Five healthy foods that could be 'destroying' your diet and gut

Commonly eaten fruit, vegetables and grains contain a gut-damaging protein. Photo / Getty Images

With the warm weather fast approaching and Kiwis looking to shape up for summer, it's important to start with what we're putting in our bodies.

However, with so much conflicting information out there, how do we really know what's good for us, and what is doing us harm?

The creator of the 123Diet, Emma Taylor, shared with the Daily Mail Australia, five common foods that seem healthy but are actually harmful to your digestive system. All because of one small factor - lectin.

Here are the five foods you should be avoiding according to Taylor.

1. Tomatoes

The bright red fruit is full of fibre and vitamin C, but it turns out it could be having a negative effect on your health efforts.

Taylor told the Daily Mail because of their significant seed count, tomatoes contain a large number of lectins which can cause digestive issues.

Taylor suggests replacing a few of your tomato servings with leafy greens instead.

2. Potatoes

The versatile vegetable also contains a high amount of lectin, despite that fact that they are full of necessary vitamins and minerals.

Taylor added potatoes are actually one of the most problematic lectin-laced foods, and therefore should be eaten in moderation.

3. Peanuts and cashews

While both peanuts and cashews are full of protein and antioxidants, they also contain a surprising amount of lectin.

Having a high lectin count in your blood can actually increase carcinogen growth and cancer risk.

Taylor recommends swapping out peanuts and cashews for Brazil nuts and hemp seeds, which are also high in selenium.

4. Corn

Just like most grains, corn is very high in lectin.

This means foods such as cornstarch, cereal, and corn syrup can all lead to inflammation on the joints and gut.

Taylor suggests replacing your corn products with quinoa or buckwheat.

5. Red kidney beans

These purple-coloured beans contain extremely high amounts of lectin.

They are great sources of protein and iron, but you'd be better to go for foods such as peas and edamame which contain similar amounts of the vitamins, without all the lectin.