Did you know that eating two slices of whole wheat bread can increase blood sugar more than 2 tablespoons of pure sugar cane?
Wheat Belly is a provocative look at how eliminating wheat - even so-called healthy whole grain wheat - from our diets is the key to permanent weight loss and can offer relief from a broad spectrum of health and digestive problems.
Drawing on decades of clinical studies and the extraordinary results he has observed after putting thousands of his patients on wheat-free regimens, Dr. Williams Davis makes a compelling case against this ubiquitous ingredient. A wheat-free diet has been associated with significant benefits, including:
- Weight loss of 20, 30, even 50 pounds in the first few months
- Alleviation of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes
- Recovery from intestinal woes, like ulcerative colitis and celiac disease
- Marked improvement in overall cholesterol and LDL counts
- Improvement in bone density and reversal of osteopenia
- Cessation of skin conditions from psoriasis to oral ulcers and hair loss
- Reduction of inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis pain
Readable, thought-provoking, and carefully researched, Wheat Belly offers a new and vitally important perspective on the most critical health concerns of our time.
The focus of this eating plan is giving up all wheat products - and that doesn't mean just going gluten-free, because many of the GF product fillers are not allowed. In fact, so many things are not allowed I was having trouble figuring out what you CAN eat.
Consume in unlimited quantities: vegetables (except potatoes and corn), raw nuts and seeds, oils (EVOO, avocado, walnut, coconut, cocoa butter, flaxseed, macademia, and sesame), meats and eggs, cheese, non-sugary condiments
Consume in limited quantities: non-cheese dairy (milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, butter), fruit, whole corn, fruit juices, nonwheat/nongluten grains, legumes, soy productss
Consume rarely or never: wheat products, unhealthy oils, GF foods (esp. those made with cornstarch, rice starch, potato starch or tapioca starch), dried fruit, fried foods, sugary snacks, sugary fructose-rich sweeteners, and sugary condiments
This is a really intriguing premise; for me, I would have to really see some superior health results to make such a drastic change in my eating habits. I would especially give it a try if I suffered from any of the digestive complaints or other severe symptoms that this regime is purported to alleviate.
We made one of the recipes for dinner tonight, the Three-Cheese Eggplant Bake. It tasted quite like regular Eggplant Parmesana and was delicious; we served it with steaks on the side. Even my oldest son liked it, and asked what the vegetable was the had the meat-like consistency.
THREE-CHEESE EGGPLANT BAKE
1 eggplant (cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow or Spanish onion, chopped
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
3 to 4 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes
4 to 6 cups spinach leaves (more is better)
2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
2 cups tomato sauce
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded whole-milk mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)
1/2 cup grated Paremsan cheese (2 ounces)
4 to 5 fresh basil leaves, chopped
Preheat oven to 325F. Place the eggplant slices in a baking pan (we used a 9x13). Brush both sides of the slices with most of the oil, reserving about 2 tablespoons. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the eggplant but leave the oven on.
Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach and cook until onion softens.
Scatter the tomato wedges over the eggplant. Spread the spinach mixture on top. Top the spinach with the tomato sauce.
Mix together the ricotta and mozzarella cheese in a bowl. Spread the cheese mixture over the tomato sauce and sprinkle with the basil. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the top.
Bake uncovered until bubbling and the cheese is melted, about 30 minutes.
Let me know if you try this diet or this recipe!
20 comments:
I haven't tried it Shawnee, so many diets out there, every week Dr. Oz has the newest and latest. I need to work on a diet, but not this one, will continue to see your next post!
To all who are skeptical, give it 2 weeks. That's all. Two weeks with out wheat. See how you feel after those two weeks. No breads, pastas, crackers... Lots of veggies, cheese, nuts, meats... It's easier than other diets. And, there is sound research behind this diet. Many will say this is unfounded using anecdotal evidence. But no one has said the science behind this is wrong. No one can say the changes in wheat didn't happen. I've done it, and won't eat wheat ever again. Also, I am NOT gluten sensitive, but before giving up wheat, I craved carbs every 2 hours. Stomach growling, light headed, gotta eat something now!!!-cravings. Gave up wheat, and often forgot to eat. Yes, FORGOT to eat. Those cravings are gone. And, I don't feel like I'm missing anything. So, what do you have to lose. Give it a shot and if it doesn't work, you're not out anything but 2 weeks.
