Six foods notably high in lectins, especially when raw or undercooked, are Red Kidney Beans, Peanuts, Soybeans, Wheat, Potatoes, and Nightshade Vegetables (like tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers), with cooking, sprouting, or fermenting significantly reducing their lectin content.
Some of the most common high-lectin plant foods include:
Some foods that contain higher amounts of lectins are beans, pulses, grains, fruits and vegetables (e.g. potatoes, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, zucchini, carrots, berries, and watermelon), nuts, coffee, chocolate, and some herbs and spices (e.g. peppermint, marjoram, and nutmeg).
The body can produce enzymes during digestion that degrades some lectins. Other processes that deactivate the compounds are sprouting grains and beans, and mechanically removing the outer hull of beans and wheat grains that contain the most lectins.
Eggplants, tomatoes, peppers and white potatoes are vegetables categorized as nightshades that are high in lectins.
High-lectin plant foods, such as cucumbers, eggplant, and squash, can be made more lectin-friendly by peeling and deseeding. The hull, peel, or rind is where lectins concentrate, so a simple act like peeling with a serrated peeler or boiling tomatoes for a brief period can remove these lectin-rich portions.
Berries such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are delicious and nutritious lectin-free options. They are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, making them a perfect addition to any diet.
Know what you're buying: pastured eggs are generally lower in lectins than standard, commercially farmed eggs, but pastured hens still often have access to many lectin-rich foods.
There's no single "healthiest" fruit; variety is key, but berries (blueberries, raspberries), avocados, apples, kiwi, and citrus are top contenders for daily eating due to high fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and healthy fats, supporting heart, gut, and overall health, so aim to include several types in your diet.
Existing gut issues: If you have irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, leaky gut syndrome or chronic inflammation, your gut may be more sensitive to lectins. Eating high-lectin foods could make symptoms like bloating, gas, pain or fatigue worse.
Dr. Gundry recommends lectin-free options like pasture-raised eggs, avocado with MCT oil/ olive oil, nuts (walnuts, macadamias, pistachios), and sheep/ goat yogurt/ coconut yogurt for breakfast, often delaying it or eating calories in a short window; he advises against typical cereals, oats, and cow's milk yogurt due to lectins, promoting foods that support gut health.
Dr. Gundry eats a lot of plants, and they're one of his primary protein sources. In fact, his favorite protein hack is to choose vegetables with high protein content, including three on this list: avocados, walnuts and kale. Other favorites include all leafy greens of all kinds, mushrooms, pecans and pistachios.
Restoring the gut microbiome. LPS, gluten and lectins all cause severe disruption to the gut wall and the gut microbiome, causing leaky gut syndrome and dysbiosis. Although the cause is different in each case, the result — systemic inflammation causing joint pain and osteoarthritis — is the same.
Here are a few to keep an eye on:
According to Gundry, these foods are low in lectins and are OK to eat on a lectin-free diet:
Peanuts have a higher lectin content than most tree nuts, and lectins can be harsh on your gut health, particularly if you already have IBS, leaky gut, or other gut disorders. Peanuts also contain aflatoxin, which is a toxin that can have various negative health effects if you consume it too often.
1. Almonds. There you have it — the humble almond can be considered the most nutrient-dense food on the planet. Used to the spotlight by now, almonds have been at the center of multiple studies on heart health and diabetes-related benefits.
Watermelon can help reduce your body fat and waist circumference due to its high water content. Watermelon is also rich in vitamins A and C, which can help with skin health and metabolism.
More research is needed to figure out the link between eggs, diabetes and heart disease. Health experts now suggest eating as little dietary cholesterol as you can, aiming to keep intake under 300 milligrams (mg) a day. One large egg has about 186 mg of cholesterol — all of which is found in the yolk.
The lowest lectin content options are asparagus, garlic, celery, mushrooms and onions. Cooked root vegetables like sweet potatoes, yucca and taro, along with leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, avocados, olives and olive oil are all examples of healthy foods that do contain some lectins.
If you are eating before bed, choose a small evening snack that includes some fiber and protein like an apple and one to two tablespoons of peanut butter.
Official Statements from Cardiology Organizations. The American Heart Association says to eat foods like blueberries. They are full of antioxidants. A diet rich in fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins can lower heart disease risk.
“Cherries, especially tart varieties, contain high levels of anthocyanins and quercetin, which have powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects,” she explains. “They are particularly effective in easing arthritis and gout symptoms by lowering levels of inflammatory markers in the body.”
Here are six estrogen-positive foods to avoid: