Superhumanistic Health & Wellness
Aug 22, 2026 · 8 min · 6 segments
In this episode of Superhumanistic, David and Jessica dive deep into the world of anti-nutrients, those often-misunderstood compounds found in everyday foods. What are anti-nutrients, and should you…
this week we are going to be getting into anti-nutrients um depending on who you follow on social media these are either the hidden killers in our salad or a complete myth that's made up to sell more We're bi.
It's a pretty polarized world out there.
On one side, you've got the plant paradox crowd claiming lectins are punching holes in your gut.
On the other, you've got the hardcore carnivores saying plants are basically trying to poison you because they can't run away.
Yeah.
So we're going to start first with those basics.
What exactly are anti-nutrients? Really, it's the defense mechanism.
So it's lectins and oxalates.
Strictly speaking, an anti-nutrient is a plant compound that interferes with the absorption of vitamins and minerals.
Right.
So even if you're taking vitamins and minerals, if you have these in your system, then it's not able to get into our bloodstream as needed.
So we're going to look at the big two that everyone is stressing about.
So first are lectins.
Lectins are those proteins that are found in high amounts within beans, grains, and nightshades like tomatoes and peppers.
They're essentially the plant's security system meant to discourage insects from eating them.
And then the second is the oxalates.
Oxalates are found in our spinach, kale, and beets.
And those are those tiny crystals that can bind to calcium.
If we have too many of these or too many of the oxalates, they can lead to kidney stones or joint pain for sensitive individuals.
All right.
Well, here's the superhumanistic truth.
The truth is that 90% of people essentially don't really have to worry about that.
These aren't the villains that they're cracked up to be.
If you cook your beans, you neutralize almost all the lectins.
And if you steam your spinach, you neutralize or reduce the oxalates.
this week we are going to be getting into anti-nutrients um depending on who you follow on social media these are either the hidden killers in our salad or a complete myth that's made up to sell more We're bi.
It's a pretty polarized world out there.
On one side, you've got the plant paradox crowd claiming lectins are punching holes in your gut.
On the other, you've got the hardcore carnivores saying plants are basically trying to poison you because they can't run away.
Yeah.
So we're going to start first with those basics.
What exactly are anti-nutrients? Really, it's the defense mechanism.
So it's lectins and oxalates.
Strictly speaking, an anti-nutrient is a plant compound that interferes with the absorption of vitamins and minerals.
Right.
So even if you're taking vitamins and minerals, if you have these in your system, then it's not able to get into our bloodstream as needed.
So we're going to look at the big two that everyone is stressing about.
So first are lectins.
Lectins are those proteins that are found in high amounts within beans, grains, and nightshades like tomatoes and peppers.
They're essentially the plant's security system meant to discourage insects from eating them.
And then the second is the oxalates.
Oxalates are found in our spinach, kale, and beets.
And those are those tiny crystals that can bind to calcium.
If we have too many of these or too many of the oxalates, they can lead to kidney stones or joint pain for sensitive individuals.
All right.
Well, here's the superhumanistic truth.
The truth is that 90% of people essentially don't really have to worry about that.
These aren't the villains that they're cracked up to be.
If you cook your beans, you neutralize almost all the lectins.
And if you steam your spinach, you neutralize or reduce the oxalates.
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