My husband and I are lucky enough to live in a larger city so finding gluten free or wheat free items is fairly easy but I was also back home (pop. 15,000)for the holidays and was amazed what the stores were carrying as far as gluten/wheat free options. Like the first Anonymous said just try it and feel the changes. My husband agreed to try it for 3 months and he is actually amazed at the ease of his weight loss. We have not completely cut out wheat (99%, completely at home) and we do make a choice to partake as we would like our diet/lifestyle to be sustainable. Starting month 3, my husband is down 17 lbs after a very long plateau and over joyed with his progress.
I have been following this diet for 10 months. I've effortlessly lost 60 pounds, lost the arthritis in my hands, lost my dry skin, lost my constant carb cravings, lost my mood swings, and gained back my self love. A previous commenter said "give it two weeks". If you can do this, you will be a convert. I, too, will NEVER eat wheat again.
Looking at the outline of this diet is a sure-fire way to talk yourself out of trying this diet. I can attest to the fact that: 1. It works. 2. It is the easiest, fastest weight-loss program I've ever done (I lost 50 lbs in about nine our ten months - Dr. Davis put me on it in May, 2010). 3. I will never put wheat back into my diet.
My husband and I said we would try 2 weeks then agreed to extend to 4 weeks. That was nearly 4 months ago and we'll never go back to wheat. No more joint pain, back pain, painful eczema, skin breakouts and each of us have lost about 30 lbs as a fringe benefit! Give it a try!
I have cut out wheat and after the first week, I am down 6 pounds. In all honesty, I have given up all alcohol and take brown seaweed and black licorice. I previously had food cravings that would not let me go until I had eaten crackers, bread or cookies. I am free! I have to remind myself to eat. I am a definite convert as this is the easiest thing I've ever done to lose weight.
I gave up grains in May 2011, replaced them with vegetables and nuts and kept my meat and fruit intake the same. By August I lost 25lbs and weigh what I did at 17. I am a 46 year old woman and now weigh 120lbs. My constant abdominal pain of 4 years is gone. Is the best part the weight loss or abdominal health? No, the best part is I never feel guilty about the food I eat and I love the food I eat. My husband sat back and watched my lifestyle transformation, read Wheat Belly and now he is down 25 lbs in 3 months. No chip, cracker, cupcake or cereal is remotely tempting. I will never go bad to SAD (standard American Diet). Try it, you may just well like it.
To Quiltingranny, keep in mind, Dr Oz is on TV. Do you think he'd still be on TV if he said to stop eating the products that sponsor him?
New reader to your blog. I had a similar stack of weight loss books, and I decided to give Wheat Belly a go.
I've only been following the diet for 8 days, but I have lost 10 pounds, and have had no acid reflux or IBS flare ups.
The other incredible thing is that I usually am hungry all day, which makes it difficult to follow a diet. But, since giving up the wheat, I actually have to remind myself to eat! I call it nothing short of a miracle.
I've been on the Wheat Free Train for about 4 months and I feel terrific. I went down a whole pant size (I was not overweight to begin with), my tummy trimmed and that bloated look to my face is gone, gone, gone. It's so easy: just don't eat any wheat. I'm going to cut our all grain eventually, I think. In the meantime I have a little brown rice and being Danish I sure do appreciate being able to stuff myself with butter and cheese. Soon I will go have my bloodwork done and see how my cholesterol is doing. Give it a try - it's a way of life, not a diet.
This is not just a diet. It is a correction of a huge mistake we have all been making for many many years. When I corrected that mistake back in October, I was skeptical, thinking I can do anything for a few weeks, so I'll give it a shot, but cutting out wheat????,... how could that possibly work? Everyone knows whole-grain foods are the healthiest thing you can eat.
