Title: Wheat Belly
Author: William Davis, MD
Publisher: Rodale Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Every day, over 200 million Americans consume food products made of wheat. As a result, over 100 million of them experience some form of adverse health effect, ranging from minor rashes and high blood sugar to the unattractive stomach bulges that preventive cardiologist William Davis calls “wheat bellies.” According to Davis, that excess fat has nothing to do with gluttony, sloth, or too much butter: it’s due to the whole grain wraps we eat for lunch.
After witnessing over 2,000 patients regain their health after giving up wheat, Davis reached the disturbing conclusion that wheat is the single largest contributor to the nationwide obesity epidemic─and its elimination is key to dramatic weight loss and optimal health. In Wheat Belly, Davis exposes the harmful effects of what is actually a product of genetic tinkering and agribusiness being sold to the American public as “wheat”─and provides readers with a user-friendly, step-by-step plan to navigate a new, wheat-free lifestyle.
Informed by cutting-edge science and nutrition, along with case studies from men and women who have experienced life-changing transformations in their health after waving goodbye to wheat, Wheat Belly is an illuminating look at what is truly making Americans sick and an action plan to clear our plates of this seemingly benign ingredient.
The beginning of the book was difficult to get through because it’s all science. Yes, it’s good to know how Davis came to his conclusion that living without wheat will make a person healthier, but twelve chapters seemed long.
He explains the best way to cut wheat out of your diet is cold turkey and goes on to give reasons why some people also cut out cornmeal, rice, nightshades and soda in order to feel healthier. He provides a list of things you should eat. The book includes a one week meal plan.
I do believe the wheat we eat now is different from what was available 50 years ago and no one knows the long-term effects of the genetically modified wheat we’re ingesting. One of my best friends feels better on a gluten free diet. I am ingesting more fruits and vegetables at meal time and eating less processed items but I’m not certain I’m ready to try a wheat free diet at this time.
About The Author
William Davis, MD is a preventive cardiologist whose unique approach to diet allows him to advocate reversal, not just prevention, of heart disease. He is founder of the TrackYourPlaque.com program. He lives in Wisconsin.
A friend of mine read this and cut out wheat completely and was really disappointed when she didn’t lose weight. What does the author suggest you eat for the grains part of your diet? I’m sure you’re right though – all the genetic modifications of our food can’t be good.
I have lost nearly 10kg in 2 months. If your friend hasn’t lost weight, they aren’t following the recommendations closely enough, or they could have a health condition that needs to be addressed. There is a Facebook page also for the book where you can post questions and get good advice/tips.
I started reading this one but haven’t finished it. I already know I feel better sans wheat from doing a Whole 30 last year. We generally limit grains in our house (allowing rice once a week or so) and replace them with healthy fats and extra veggies (sometimes at the same time).
BTW, I recommend Why We Get Fat, by Gary Taubes. It gets somewhat science-y but manages to stay readable while arguing that a grain-free diet is probably best.
Mike is right that Kathy’s friend may miss to follow the instructions of Wheat Belly to the point. However, I have found results from the book’s suggestions that I have noted down in my book – How to lose your wheat belly-on Kindle.