Peanuts aren't Paleo?

Peanuts aren’t paleo, what is the deal with that? Peanuts are not considered paleo because they are a legume. Legumes are removed from the paleo diet because they contain a large amount of phytates that make it difficult to get nutrition from them. They are also a dense carbohydrate food compared to the amount of nutrition that you can get. Legumes contain lectins that can wreck havoc on your gut causing inflammation and damage to our small intestine cell wall. Specifically, peanuts are prone to a mold that produces aflatoxin that can have damaging effects on the liver.

Soaking and sprouting legumes can reduce some of the phytates to make them more nutritious but they do not provide the quality nutrition of meat and produce. I consider legumes a grey area food and you won’t be kicked out of the “Paleo Club” if you choose to eat them but don’t let them replace more nutritious foods and pay attention to they way they make you feel. If you choose to eat peanuts, consider removing them from your diet for 30 days and reintroducing them so you can get a true assessment about how they make you feel.

There are lots of options available to replace peanut butter but remember that all seeds and nuts contain phytates so don't over do them. You can make your own with a blender or food processor and just the nut/seed or combination of your choosing. If you purchase it from the store, make sure there is no added sugar or other strange ingredients.

Do you still have questions about peanuts or legumes? If so, please leave a comment below.