The word asthma comes from the Greek ἄσθμα (ásthma), via Latin, meaning “I gasp for breath.” It refers to shortness of breath, panting, or laboured breathing
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition in which the bronchial tubes constrict, making it difficult for air to pass through. This can result in wheezing, tightness in the chest, and sometimes a dry, painful cough, which can further irritate the mucous membranes of the nasal passages and bronchial tubes

    Joint pain, tenderness, or swelling in the fingers, toes, or spine
    •    Reduced range of motion and morning stiffness
    •    Eye redness and discomfort similar to conjunctivitis
    •    Nail changes such as pitting or lifting
    •    Skin and joint symptoms that may flare or improve together.

Psoriatic arthritis can also lead to bone erosion and deformities in about half of those affected.

How Food and Sensitivities Can Fuel Inflammation
Allergy, intolerance and sensitivity underpin over reactive immune systems typically found in autoimmune mediated diseases. The most common triggers or allergens we observed in clinical practice include ;

Milk, 
Cheese, 
Casein, 
Lactic acid, 
Yogurt, 
Whey, 
Butter, 
Vitamin D, 
Vitamin C,
Sodium Chloride (table salt)
Chocolate, 
Coffee, 
Caffeine, 
Wheat 
Night shades ( potato, tomato, aubergine pepper) 
Salicylate phenolics particularly from onion
Fatty acids 

Environmental culprits Include:

Washing up liquid, 
Latex, 
Plastics 
Pesticides

Autoimmune conditions like psoriatic arthritis are often linked to overactive immune responses, which can be triggered by allergies, sensitivities, or food intolerances. When the immune system mistakenly identifies certain foods as harmful, it can create a chronic, low-level inflammatory response throughout the body. This inflammation can worsen skin and joint symptoms, creating flare-ups and slowing healing.


Common dietary triggers observed in clinical practice include:
    •    Dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, whey, butter, casein)
    •    Wheat and gluten
    •    Nightshades (tomato, potato, aubergine, peppers)
    •    Caffeine, chocolate
    •    Salicylates (particularly from onions)
    •    Certain vitamins or additives (Vitamin D, Vitamin C, sodium chloride)
    •    Fatty acids
nvironmental factors (i.e., latex, plastics, heavy metals, detergents, washing-up liquids) can also  overwhelm the immune system, triggering chronic inflammation that worsens symptoms and slows healing
The Body Can Be Intolerant to Anything: How Hidden Sensitivities Affect Health

Case Study:
For 15 years, a 35-year-old woman struggled with widespread psoriasis and severe arthritis that limited the mobility of her hands. She was taking vitamin D supplements and drinking milk with her tea three times a day, even though she rarely consumed other dairy products, yet her symptoms persisted.

After being tested for intolerances, she was found to react to milk, other dairy products, and vitamin D. Once these triggers were removed and her treatment protocol implemented, her psoriasis cleared, and her overall health dramatically improved.

This case highlights how the body can become intolerant to both natural and synthetic substances. Once an intolerance develops, the body may struggle to absorb or utilize nutrients properly, leading to chronic inflammation, skin issues, and other health problems. Identifying these hidden triggers can be the key to lasting relief and improved wellness.
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A Natural Approach to Relief
Identifying your personal triggers through a health screen for food intolerances is a critical first step. Once triggers are identified, temporarily removing them while supporting your immune system with a personalised protocol can help reduce inflammation and prevent flare-ups. From there, natural therapies can be integrated to support long-term wellness and prevent symptoms from returning..
Get started today to identify your triggers, calm inflammation, and take control of your health naturally

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​Mobility: The Unsung Hero of DigestionSmooth muscles along the intestines contract and relax in waves, propelling food forward. This movement, called peristalsis, ensures nutrients reach the right place at the right time. Without proper mobility, digestion and absorption falter, impacting every organ system.

So the quality of your blood and the health of your liver and body directly correlates to the contents of your digestion and how well you are able to digest, absorb, assimilate and utilize it.
 
Digestion and absorption issues affect every other organ and system in the body leading to compounded hormone imbalances and organ weakness and a myriad of symptoms.  Each individual will have an organ or system that is more susceptible to deficiency based on factors including genetics, neuroendocrinology, and lifestyle. 

Gut Health Impacts Every System in Your Body
When digestion and absorption are compromised, every other organ can be affected. Hormonal imbalances, organ weakness, and a myriad of chronic symptoms can develop. Genetics, lifestyle, and neuroendocrine factors influence which organs or systems are most susceptible.

If you’ve been struggling with persistent skin issues, autoimmune conditions, or unexplained inflammation, lectins could be a hidden factor. Lectins are a type of protein found in many plant foods—especially legumes, grains, and some vegetables—that can sometimes trigger immune reactions and inflammation in sensitive individuals. 

This article provides a comprehensive overview covering:

• What lectins are
• Symptoms and hidden reactions
• Anti-nutrient effects
• Impact on autoimmune and skin conditions
• Viral flare link
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Practical dietary strategies

Understanding these aspects will help you see how lectins may be affecting your health and what steps you can take to reduce their impact.

