Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health by William Davis

Feb 23, 2012 Ngaire rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: health-and-wellness

I'm so glad I read this book. The science behind it just blew me away (Davis exhaustively footnotes everything). I'm down with the idea that tampering with crops to make them drought resistant and pest resistant and produce higher yields can also make them kinda toxic to humans. I'm willing to try this to reduce my constant fatigue and headaches. Figure it can't hurt. Plus, American bread sucks so much anyway that I don't mind giving it up (honestly, who puts sugar in their bread?). Pasta is goi...more I'm so glad I read this book. The science behind it just blew me away (Davis exhaustively footnotes everything). I'm down with the idea that tampering with crops to make them drought resistant and pest resistant and produce higher yields can also make them kinda toxic to humans. I'm willing to try this to reduce my constant fatigue and headaches. Figure it can't hurt. Plus, American bread sucks so much anyway that I don't mind giving it up (honestly, who puts sugar in their bread?). Pasta is going to be much harder.

Look, I used to be the last person on the planet who would have considered giving up wheat. I thought people who gave up gluten were sort of crazy (unless they had celiac disease, obviously). I just knew that pasta and brown bread were healthy for me - I'd had it drummed into me since childhood. But since I was about fourteen or fifteen, I've had bad health - low energy, bad skin, weight problems, digestive issues - nothing serious, but a host of things that made life that bit harder and less pleasurable. They'd improved a bit through exercise, but I wanted to feel good again. Have energy the way I had as a child. When I read about Wheat Belly, I was willing to give it a try, despite never ever having tried any kind of fad diet before.I figured, I can't feel worse, right? It wasn't that hard to give up most gluten-containing products. I found a ton of recipes online on Paleo websites (we're not paleo - we eat cheese, thank god). The only recipe actually that hasn't been delicious was the Apple Walnut Muffins one from this book - they just wouldn't cook. Not sure who created that recipe but it sure makes for mushy muffins.

Updated to add: I've been doing the Wheat Belly diet for about four months. I've lost weight, quite a bit. My skin is looking better. But I still don't have any energy. I found out last week that I am vitamin b12 deficient, have low white cell counts and low platelets. I don't think any of that has to do with not eating wheat though, since I've been feeling pretty awful for about a year. Plus, b12 comes mainly from meat and eggs, and I eat plenty of eggs and some meat. My husband has been on the diet too and he hasn't really lost weight. He still drinks beer though. I was hoping this would be the magic bullet for him, since it's very very difficult for him to lose weight - the only time he's ever done it, he lived on low fat, highly processed "food." He only ate about 1200 calories a day back then, and I think he may have permanently ruined his metabolism, if such a thing is possible.

Update: This book kind of changed my life. Actually, it did change my life. A lot. About halfway through reading it, I stopped eating wheat products, and then once I'd finished it, I stopped eating all carbs apart from sweet potatoes and the odd bit of rice. Gluten-free pasta and crackers and such are just as bad for you as wheat, because they cause your blood sugar to skyrocket. The one experiment I tried with rice flour pasta gave me a whomping headache.

Update: Have been wheat-free and low-carb for just over a year now. And in many ways, it's been awesome - I can maintain my weight, my skin is great, my teeth are in great condition (the dental hygienist said there wasn't really anything to scape off at my last appointment!). However, my health was still poor in some ways. I found out at Christmas that I was severely anemic, despite eating a protein rich diet. Anyway, I think I've finally figured out the final thing that's been stopping me from truly healing my gut. I just read The Fiber Menace. Apparently, taking industrially milled fiber the way I was - psyllium seed every morning - is incredibly bad for you. It even says on the Metamucil bottle - may cause nausea, bloating, vomiting etc. I had all those things. Plus, Monastyrsky also provides evidence that taking fiber can impede your absorption of minerals and vitamins. Have now been off fiber for a week and am feeling way better. None of the chest pain and gut ache I had the last time I tried to get off it. It turns out I needed to get off wheat before I could get off fiber. I feel like I'm finally on my way to good health. (less)

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Jun 15, 2012 Keith Akers rated it 1 of 5 stars

Oh God, do I have to read this? No. I refuse. I don't have time. I'm not angling to be the one to pick through the errors, and write the "definitive refutation." So this isn't a "refutation" of the book or even an indication that wheat may not, after all, contribute to the obesity problem.

Gluten intolerance and celiac disease are real, and they may be more widespread than people realize. I know some vegans who are gluten intolerant and there's even a blog, http://getoffgluten.blogspot.com/ whic...more Oh God, do I have to read this? No. I refuse. I don't have time. I'm not angling to be the one to pick through the errors, and write the "definitive refutation." So this isn't a "refutation" of the book or even an indication that wheat may not, after all, contribute to the obesity problem.

