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Grains and Beans and Strep, Oh my! [Part 1]

Grains and Beans and Strep, Oh my! [Part 1]

POST UPDATED 1/26/20

NOTE: The nutritional content references in this blog are from statements made by the Medical Medium, Anthony William. They are not based on the widely accepted nutrition calculations found on many food labels, as Anthony warns us that those calculations are not always accurate.

So, I want to talk to you today about grains, beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc. and strep. This is an area that confuses a lot of people who are trying to heal from various health symptoms. I repeatedly get asked questions about this. Do grains feed strep? What about beans? Can I eat lentils and chickpeas when I have strep symptoms? These are all great questions. So let me break this down for you piece by piece.

Grains and Strep

Gluten-based grains, such as wheat, spelt, rye, etc., and even non-gluten grains, like corn, feed pathogens including strep. Clean grains, for example millet, quinoa and gluten-free oats, do not feed pathogens. However, if you have COPD, recurrent UTIs, endometriosis, or asthma, it is best to eliminate grains altogether while you are healing. If you are healing from severe health issues, like rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, sarcoidosis, spondylitis, eczema & psoriasis, chronic fatigue, etc., it is also a good idea to keep out even the clean grains. Keep in mind that grains can create more mucus that can confuse the immune system for SOME people. If you choose to include grains in your diet, it is good to be aware of the potential issues. Eating a lot of rice, for example, could potentially instigate a pathogen (meaning trigger, but not directly feed it). Grains can be mucus-producing and hard to digest. They can cause confusion in the immune system and crowd out healthier life-changing food choices. So use your judgment and intuition regarding including grains in your diet when you are dealing with issues like those I’ve just mentioned.

What if I still want to eat grains?

If you feel that you are healthy enough to eat grains or have other reasons for keeping them in your diet, there are healing foods you can include to improve the healing power of your meals that include grains. (Remember if you are stuck, plateaued, struggling, or in the middle of a flare, cutting out grains completely is an option to consider.) 

If you choose to eat grains, here are Anthony William’s recommendations:

  • Choose clean grains like millet, quinoa, and gluten-free oats.
  • Eat celery with grains. The mineral salts in the celery make the grain release its potential phytochemical – it chelates the grain. 
  • Eat cucumbers with grains to balance the acidity of the grains. 
  • Add spinach to your grain dish to help the body break down and use the amino acids.
  • Eat lettuces, such as watercress, arugula, sprouts and migrogreens, with grains to neutralize the acidity. 
  • If you are concerned about arsenic, eat parsley and cilantro to help chelate it.
  • Tomatoes are incredible with grains.
  • Onions work synergistically with grains. Scallions and chives work great with millet, teff, and amaranth. 
  • Ginger is a tonic for the stomach to help utilize grain better.
  • Turmeric enhances good amino acids in grains. 
  • Rosemary stimulates and strengthens digestion.
  • Avocado is a good fat replacement for grains.
  • Garlic phytochemicals bind to the grain and become one, as bug killers.

Beans, Lentils, Chickpeas and Strep

Now let’s talk about beans, lentils, and chickpeas. This is where it gets a little trickier. These foods do not feed strep directly. But, they are not health-supporting foods either. In fact, eating them in substantial quantities can provide a breeding ground in your body where strep and other pathogens can grow. They are not totally health-destroying. They are in the middle. If you eat a lot of them and you’re sick, they aren’t going to help you and could make the environment in your body such that it is harder for you to heal. They create a less ideal environment, but do not necessarily feed pathogens.

Beans, Lentils, Chickpeas and Fat

This discussion about beans, lentils, and chickpeas would be incomplete without covering how they measure up in the fat department. In his IG Live on August 2nd, about 6 minutes before the end, Anthony William mentions that beans are high in fat. Since then, the question about fat-free and beans has been asked a lot.

So, let’s talk about fat. Every food contains intrinsic fat. All fruits and vegetables contain saccharides, amino acids, and fatty acids. Beans happen to contain more fat than we realize. We think of it as a fat-free food, and while it is not an overt/radical fat, it is also not fat-free. Think about how you feel when you eat beans, they’re very satisfying. So it makes sense that they contain more fat. Lentils and chickpeas also contain fat, but not as much as beans.

