Bad News: we don’t live in a world where everything laid on our market shelves or pictured in menus is good for us. In fact… the most of the food that companies shove right under our nose… is the WORST food for us to eat. It’s the cheapest, highest processed, most lectin-rich stuff out there! At least we know how to reduce or remove lectins.

The real bummer, of course, is that those foods – the ones that are the worst for us – are often really tempting. And there are even foods we’re told are good for us, but they simply aren’t.

But don’t worry… you don’t necessarily have to give your favorite foods cold turkey. Instead, theres a list of great substitutions. You may not even miss your ‘favorite’ foods once you’re in the habit of substituting great new faves. You can start with some tomato free bbq sauce. If you are wondering why we made it tomato-free, read all about nightshade plants to learn more.

After all, a lot of common “healthy” foods are easy to swap out … and theres  some great substitutions that are absolutely delicious. Watch the video on the topic or simply keep reading:

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter happened to be one of my personal favorites before I got on the right path with my diet. So let’s start there.

Now, you may love peanut butter. And you might think it’s healthy. But as far as I’m concerned, you can call it lectin butter, because it’s made with one of the absolute worst ingredients for your health – peanuts!

But peanut butter is easy to ditch. There are a slew of healthier, lectin-free alternatives on the grocery store shelves.

Try swapping out peanut butter for –

Almond butter
Walnut butter
Hazelnut butter
Tahini (which is basically sesame seed butter)
Pistachio butter

Caution: Just make sure to avoid cashew or sunflower seed butter … they’re both lectin bombs!

Hot Tip: If you want your almond or walnut butter to taste a little “peanuttier” – just whisk in a couple drops of coconut aminos to boost the savory flavor. Also, read about the answer to the question: do almonds have lectins?

So yummy. You won’t even remember peanut butter once you’ve switched.

Next up…

Diet Soda

Now, you’ve heard Dr. Gundry mention this before, but … he was a huge Diet Coke addict!

It wasn’t easy for him to give this up, but his health changed drastically – for the better – once he did.

Now, I’m not going to tell you how terrible diet soda is for your health – at this point, you already know. But if you want a refresher, there are a few videos on the Dr. Gundry YouTube channel you should check out by clicking here.

Maybe you saw the one where Dr. Gundry shares his favorite soda “hack” – If not, click here to see the balsamic “soda” video. It’s a great alternative, but it’s not the only one.

Hot Tip: If you’re looking for something a little sweet and fruity, you can make your own infused water – or you can doctor up an infused sparkling water, if you find yourself craving bubbles. Try using lemon and orange slices, or even delicious, fresh berries.

For an extra special treat, you can look for sodas that are sweetened only with Stevia. They shouldn’t be an everyday thing, but if you’ve got a craving you just can’t beat – and you’ve tried EVERYTHING else – it might help.

Rice and Pasta

There are about a million substitutes for both rice and pasta …

And in so many cases, the swaps are more flavorful than the originals.

You already know about one of the best noodle substitutions – miracle noodles. And you can find miracle rice, too. But, just what is it exactly?

Well, the Chinese and Japanese have used shirataki – the main component of miracle noodles and miracle rice – for over 2000 years, and it’s insanely low in calories. And, much like actual rice or pasta, it takes on the flavors of the dishes you’re making. In fact, you can find a recipe on The Dr. Gundry YouTube page.

But, even if miracle noodles aren’t your thing, rest assured – they’re not your only option.

The following substitutions are delicious, and they’re all Plant Paradox-friendly –

For rice:

Millet
Sorghum (not the sweetener, but the grain)
Cauliflower rice

Cauliflower rice is super popular right now. You can find it fresh or frozen in most major supermarkets – even Costco has it in their produce section! Read about cauliflower rice vs rice.

For pasta:

You can make “noodles” out of vegetables by spiralizing them or cutting them into thin strips. Try this idea with –

Beets
Carrots
Sweet potatoes
Daikon radish

You might even be able to find some pre-noodled produce at your local health food store. Also, Cappello’s Pastas (made with almond flour) and Miracle Noodle (made of a Japanese root veggie) are great!

Yogurt

Unfortunately Greek yogurt is out of the question. You see, the cow’s milk yogurt sold in this country has A1 Casein – a harmful protein that can seriously damage your gut.

So, what if you’re one of those people who needs yogurt for breakfast? What can you do?

Go to the regular old yogurt section in your grocery store, and look for goat’s milk yogurt, sheep’s milk yogurt, buffalo’s milk yogurt, or, if you’re in the mood for a vegan option, almond or coconut yogurt. The coconut yogurt is so tasty – and it’s creamier than cow milk yogurt, no question.

You won’t have trouble finding these yogurt subs. They’re pretty widely available, and they’re delicious, too!

Last, but certainly not least –

Beans

Beans are incredibly lectin-heavy. Now, it is possible to reduce the lectins by pressure cooking … so if you’ve got a pressure cooker, put it to use.

If not, look for Eden brand canned beans – they come in non-BPA lined cans, and they’re pressure cooked ahead of time.

But, if you’re looking for a completely non-bean alternative, look no further than pine nuts.

Did you know, that if you soak them in liquid (like water or chicken stock), they get a texture similar to beans? In fact, pine nuts cooked into a traditional chili have almost the same texture as beans. It’s uncanny.

The Takeaway

So, there you have it – five favorite, Plant Paradox-friendly substitutions.

But here’s one more! If you’re looking to make a shake without the use of dairy, almond, or oat milk, you will love this delicious (and lectin-free!) vegan protein shake! 

Comment below, and let us know if you’re having trouble finding a swap out for your favorite food. It could make it into the next video or blog post!

Save

Save

Save

Save