They’ve become the dietary demon du jour: Lectins – a type of protein found in many foods but especially prominent in grains and beans – are being blamed for a variety of health problems, from digestive distress and skin irritations to brain fog, chronic fatigue and inflammation. In his recent book “The Plant Paradox,” Dr. Steven Gundry refers to lectins as “edible enemies,” partly because they help plants defend themselves from insects and other animals, but also because lectins bind to carbohydrates (especially sugars) in the body, “which means they can interrupt messaging between cells or otherwise cause toxic or inflammatory reactions.”