Now to be clear, we are not talking about overt/radical fats. Overt fats are how we refer to foods that are commonly known to contain a lot of fat. According to Liver Rescue, radical fats exist when the majority of the food’s calories are derived from fat. Beans, lentils, and chickpeas are often referred to as fat-free and are considered to be free of overt/radical fats. While they can be a better choice than some overt/radical fats out there, this does not mean that eating them is necessarily good for your liver. And we know now from Anthony that they contain higher amounts of fat than is commonly known. Understanding this about beans can help us tailor our diet even further. If you previously thought you were eating fat-free, but were including beans, you now have additional information that you can use when making choices about what you eat.

Boiled beans are OVERT fat free. However, they do contain a higher level of intrinsic fat that we should consider when going fat-free. Anthony William states clearly that we should avoid beans/grains when we are struggling with conditions that are difficult for us.

Side Note: Green beans, sugar snap peas, and green peas are different than beans and lentils, and are typically much lower in fat. Split peas are comparable to lentils.

What if I still want to eat beans?

If beans, lentils, or chickpeas are a part of your regular diet, please do not start to stress. There is a place for these foods in some people’s diets. In fact, there are recipes in Liver Rescue that contain these foods. They are not the worst options. An occasional quantity is ok to consume… depending on your symptoms and situation.

If you want to eat beans, lentils, or chickpeas, here are my tips:

  • Opt for SPROUTED legumes! This is the top choice for consuming these foods. When you sprout, you change the constitution on the inside. The high fat in the seed and the carb is used to grow the plant. A cooked dry bean is different than a sprouted bean (which can be eaten raw or cooked). The green sprout that grows from the bean retains none of the qualities of the original seed, but now has the qualities of green sprouts (leafy greens).
  • Eat these foods in relationship to the strength of your health. For example, if you are in good health, you may be able to tolerate these more than once a week. If you are in poor health or find you feel poorly when eating these foods, avoid them. 
  • Keep a food diary when you eat these foods to see how they may be affecting you.
  • Pair these foods with greens. For example, eat boiled lentils with a salad.
  • Do not eat these foods with overt/radical fat. In Liver Rescue, Anthony William specifically recommends avoiding the combination of radical fats with beans (as well as potatoes, gluten-free grains, etc.).
  • If you have liver issues, be careful with bringing these foods in. Opt for lentils or chickpeas as they are lower in fat than beans. And keep these to a minimum as well.
  • Do NOT stress over this. If you feel like you rely on these foods too much in your diet, start making some small steps to reduce the amount you consume.

What should I eat?

I understand for many that grains and beans can be a diet staple. But if you are stuck in your chronic illness or have plateaued on your healing journey, it is helpful to take these unhelpful foods out to make room for more of the Holy Four.

If this information is resonating with you and you want to take some steps to reduce your grain, bean, lentil, & chickpea intake and bring in more healing foods, I suggest focusing as much as you can on the Holy Four – fruits, vegetables, herbs, and wild foods. Here are some suggestions:

    • Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and squash are very satisfying and make great replacements for beans, lentils & chickpeas in recipes. Try adding them to your salads, soups, wraps, casseroles, curries, etc. in place of the beans.
    • Green peas are low in fat. They are also a versatile addition to salads, soups, etc. 
    • Cruciferous vegetables can add heartiness to a dish. 
    • Looking for some variety in your food’s texture, try adding cauliflower rice to your recipe.
    • Steamed or roasted (without oil) veggies can give your meal a variety of flavors and textures as well as fill you up. Try combining potatoes or squash with cruciferous vegetables, mushrooms, and any other of your favorite veggies for a hearty meal.
    • As always, I recommend bringing lots of fruit and lots of greens into your diet.

I share information similar to this in my membership, The Intuitive Healing Community. In this community there is ongoing support, a wealth of resources, and so many lovely souls to share your insight and experience with. The doors will be closing soon, be sure to check it out HERE.

 

To your health, happiness and wellness,

Muneeza

 

Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and Instagram for all the most up to date news, events, and recipe shares! Like my FB Page here, and go follow my IG here.

65 thoughts on “Grains and Beans and Strep, Oh my! [Part 1]”

  1. Hi Muneeza! I haven’t eaten fava beans for a while now. I understand they’re not a heaealing food and contain higher amounts of fat, but can they be waten? Are they a no-food?

    Thank you!

