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Short Answer:

No, Lentils are not Paleo!
are lentils paleo

What are Lentils?

Lentils are legumes along with other types of beans. They grow in pods containing either one or two lentil seeds that are round, oval or lens-shaped disks and are normally green or brown in color and have a mild, nutty taste. Some lentils can be yellow, red, orange and black too.  Lentils are normally sold in whole or halves.

Lentils are thought to have originated in Asia with traces back in Middle East. They have been traditionally eaten with barley and wheat and served as main ingredients in Indian foods like dal, soups and stews.

In regard to the nutritional quality of lentils, they are rich in protein, iron, dietary fiber, folate, magnesium and vitamin B1.

For the Same Reason All Legumes are not Paleo…

Like all other legumes, lentils contain anti-nutrients such as lectins, phytates, saponins and protease inhibitors. We already talked about on our previous posts what harm these anti-nutrients can do to the body. These includes and are not limited to blocking mineral absorption, interfere with digestion, inflammation, digestive problems and auto immune diseases.

While true that lentils contain high amounts of protein, too much consumption of protein may increase the risk of developing kidney diseases because of the extra stress it gives the kidney to process and filter protein.

Another reason to avoid lentils is because they contain purines. Purines are naturally occurring substances found in plants, animals and humans. They are broken down into uric acid. Excessive intake of purines can lead to accumulation of excess uric acid which can further result to gout and kidney-stones formation.

To reiterate what we mentioned on our earlier posts, lentils are starchy foods and therefore carbohydrates. Starchy foods can cause spike in blood sugar level. While this can depend on several factors, people with conditions as diabetes must not take the risk and avoid consumption.

With all the downsides we talked about lentils, tell me what’s in it to like?

What Experts Say About Lentils… Is It Paleo?

“The lectins found in peas (PSA) and lentils (LCA) seem to be much less toxic than PHA, SBA or PNA, however they are not completely without adverse effects in tissue and animal experiments.” – Dr. Loren Cordain

All you ever wanted to know about Lentils and Paleo

The Paleo Diet. Beans and Legumes: Are They Paleo?
http://thepaleodiet.com/beans-and-legumes-are-they-paleo/

Mark’s Daily Apple. Dear Mark: Are Peas and Green Beans Healthy?
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/are-peas-and-green-beans-healthy/#ixzz3eQdn2fow

Chris Kresser. Are Legumes “Paleo”? And Does It Really Matter?
http://chriskresser.com/are-legumes-paleo/

Robb Wolf. Celiac and Legumes
http://robbwolf.com/2008/06/09/celiac-and-legumes/

Paleo Leap. What’s Wrong with Beans and Legumes
http://paleoleap.com/beans-and-legumes/

Lentils: Nutrition Value, Benefits, Side Effects and Facts
http://www.seedguides.info/lentils/

Other Names of Lentils

Pulse

Did we miss anything?

Comment below and let us know what you think. Do you agree with our conclusion?

photo credit: Lentils