Allanblackia Floribunda Essay

2.4 ANTI-NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF Allanblackia floribunda

Anti-nutrients are natural or synthetic compounds that interfere with the absorption of nutrients (GEO-PIE Project, 2008). Nutrition studies focus on those ant nutrients commonly found in food sources and beverages.

2.4.1 Phytic Acid (Also Called Phytate)

This is probably the most well-known ant nutrient that’s found in grains and legumes and interferes with the absorption of minerals. Phytic acid can unfortunately lock up high percentages of phosphorus, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc. Some research shows that up 80 percent of phosphorous found in high-phosphorus foods like pumpkin or sunflower seeds, along with 80 percent of zinc found in high-zinc foods like cashews and chickpeas, might be blocked by phytate. The same can be said for about 40 percent of

The presence of these ant nutrients makes plant (especially legumes) proteins of “poor quality,” according to research done on absorbability of plant amino acids.

2.4.5 Lectins

Lectins are found in high quantities in beans and wheat, which as mentioned earlier reduce nutrient absorption and can cause indigestion, bloating and gas for many people. One of the most nutritionally important features of plant lectins is their ability to survive digestion by the gastrointestinal tract, which means they can penetrate cells lining the digestive tract and cause a loss of gut epithelial cells, damage the membranes of the epithelium lining, interfere with nutrient digestion and absorption, stimulate shifts in the bacterial flora, and trigger autoimmune reactions.

Lectins can cause GI upset similar to classical food poisoning and immune responses like joint pain and rashes. Improperly prepared raw grains, dairy and legumes like peanuts, and soybeans have especially high lectin levels. 2.4.6