Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
The Plant Paradox summary
The Hidden Dangers in “Healthy” Foods That Cause Disease and Weight Gain
13 mins
Brief summary
In "The Plant Paradox," Steven R. Gundry argues that certain plant-based foods, like grains and legumes, can be harmful to our health due to their lectin content. He provides a nutrition plan to reduce inflammation and improve overall well-being.
Topics
Table of Contents
The Plant Paradox
Summary of 6 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 6
Defensive plant proteins cause confusion and weight gain.
If you’ve ever seen a wildlife documentary, you’ll be aware that animals don’t just sit around waiting to become another animal’s dinner. Instead, prey animals develop defenses like long legs to outrun predators and advanced hearing and eyesight to sense approaching danger. But what about plants? If you have always assumed that plants are any more willing to become your next meal, think again.
Just like animals, the plants we consume also have defensive strategies against predatory attacks. A crucial weapon in their arsenal is a family of plant proteins called lectins, which exist in the leaves, seeds, skins and grains of most plants.
When lectins are consumed, they bind to sugar molecules in the animal’s brain and nerve endings, inhibiting the predator’s cells and nerves from communicating properly. This lack of communication between your nerves and cells results in brain fog, a term used to describe moments when you’re experiencing memory difficulties or having trouble focusing.
Plants produce these lectins in an attempt to teach predators that they should avoid eating those plants in the future.
Unfortunately for humans, some lectins not only stimulate mental confusion, but also cause you to gain weight.
One type of lectin that causes weight gain is wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). Found in wheat, this plant protein causes sugar to enter our body’s fat cells, where the sugar is then transformed into fat, thus making us put on weight.
In fact, these fat-producing properties are the reason wheat was originally favored as the grain of choice by those living in northern climates. It helped them gain and maintain weight in a time when food was far more scarce. Back then, having a “wheat belly” would help you survive the cold winters.
In this day and age, however, with an overabundance of food and the ubiquity of central heating, the weight gained from plant consumption isn’t such a welcome side effect.
Want to see all full key ideas from The Plant Paradox?
Key ideas in The Plant Paradox
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Plant Paradox about?
The Plant Paradox (2017) alerts us to the dangers of eating seemingly healthy plant foods. It explores the differences between our diets and those of our ancestors’ and tells us which food products we should eat and which we should avoid to improve our digestion and maintain our optimal weight.
The Plant Paradox Review
The Plant Paradox (2017) is a thought-provoking exploration of the hidden dangers in everyday foods and their impact on our health. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Offers eye-opening insights into how certain foods can trigger chronic diseases, backed by scientific research.
- Presents a revolutionary approach to diet and nutrition, challenging conventional wisdom and providing practical strategies for improving our well-being.
- Through compelling case studies and personal anecdotes, the book sheds light on the complex relationship between our gut and overall health, keeping readers engaged and eager to learn more.
Best quote from The Plant Paradox
Mice and rats evolved as grain eaters 40 million years ago and have had far longer to become tolerant of these lectins: four thousand times longer.
—Steven R. Gundry
Who should read The Plant Paradox?
- People who want to lose weight
- Those who want to start eating healthily
- Anyone interested in nutrition
Categories with The Plant Paradox
Book summaries like The Plant Paradox
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
37 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Plant Paradox FAQs
What is the main message of The Plant Paradox?
The main message of The Plant Paradox is that not all plants are considered healthy and some may cause health issues.
How long does it take to read The Plant Paradox?
The reading time for The Plant Paradox varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Plant Paradox a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Plant Paradox is worth reading as it presents an alternative perspective on the impact of certain plants on our health.
Who is the author of The Plant Paradox?
The author of The Plant Paradox is Steven R. Gundry.
What to read after The Plant Paradox?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Plant Paradox, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- SuperLife by Darin Olien
- The Longevity Paradox by Steven Gundry
- How Not to Die by Michael Greger and Gene Stone
- The China Study by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell
- How Not to Diet by Michael Greger
- The Hidden Habits of Genius by Craig Wright
- Successful Aging by Daniel J. Levitin
- Gut Check by Steven R. Gundry
- Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman
- The Seven Tensions of Negotiation by Cash Nickerson