Have you come across this topic before? Will you believe it if we told you that we consume antinutrients on a daily basis, neglecting the fact that they may be harmful to our own health?

Antinutrients are natural or artificial compounds most commonly found in grains, beans, legumes and nuts. They mainly interfere with the absorption of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in our body. They can even get in the way of our digestive enzymes, which are crucial for proper absorption. Antinutrients can also be found in vegetables, leaves, plant roots, and fruits, although these usually have benefits as opposed to detriments.

Phytic acid, leptins and saponins are antinutrients found in many different types of seeds. The reason these compounds bind to vitamins and minerals, making them indigestible, is generally as a defense mechanism. Their antinutrients help repel pests, bugs and other predators so the seeds are able to live on and reproduce (so fascinating, no?!).

Don’t get your heart racing yet, because not all antinutrients are bad. Polyphenols, for example, are a type of antinutrient that can actually be good for you (in moderate dosages, ofcourse). This is the same case as with flavonoids, another group of antinutrients found in “healthy” sources, including tea, coffee, and wine. On the other hand, some of the aforementioned antinutrients can inhibit mineral absorption to a certain extent, but are relatively harmless as long as you don’t over consume them.

Don’t get us wrong, we are not discouraging you to eat any of the previously mentioned foods, not at all, but a good and healthy diet, is a balanced one. In other words, we, at ‘Colour My Plate’, are able to assign each one of you the adequate amount of antinutrients per meal, per day,  because you know, it’s what we’re here for.