how we lose weight, etc. BUT, insulin resistance can also be supported by a good old caloric deficit and exercise.
Want to know what’s interesting about the GOLO diet?? In addition to taking the pill it also recommends a sub-1500 calorie diet, which, for most adult humans, is a substantial caloric deficit! Go figure! The pill is NOT magic, the caloric deficit is, once again, key to weight loss.
Along these lines, why are we so hung up on insulin resistance lately?
People are so focused on it that some people are even buying medicine meant for individuals with diabetes and their very real insulin challenges to try to lose weight…. and it’s leaving people with diabetes, who literally need that medicine, unable to get it. *Face palm*
Look, I want there to be easier answers to body composition challenges as much as the next person. Unfortunately, there’s not a magic pill… yet. We do, however, know that consistently eating adequate protein, fruits, veggies, moving regularly, and drinking water DOES contribute to the changes many of us are looking to see.
I also don’t mean to sound elitist or whatever here… I totally get that the “right” answer for some is medication, or medical interventions, etc. Absolutely. I just don’t want us disregarding the science, or pursuing workarounds that aren’t real.
If you reallyyyy want to achieve something, you have to be willing to make the necessary (and hopefully sustainable) changes in your life to make that happen. And then commit to them, likely for an extended period of time. End of story. Let’s stop stealing medication from people who need it, or believing claims that have no real backing.
Wow, can you tell I’m in a little bit of a mood today due to my lack of sleep/general frustrations with the world?!
Maybe this is a good time for a brief Topic 4: Later Sunsets
December 7th will be the earliest sunset of the winter… after that sunsets start getting later again… thank goodness! (The whole day will not necessarily get longer just yet, the shortest day of the year is 12/21, but I appreciate the gradually extending minutes of sunlight in the evening!)
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading and putting up with me.
What are your thoughts about any of the above topics?! I’d love to hear… share in the comments or send me an email at sara@nutritionforlifeproject.com.
As always, thanks for reading,
xoxo,
Sara
https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-plant-paradox-steven-gundrys-war-on-lectins/