antioxidants, some of which resemble human hormones and may restrain cell growth and thereby the development of cancer Medical scientists are still in the early stages of identifying and evaluating these substances, but in general it looks as though regular consumption of whole grains, legumes, and nuts can indeed make a real contribution to our long-term health Problems Caused by Seeds Seeds are not perfect foods Legumes in particular contain defensive chemicals — lectins and protease inhibitors — that can cause malnourishment and other problems Fortunately, simple cooking disarms these defenses (p 259) The fava bean contains amino-acid relatives that cause serious anemia in susceptible people (p 490), but both the bean and the susceptibility are relatively rare Two other problems are more common Seeds are Common Food Allergens True food allergies are overreactions of the body’s immune system, which mistakes a food component as a sign of invasion by a bacterium or virus and initiates a defense that damages the body The damage may be mild and manifest itself as discomfort, itchiness, or a rash, or it may be a life-threatening asthma or change in blood pressure or heart rhythm It’s estimated that about 2% of adults in the United States have one or more food allergies, and up to 8% of young children Allergic reactions to food cause around 200 deaths per year in the United States Peanuts, soybeans, and tree nuts are among the most common food allergens The offending components are ...both the bean and the susceptibility are relatively rare Two other problems are more common Seeds are Common Food Allergens True food allergies are overreactions of the body’s immune system, which mistakes a... It’s estimated that about 2% of adults in the United States have one or more food allergies, and up to 8% of young children Allergic reactions to food cause around 200 deaths per year in the United States... body’s immune system, which mistakes a food component as a sign of invasion by a bacterium or virus and initiates a defense that damages the body The damage may be mild and manifest itself as discomfort, itchiness, or