    1. Hi Florence, great question. Fava beans are higher in fat, as are all beans, and can be eaten occasionally if there are no symptoms presenting. If I were struggling with symptoms or dealing with a recent exposure or illness, I would personally avoid. They are not a “no food”, but ideally are eaten sparingly!

  2. For the first time today, I have used sprouted lentils for a soup. Done as usual. Other veggies water sautéed.

    Very delicious. I Love lentils.

    If I understood correctly, the sprouted beans are fat free? They are leafy green now? Therefore, my pot of soup is nothing but healing goodness ?

    1. Beth sprouted beans have lower fat than non-sprouted bean. They are not a leafy green until you see the leafy green actually grow. The sprouted stem is not yet a leafy green. Its still pretty healing!

  3. Hallo! Danke erstmal für deine Website Muneeza!!!!
    Seitdem ich mich Getreidefrei und Hülsenfrucht frei … hab ich zugenommen, Wasser in den Beinen, Blähbauch und auch Akne die mehr ist (Entgiftung) und ich habe mehr Cellulite bekommen …. Woher kommt die Cellulite? Liebe Grüße

  4. Hi Muneeza, I keep coming back to this article because this info is so helpful. The one thing that wasn’t clear to me was: are black beans overt fat free or not? I understood they’re higher in fat than other overt fat free options, but are still overt fat free. Is that correct? I found the wording confusing in that mid section about the beans.

    1. Renata, in one live he stated that they are higher in fat, and in another he has stated that they are overt fat free. its sort of a grey area. And the grey area is in how they are consumed. if consumed in a no fat salad or without any added fats, that would be the best way.

  5. vinpreet sidhu

    Hello muneeza, thanks for the post. I have question. I am doing 90 day thyroid rehab and I just have started my Choice A yet. In choice A, anthony hasnt mentioned to avoid any grains or lentil. Do i have to cut off them or not?

    1. Vinpreet, you would want to cut those foods out, or reduce them based on your symptoms. How sick are you? How badly to do you feel on a day to day basis? The sicker you are, the more likely it is that removing filler foods and replacing them with more healing foods is a great idea. You have to evaluate yourself and then make that decision.

      1. What’s the difference then let’s say between gluten free oats and lentils (if they’re both low in fat content ) on the body ? And I don’t understand how gluten free oats for instance trigger pathogens (like Strep) if they don’t feed them? (Can you talk more about how that process happen in the body if you eat gluten free oats ). Thanks

        1. Gluten triggers all pathogens. Gluten-free oats do not feed strep, but they can create an environment in the body that make it harder to heal from strep and some other conditions (e.g. asthma, allergies, any skin conditions and a few others). Lentils, beans and chickpeas are always gluten-free. However, these foods are filler foods and they a) take up space from healing foods and b) they make the environment harder to heal from strep in specific conditions.

  6. Hi ! Do you recall the podcast episode when he discussed beans & legumes in detail? I’m new to him so I’d love to listen more on this topic. Beans have been a staple in my diet since I was a child and they have not caused any problems for me. Would you say that these foods are harmful IF you have issues vs. them actually being the cause of an issue ?

    1. I have never said that these foods are harmful. They are not. They don’t feed pathogens. These foods can be problematic for someone experiencing severe health symptoms by taking space away from healing foods. Beans, grains and lentils are FILLER foods, not healing foods, so they do not support the body towards healing.

  7. Hi Muneeza, thank you for putting this information out 🙂
    I know that Mr. William doesn’t recommend white rice as they contain arsenic – however, I’ve also heard him say, that not all white rice are poisonous. Do you happen to know which brand of white rice, that may be safe to consume? Or are white rice generally safe to consume, when they are organic?

    Thank you!

  8. Hi, hopefully even though I’m commenting late you might see this, where to Lima beans and black eyed peas fall on this? Thanks.

  9. Hi, I don’t know if I’ll get a response as I’m late to finding this but do you know where Lima beans stand? Are they different or the same as other beans? Also what about black eyed peas? Thanks.

  10. In the past I have eaten nothing but fruit and greens for 2 years straight, followed by eating fruit for 2 meals and potatoes/sweet potatoes for evening meal.

    I love potatoes though but I have had to go back to rice and beans, because whenever I eat potatoes I get bad dry cracking eczema on my fingers and hands.

    Could you explain why this might be?