Gluten intolerance and celiac disease are real, and they may be more widespread than people realize. I know some vegans who are gluten intolerant and there's even a blog, http://getoffgluten.blogspot.com/ which deals with vegans looking for alternatives to wheat. So I am not saying, "eat all the wheat you want!" by any means. But I have enough information to say that this is not a useful book, and here's why.

In the first chapter he says "vegetarians are fat." He also refers to a national trend to reduce fat and cholesterol and increase carbs. There is indeed a tendency to take in more carbs in the U. S., but this is highly misleading -- it's a trend towards greater consumption of junk food. The amount of fat, cholesterol, and "complex carbs" is actually pretty much the same. Secondly, it is just false that vegetarians are fat. I am a vegetarian (vegan in fact), am not gluten intolerant, and eat wheat every day. I am not fat, slightly underweight actually, and none of my veggie friends are fat. You cannot go to a vegetarian conference or event and fail to notice that vegans and vegetarians are generally not obese or overweight. This has also been documented in studies, also, but it's easier just to invite people to visit your friendly local vegetarian potluck or meetup and count the fat people.

He also criticizes "The China Study" based on some inane correlations published on the internet. He cites Denise Minger, but it's clear that the author doesn't understand the most basic ideas of statistics. One might be able to show a decisive correlation between colon cancer and TV viewing, but that doesn't establish causation; he's pulled out some superficial correlations and considers that a refutation of "The China Study." He also recommends using oils generously, including coconut oil (saturated fat city). He also recommends eating meat, eggs, and cheese "in unlimited quantities." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition editorialized a few years ago than more than one egg per day could increase all-cause mortality by 40%.

At this point, it becomes apparent that he is really yet another Weston Price Foundation promoter. I suspect that this may be an attempt to revive the Atkins (high-protein, low carbs) diet, so that even after driving a stake through its heart, zombie-like, it rises from the grave to wreak havoc on the unwitting.

Even though there's probably a lot of good stuff in here on problems with wheat, you'll have to be an expert already to sort out the good from the bad. Given the fact that I can just open the book up, read the introduction and first chapter, look at the index, and immediately find a bunch of problems, I don't think that I could read the rest of it with any assurance that the author has a clue. So even though there may be a lot of good material in here, reading this book won't enlighten you. You'll still have to figure out this stuff somewhere else, then come back to the book, and sort through his argument.

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Feb 12, 2012 Daniela rated it 4 of 5 stars

The book The Wheat Belly by William Davis, M.D. should be required reading for everyone in the world.

We've all heard about the No Carbs approach in diets like Atkins, South Beach etc. Efforts have been made to explain and counter arguments about toxidity etc. were made to discredit all of those diets as they were too restricting. So the word of warning right off: Davis agrees with the low carbs recommendation to the extreme. He calls his book The Wheat Belly, as wheat is the widest used and mos...more The book The Wheat Belly by William Davis, M.D. should be required reading for everyone in the world.

We've all heard about the No Carbs approach in diets like Atkins, South Beach etc. Efforts have been made to explain and counter arguments about toxidity etc. were made to discredit all of those diets as they were too restricting. So the word of warning right off: Davis agrees with the low carbs recommendation to the extreme. He calls his book The Wheat Belly, as wheat is the widest used and most readily available grain (product) in the world. He does refer to all gluten containing, genetically altered grains by this one term: Wheat! Through crossbreading it has been turned into a high yield, low growing plant to produce as much grain with as little loss as possible. Through modern food science it has become possible to alter it to growing specifications that are the most satisfying for the producer. At the same time people were advised to eat as much whole grain product as possible as it was advertised as healthy. Unfortunately this development occurred too fast for human digestion to keep up and was done without even checking how the cross breeding affected the consumer. Through the process wheat gained attributes that neither parent plant was known to have on humans. Chemical processes in the body that affect not only digestion, weight gain and intestinal problems (like celiac desease) but shockingly were responsible for all sorts of health problems from heart desease brought on by weight gain, to high blood glucose levels and resulting diabetes and effects on the brain that suggest an addiction and contribute to problems like ADHD, dimentia and other brain related health problems.

One of the most convincing points is that despite the fact that people were advised to eat low fat high fiber diets the population has grown more and more overweight and obese.

Davis compares our diets nowadays to that of our ancestors, where the ones of about two generations away still got non genetically altered wheat and those from a few thousand years ago hardly ate grains at all. He argues that if we were to follow the hunter and gatherer diets of our forefathers we would be following what our bodies are still genetically programmed to digest: Meat and fats as well as vegetables and fruit, with very little grain. And if grain, then because of the adverse effects of gluten on digestion in many people, gluten free grains.

This is not a fad diet book, but a scientific text, that states many studies and examples about the facts Davis descibes. A deeper insight into the changes of human physiology over time to see if and how any progress towards better digestion of today's "wheat diet" has been acquired would make this work complete.

Davis does include a small recipe section that is geared towards replacing wheat products in a satisfying way.

An eye opener and if even half the facts are true, one would hope that society could adopt eating habits more adapted to our bodies to produce a healthier population.

