still figuring out how to post this sorry..I give up!!! To see the information below in chart form go to: http://www.geo-pie.cornell.edu/issues/toxins.html
the chart is located in the middle of the page
Some Common Plant Toxins and Antinutrients

Chemical families of naturally-occuring plant-made toxins found at low levels in many foods that we eat. Effect on humans and animals is based on laboratory tests using toxin concentrations much higher than the concentrations normally found in food.

Toxin Family


Examples of Occurrence in Plants


Effect on humans and animals
Cyanogenic glycosides Sweet potatoes, stone fruits, lima beans Gastrointestinal inflammation; inhibition of cellular respiration
Glulcosinolates Rape (canola), mustard, radish, cabbage, peanut, soybean, onion Goiter; impaired metabolism; reduced iodine uptake; decreased protein digestion
Glycoalkaloids Potato, tomato Depressed central nervous system; kidney inflammation; carcinogenic; birth defects; reduced iron uptake
Gossypol Cottonseed Reduced iron uptake; spermicidal; carcinogenic
Lectins Most cereals, soybeans, other beans, potatoes Intestinal inflammation; decreased nutrient uptake/absorption
Oxalate Spinach, rhubarb, tomato Reduces solubility of calcium, iron, and zinc
Phenols Most fruits and vegetables, cereals, soybean, potato, tea, coffee Destroys thiamine; raises cholesterol; estrogen-mimic
Coumarins Celery, parsley, parsnips, figs Light-activated carcinogens; skin irritation

That was very interesting--thank you.

Thank you I thought it was really interesting too. Every time I eat any form of bean it is as if I have been glutened. I began to suspect beans, so I stayed off all forms of beans for 2 weeks then tried about a tablespoon of lima beans 3 days in a row. Well, it was as if I had been glutened to death! So I started researching and found some very interesting information along the way.

I'm intolerant to all legumes--I figured it out through elimination, also. I recently tried (on separate occasions) string beans and peas--after over 2 years of being off legumes completely--I reacted to them.

There was a sports doctor who used to post here, and he told me that people with autoimmune disease, especially, are more likely to have problems with legumes.

Although I hadn't ever considered green peas to be a legume, they are categorized as such. Apparently because of the pod. I'm not ready to put them in the same category with lima beans or kidney beans though. (I thoroughly hate lima beans anyway - ugh!)

Gee, I never heard that, and I hope it doesn't apply to me. It would be very limiting to my already narrow range of veggies.