    I have followed Anthony’s protocols after eating clean like this for numerous years, but potatoes always have the same effect on my skin.

    1. Potatoes are very healing and the way you have been eating is detoxifying. When eczema acts up, it can just be part of your natural cycle of flare up. But in your case, because of how clean you are eating, what’s probably happening is that dermatoxins are being released from the overload of toxins in your liver, and even though you are cleansing responsibly, they can still irritate your skin. When you are eating the rice and beans, it is slowing down your detox, and thus slowing down the release of dermatoxins.

      1. Hello! Thank you very much for the information. It helped a lot in the beginning of my MM way. Now I returned to the topic and I feel confused. I live between two countries. In Ukraine common is yellow split peas and in Brasil – green. Wikipedia says both are split peas and colour depends on genotype. For us, following MM is there a difference between yellow and green or they are equal for consuming?
        Thanks in advance!
        Nataliia

    1. They are on the lower end with fat and Anthony says this about them on his blog: “Black beans are packed with antioxidants and anthocyanins and are a fantastic source of calcium, magnesium, and zinc. They are an excellent immune strengthening food and contain anti-aging properties that help repair collagen fibers in the skin. Black beans are highly beneficial for Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, neurological issues, cancer, fibroids, thrombosis, constipation, autoimmune disorders, and heart disease.” Remember that beans are not necessarily bad. They can be suitable for some people. And when beans are included in a person’s diet, black beans are the best choice.

  11. Wow, I’m glad I came across this info (I was referred over from the Medical Medium subreddit). Rice and beans have been a staple of my diet for years since they were so cheap and easy to cook in large batches. I recently read Life-Changing Foods and noticed that they weren’t part of the Holy Four, but I was unaware that they may actually be holding back my healing — so it’s time to make a change!
    I honestly felt a little shocked/disheartened after this news, but luckily potatoes/squash are OK because I can eat those every day 🙂
    Thank you for the info!

    1. These foods are OK for some people. But, if you are stuck in your chronic illness or your healing has plateaued, removing them from your diet could be just what you need to kick-start another level of healing. I’m wishing you the best on your healing journey, Erwann!

  12. Thanks, very helpful. Can you please tell me where I can read this information in Anthony’s books? I have all his books but haven’t read anything about beans or lentils or legumes. I know he uses them in some of his recipes. Thanks a lot in advance.

    1. Hi Sylvia. This information has come from the radio shows, lives and things Anthony has told me for my family and client work. Please remember that these foods are not bad. But when people are struggling with their health, sometimes it can help when they are cut out because they can cause an environment that hinders healing. If you are not struggling and making good progress, then you can definitely continue to include them.

      1. Pauline Bauriedl

        Hi! I hope you will read that.
        I have been anorexic for 4 years now and i have been eating really Clean. Did celery Juice for years, fruit, salads, Long Time No fat, years of RAW, never grains, Salt, No foods. And now i started to eat again after a long time. And i need rice in the evening. I can’t eat potatoes only. I feel that its Not enough to sleep. I’m Always Walking Up because of hunger. I eat fruit and Lots of Greens and salads the whole day but Thema i Need Rice. I dont eat IT With fat.
        I want to make the best for my Body.
        What do you think?
        I really Need your Help please!!!

      1. Marianne, if you are making progress in your health and feeling good eating them, you can continue to do so. But, if you have plateaued or are stuck, you can consider reducing them or taking them out of your diet to see if that helps you.

          1. I am starting to take konjac for weight loss and since I try to go GMO free (gluten, soy, corn free), there aren’t many options left that are low carb. It hasn’t caused me stomach aches (yet). Any thoughts?

          2. Shiela, I don’t recommend konjac for weight loss because the liver drives weight issues. Any weight loss without considering the liver will likely not be very long-lasting nor healthy for the body.

      2. Thank you for this post! I’ve been looking for a post on grains for months from MM viewpoint! I listened to it in one of his podcasts, but it’s so helpful to have it in writing where we can refer to it again and again! I’m sure I need to restrict my grains to continue with my healing, just need to listen to our bodies!

    1. Hello, I had a question about one of the bullet points in the chickpea lentil section of this article. You stated that in Liver Rescue Anthony said it’s best not to consume beans with radical fats, you then said also with potatoes and gluten free grains. I was wondering if you meant it’s best not to consume radical fats with potatoes and gluten free grains or it’s best not to consume beans with potatoes and gluten free grains. Also what part of Liver Rescue is this from, I would love to go back and read about it. Every night for dinner my daughter has steamed potatoes with avocado (a radical fat) and I’m wondering if this may be why her healing is slow. Thank you for the help, and insightful article!