Common lectins found in foods 

Pea lectins
Peanut lectins
Wheat lectins
Kidney and soya bean lectins
Potato lectins
Tomato lectins
Squash  lectin

These are some of the lectins that can contribute to inflammation and skin or autoimmune issues. For a full list of foods and other items we test for—including lectins—you can view it [here].

Why Some People React Even When Foods “Test as Safe”
Foods like wheat, peanuts or potatoes may test as safe, yet some people still develop symptoms such as bloating, skin flare-ups, or joint pain. This is because the individual may not be intolerant to the food itself—but to the lectins within it. These reactions can drive inflammation, digestive discomfort, and autoimmune symptoms, even when conventional tests appear normal
This is why we make sure to test for lectins specifically, so we can identify reactions that typical food intolerance screens might miss.​

• Nausea after meals
• Bloating
• Abdominal cramps
• Fatigue or tiredness, especially after eating
• Joint pain
• Depression
• ADHD-like symptoms
• Skin rashes

Reactions can appear minutes, hours, or even days later, making lectins particularly difficult to pinpoint without targeted screening.
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Some lectins are more instantaneously problematic than others. For example, phytohemagglutinin in red kidney beans can trigger severe digestive upset if not cooked properly. ​


Why Lectins Are Considered Anti-Nutrients
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Lectins are often described as anti-nutrients because they can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb essential minerals. They bind to nutrients like calcium, iron, zinc, and phosphorus, reducing their availability. Because they resist digestion, lectins can irritate the gut lining and contribute to increased gut permeability—leading to more immune activation, inflammation, and worsening of skin and autoimmune conditio

Lectins are strongly linked to increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”), a known driver of autoimmune disease. When lectins irritate the gut lining or disrupt the gut microbiome, they can overstimulate the immune system—worsening psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, arthritis, and other inflammatory conditions.

Additionally, research suggests lectins can bind to human cells and confuse the immune system, triggering it to attack healthy tissues. This can contribute to both skin flare-ups and autoimmune reactions..

Can Lectins Trigger a Virus?

While lectins do not directly activate or create viruses, they can influence the immune system in ways that make viral flare-ups more likely. Lectins can irritate the gut lining, increase inflammation, and overstimulate immune responses. For individuals carrying dormant or underlying viruses—such as EBV, HSV, or VZV—this heightened immune activity can lower resilience and create conditions where the virus may reactivate.

In other words, lectins don’t trigger viruses directly, but by increasing inflammation and immune stress, they can contribute to flares of viral symptoms, especially in people with autoimmune conditions or chronic inflammatory issues. Understanding how lectins affect your body is therefore an important part of managing overall immune balance and skin or autoimmune health.

Can Lectins Contribute to Low Iron, Low B12, and Low Zinc?
Lectins can play a role in nutrient deficiencies, particularly in those with digestive or autoimmune issues. Because lectins bind to minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium, and phosphorus, they can reduce how much of these nutrients the body absorbs—making low iron especially common in sensitive individuals. While lectins don’t bind directly to B12, they can irritate the gut lining, increase permeability, and disrupt microbial balance needed for proper nutrient absorption. Over time, this impaired gut function can contribute to low B12 levels.
In summary:
    •    Low iron → lectins can contribute directly by blocking mineral absorption
    •    Low B12 → lectins can contribute indirectly by impairing gut function needed for B12 uptake
    •    Low zinc → lectins can bind to zinc and inflame the gut, reducing absorption
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Why this matters: Low iron, B12, and zinc slow down tissue repair, weaken immune balance, and significantly reduce the skin’s ability to heal—making inflammatory and autoimmune skin conditions far more difficult to resolve.
The good news is that because lectins are water soluable - cooking - especially with wet high-heat methods like boiliing, stewing or even soaking in water for several hours can inactivate lectins.

 1. Soak, Rinse, and Strain

Traditional soaking and rinsing of grains and legumes helps remove a large amount of lectins. Soaking beans, straining them, cooking, then straining again further reduces lectin content.

2. Cook Using Wet, High-Heat Methods

Boiling, stewing, pressure cooking, or simmering foods dramatically reduces lectins. Even pea proteins—common in vegan powders—can be problematic, and swapping them for cooked peas can help

3. Peel and Deseed

Many lectins are concentrated in the skin and seeds. Peeling and deseeding foods like aubergines, squash, and cucumbers helps reduce lectin exposure.

4. Ferment
Fermenting foods allows beneficial bacteria to break down lectins and other defensive compounds. Fermented soy products like miso or tempeh contain significantly fewer lectins.


Take Control of Inflammation and Restore Your Health
In summary, lectins can contribute to inflammation, skin flare-ups, autoimmune reactions, and nutrient deficiencies that slow healing. Understanding your personal sensitivities is key to resolving these issues and supporting long-term health. By identifying hidden triggers through targeted testing, you can take precise, effective steps to reduce inflammation, improve nutrient absorption, and move toward optimal health. Book your complimentary 15-minute consultation today to discuss your unique health challenges and start a personalised plan to help your body heal and thrive.
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