Why Not Wheat? 1

*The following information is from Wheat Belly by William Davis, MD*

I thought more explanation for the no wheat portion of our plan would be nice, so I am attempting to share some facts from Wheat Belly.  The reason I haven't shared so far is probably because it is such a difficult book.  It's very scientific, so it's difficult for me to summarize even 1 section.  So, what I think I will do is put a few of his "ending comments" that occur after every big chuck of scientific data and explanation.  If you want to know more, I suggest reading the book.  You'll be glad that you did! 33,34

Sooo Did you know:
1. Eating 2 slices of whole wheat bread is the same, often worse, as drinking sodas or candy bars! It raises your glycemic index of table sugar is 59...GI of whole grain bread: 72!  This is just a small part of his argument about wheat being possibly the #1 cause of developed diabetes.

2. Gluten Free?  Well Davis says yes, but not completely.  Most gluten free products simply replace the wheat flour with "cornstarch, rice starch, potato starch, or tapioca starch."  Although switching to gluten free products does have positive effects on people with celiac disease, the stuff used as a replacement "still trigger the glucose insulin response that causes you to gain weight." p.71,72

3. There are many studies about wheat & addiction and wheat & schizophrenia. "Wheat is an appetite stimulant: It makes you want more--more cookies, cupcakes, pretzels, candy, soft drinks." It is extremely typical that if you do eliminate all wheat from your diet, you will have withdraw symptoms. BUT if after that's over, everyone experiences these effects: "hunger and cravings diminish, calorie intake decreases, mood and well-being increase, weight goes down, wheat belly shrinks." 53,54

4. Diabetes: yikes. In 1980, only about 6% of US adults had diabetes. 2009? About 24% of US adults had diabetes. Here's the connection:
     "Products made with wheat dominate our diet and push blood sugar higher than virtually all other foods.[...] The cycle of glucose-insulin reaching high levels several times every day provokes growth of visceral fat. Visceral fat - wheat belly - is closely aligned with resistance to insulin that, in turn, leads to even higher levels of glucose and insulin." 103, 104
At the beginning of the book, we find out that William Davis himself along with numbers of his diabetes patients CURED their diabetes by eliminating all wheat and wheat containing products from their diets.

Phew! This is just a super tiny portion of the explanations and facts found in this book.  It's seriously fascinating and, in my opinion, extremely convincing.  This is honestly the most difficult diet change to make for me, and probably the majority of us.  Think about it.  Think about how much wheat we eat in one day...and yes you have to count wheat containing products (which is seriously the majority of groceries on the store shelves)!
I would love to hear your thoughts about this info, because it's such a BIG one, ya know.  No wheat? geez. And it's not just weight that is at risk, it's your health and well-being, which is the root of my big project here.