      1. Hi Valerie. It’s best not to consume radical fats with healthy carbohydrates such as beans, potatoes, and gluten-free grains. Here is the direct quote from Chapter 35, page 252, of “Liver Rescue”: “If you’re looking for more guidance: when you can, consider avoiding the combination of radical fats with healthy carbohydrates such as potatoes, gluten-free grains, or beans, or unhealthy carbohydrates such as table sugar.” While I would recommend not pairing fat with potatoes, if you are going to do it, avocado is your best choice.

        1. This is so disappointlng, conflicting – I’m fairly new to Anthony’s books but in “life changing foods” he actually advocates and encourages eating avocados with potatoes. I was enjoying the refreshing lack of conflicting advice until now .:(

          1. Thank you for your comment, Nic. I appreciate that it allows me to point out some nuances of following Medical Medium information. In the preface of my article, I state that there may be reasons someone needs to go deeper in their health and healing. When you are in that situation, you may make choices to eliminate aspects of your diet that would certainly still align with Medical Medium information, but you would choose not to eat them because you need to go to a deeper level of healing. There are times that Anthony advocates eating potatoes and avocados together and other times, like in his Liver 3:6:9 cleanses, that he advocates letting go of all avocado and other fats. He has mentioned in his Liver Rescue book: “If you’re looking for more guidance: when you can, consider avoiding the combination of radical fats with healthy carbohydrates such as potatoes, gluten-free grains, or beans, or unhealthy carbohydrates such as table sugar.” This further guidance is for people who are looking to deepen their cleansing and healing. The wonderful thing about the Medical Medium information is that it meets you where you are on your healing journey. There are different levels of healing that you can attain and all those who follow this information are able to meet it where they are at and go deeper according to their personal needs and life circumstances. So much is about context. Things taken in isolation can seem conflicting. But when you consider the context in which the information is given, you can see that it is not.

      1. Thanks for great article. Is rice worse than quinoa?
        I am in India for two months now, there’s s lot of white rice served here…
        Is rice better or worse than lentils and checkpeas when it comes to strep?

        1. Hi Para. In Anthony’s radio show on grains, he mentions that quinoa and millet are good grains. He recommends short, grain brown rice if you are concerned with arsenic in rice. He also says if you eat rice to eat vegetables with it. When concerned about strep, lentils and chickpeas would be preferred over rice.

          1. Am following Medical Medium’s protocol for cancer and was not aware that I couldn’t have chickpea or black beans. I have lost weight that I really didn’t want to lose but am following his protocol but reading this is confusing.

          2. Monica, you can eat Chickpea or blackbeans, but as Anthony has mentioned so many times in his lives, these are filler foods. They fill us up but do not heal us. As always it is critical to get the balance of foods that we need e.g. the sicker we are, the more healing foods that are needed. So while you could consume filler foods, the bulk of your foods 80-90% of them should be healing foods when dealing with cancer. Does this help?

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Muneeza Ahmed

Hi, I'm Muneeza

I’m humbled to have supported over 10,000 people in 85+ countries (and counting) to heal with the perfect blend of education, support and community. If you’re ready for your journey from hope to deep healing, you’re in the right place.

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Muneeza Ahmed - Medicine Woman

Healing is my living, my purpose and my path.

I’m humbled to have supported over 9,000 people in 72 countries (and counting) to heal with the perfect blend of education, support and community. If you’re ready for your journey from hope to deep healing, you’re in the right place. LEARN MORE

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MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: Muneeza Ahmed (“She,” “her,” or “Ahmed”), is not a licensed medical doctor, chiropractor, osteopathic physician, naturopathic doctor, nutritionist, pharmacist, psychologist, psychotherapist, or other formally licensed healthcare professional. Ahmed, does not render medical, psychological, or other professional advice or treatment, nor does she provide or prescribe any medical diagnosis, treatment, medication, or remedy. The information provided by Ahmed and Healthy Moon, LLC will not treat or diagnose any disease, illness, or ailment and if they should experience any such issues they should see their registered physician or other practitioner as determined by their own judgment.

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