I'm here to tell ya',.. I will never eat wheat or grains again. I lost a little weight, but I was what you might call slim to start with. The big improvements for me were: no more headaches, skin cleared up, arthritis pain gone, allergies gone, blood pressure normal again, blessed and easy regularity, on and on and on. It is hard to believe how something so simple can make so many life-changing differences.
I'm a 67 year old woman who has been overweight for around 40 years. I have tried every diet that came down the pike! I had gone from 120 to 247 pounds during those years. I have lost and gained it back plus more while taking Nexium daily to control acid reflux. My arthritis got so severe that I couldn't move pain. I could go on and on about things that were wrong with me. When I heard about Wheat Belly, I said, "Well, why not try this one?" For the first time in my overweight life, I am still on the new eating lifestyle (I refuse to call it a diet!) In three months I have lost 23 pounds effortlessly. I'm wearing jeans that I haven't been able to get in for years. My acid reflux is gone and I'm no longer taking Nexium. Arthritis--so much better I can't believe it. Energy--so much more than BWB (Before Wheat Belly). I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. I was one who could never refuse bread, cake, pies, cookies, ice cream, etc. Now, I'm not even tempted. Try this for a week or two and you'll find that it's the best thing you'll ever do for yourself. I made it through the holidays and actually LOST WEIGHT! I was around so much food that it was unreal, and while I had plenty to eat, I stayed away from all grains, rice, potatoes, and sugar. For someone who was a professional dieter, this new LIFE STYLE is a revelation. I'm through with diets forever.
This sounds pretty much like what I have done over the past several months on my own and it has alleviated chronic tummy issues, diabetes, chronic headaches and other pains. I think that as important as the wheat is the elimination of processed food and sugars. I'll have to get a copy of the book. Thanks for the review! -ali
I agree with the other posters here. Keep in mind this recommends WHEAT free....not CARB free. You can still have carbs...just NOT wheat and ones that cause a quick high rise in blood sugar. The book provides more details on that.
I stayed at the same weight for over a year...couldn't lose a POUND. I eliminated wheat and my weight slowly just started dropping...CONSISTENLY.
I have low blood sugar, and a strong family history of diabetes. I have tried this diet for about a month now, and have NOT lost weight. I have a hard work-out 3x/week, and am about 35 lbs overwieght. I am just as hungry as before. It hasn't worked for me, but I suppose I'll try to stay with it. Not eating wheat isn't so bad, and I have learned how to cook wheat-free. I'm just not losing weight on it.PVirie
Hi all, my son and ( we are both overweight 260 and 290 lbs) we have been following the wheat free diet for four weeks. We haven't lost a single ounce. What are we doing wrong. Does anyone out there have any advice for us.
It's not a wheat free diet he suggests for loss weight. It is a CARB free diet.
He says that giving up only wheat will be good for your health, but if you want to lose weight, you're going to have to give up sugar, rice, potatoes, beans, fruits, etc. You're only allowed vegetables and proteins.
So it is NOT wheat-free only diet.
I am not overweight but I am trying the diet to change my blood lipid profile since heart disease big in my family and I cannot tolerate statins. I've been doing for about month. I haven't checked my lipids yet but I love the diet because my "fibromyalgia" and constant pain went away immediately. My figure looks amazing. When I went for dermatology check up, my doctor noticed improvements in my physique (major slim down) and skin right away and asked me (without being prompted) what I was doing. I never want to eat wheat again. I feel and look great!
To those who have not lost weight you must understand that this is not some magically eating plan. You still have to eat at a caloric deficit to lose weight. For me, reducing my wheat intake has made eating at a deficit far easier than any other weight loss attempt. I've tried simple calorie restriction, vegetarianism, atkins...you name it. I was successful with each of those methods but always had to fight hunger through out the day. Ever since I gave up wheat I get REAL cues from my body when it is time to eat...probably every 7 hours. Fighting hunger is the key to any calorie restricted eating plan. Can't wait to hit my goal weight so I can pig out on all the whole, natural foods I like
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