Pumpkin Hummus (No Beans/Legumes)

Pumpkin Hummus (No-Beans/Legumes) is a great alternative for those avoiding beans! We recommend organic unsweetened pureed pumpkin for this recipe (below).

Because many people suffer from Gut Dysbiosis when they first come to The Center for Fully Functional® Health, we routinely focus on that aspect of health during the Initial Wellness Nutrition Plan phase. We ask you to follow an anti-inflammatory diet plan that excludes gluten and grains, as well as several other foods (eggs, beef, pork, dairy) that either have inherent potential health concerns, or potential health concerns from the way they are raised or processed, or because of the high incidence of allergy and/or sensitivity to them.

Depending on an individuals’ symptoms, we may also ask that nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant) be avoided. And in some situations, particularly if a patient has previously been following the AutoImmune-Paleo Protocols by researchers such as Dr. Wahls or Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, we will also recommend avoiding or limiting legumes.

Legumes have multiple definitions. The Plant Family Leguminosae consists of 18,000 different species; our focus is on the edible fruit of these plants, which are called legumes. The legumes we are familiar with eating are either in the fresh, pod form or the dried (and then cooked in water or broth) “pea” or “pulse” form. The dried peas/pulses do contain proteins, however, consideration should be given to the following health concerns:

Legumes are high in Omega-6 polyunsaturated fats, which are already in high amounts in the Standard American Diet (SAD).
Legumes can damage the gut by contributing carbohydrates that support overgrowth of undesirable bacteria and yeasts.
Legumes contain lectins, or carbohydrate-binding proteins, some of which are difficult to digest, and which also react negatively with the brush border of the intestine.

It should be noted that these negative impacts are not toxic enough to make one immediately ill. It may take years for the digestive problems to manifest.

We now go back to one of the tenets of Integrative and Functional Nutrition/Medicine, which is that every individual reacts differently and uniquely to food. Avoiding these foods may or may not be helpful for you. However, in our efforts to quiet and calm the body as much as possible during the Initial Wellness Plan phase, we may ask you to avoid them, depending on your unique situation.

If we do ask you to avoid legumes, here is a snack idea to make avoiding standard chickpea hummus a little easier. This Pumpkin Hummus rivals any standard chickpea hummus we’ve ever had. It’s creamy, flavorful, and you can’t stop eating it!! It’s so dang good! Check out our other amazing anti-inflammatory diet recipes here.