In Canada the food guide has already been changed away from the largest amount of calories having to come from grains, to the recommendation to eat mostly vegetables and fruit. If meat moved up on the scale and grains moved back into last place, it appears after reading this book, we would be receiving very good advise.

Absolutely recommended for those with celiac desease, weight problems and other thus unexplained health issues that are worth a gluten free/ wheat free trial. Parents of autistic children and children with ADHD might find this very interesting and helpful. Yet everyone could benefit from following this diet if what it claims is indeed true: Better all over health and a cure to many ailments.

http://pagemarks.wordpress.com/catego...

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Jan 08, 2013 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: health-nutrition

Excellent follow up to the Wheat Belly book itself which I read in December...already lost about 8 lbs and lots of "bulk" around my middle--pretty sure I had wheat belly! For this cookbook, I managed to catch an ebook sale for only $2.99 and I literally read the entire thing, including every recipe so I would know exactly what yummy treats I would try first!

The opening chapters include a lot of great key information from the original Wheat Belly book itself but do not serve as a complete substit...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Gail Kavanagh rated it 4 of 5 stars

It seems like hardly a day goes by without some new diet scare or conspiracy theory being aired, but every now and then you get both at once, and my brain, for one, does a Homer Simpson – “I’m outta here!”

So is the genetic modification of the humble wheat plant really to blame for the sharp rise in all mankind’s health woes, including diabetes, heart attacks and oh yes, cancer - or is it a conspiracy by drug companies and wheat growers to create an addictive, ubiquitous product that will make u...more It seems like hardly a day goes by without some new diet scare or conspiracy theory being aired, but every now and then you get both at once, and my brain, for one, does a Homer Simpson – “I’m outta here!”

So is the genetic modification of the humble wheat plant really to blame for the sharp rise in all mankind’s health woes, including diabetes, heart attacks and oh yes, cancer - or is it a conspiracy by drug companies and wheat growers to create an addictive, ubiquitous product that will make us so sick we need drug prescriptions by the bucketload to cure us?

Damned if I know. All I know is that when I cut out wheat products, my belly shrinks, my arthritis pain recedes and I feel better, just as Dr William Davis asserts in his forthcoming book Wheat Belly – Lose the Wheat Lose the Weight. Dr Davis’ anecdotes about his patients back me up on that. Kicking the wheat habit makes a difference to your weight and overall well being, even if you don’t have coeliac disease (gluten intolerance).

Why is wheat the bad guy, when all dietary advice says otherwise? That’s where it gets scary and conspiratorial. Apparently the wheat we eat today is not the wheat our ancestors called ‘the staff of life’ and hasn’t been for more than half a century. It’s all our worst nightmares about genetic modification of foods come true. Today’s wheat is a nasty addictive abomination, and crack cocaine is probably safer. Or something.

I must admit getting lost in Dr Davis’ wheat rants, and found some of his comparisons just carry the conspiracy theory to ridiculous lengths (wheat is like the Kool-Aid Jim Jones gave to his followers?) and most of it left me wondering why I was still alive after all that Hovis bread in my childhood and all those baguettes and focaccias I’ve consumed since.

But whether or not wheat is some dastardly attempt by GM and pharma to turn us all unto wheat munching, pill popping zombies or not, the fact is I have found giving up wheat has done away with that awful bloated belly and I do agree we have become far too reliant on it – every time we eat these days, the food seems to be wrapped in a bun, roll or slice of bread, coated with crumbs or batter, or accompanied by piles of pasta. Asians don’t seem to have these problems unless they follow our western diet.

Dr Davis’ book is a mine of information if you don’t mind being beaten, figuratively speaking, with a loaf of whole grain bread, and it has really useful appendices listing products that contain wheat, and some recipes that actually look edible. I didn’t really need his advice not to eat gluten free foods (they taste AWFUL) but if you are new to wheat free living, it is worth knowing that some of the substitutes are actually worse for you than wheat.

Wheat Belly is available on pre-order from Amazon. My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
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Apr 17, 2013 Sharon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I began reading Wheat Belly, I had already decided to give up Wheat since I must eliminate it to follow the FODMAP diet (I'll explain that after the review), and wanted to see if this book addressed FODMAP (it doesn't), or what else I could learn about wheat with regard to digestive disorders.

It's tough for me to decide if this book should get two or three stars. It does have some useful information, but it's sandwiched in alarmist-style marketing. The book is also *highly* repetitive. The...more

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Oct 05, 2012 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: health, food

Let's be honest--I'm going to be in favor of this book because of my point of view. I'm supporting my own (research-free) thesis that wheat is bad for you. And this dude's an MD, he backs up his science with footnotes, the subject interests me, and I've had personal experience giving up wheat in my own life (although I haven't been able to stick with it for long periods, but I eat way less than I used to) and know the positive changes it can have on the body. I read some reviews have called this...more Let's be honest--I'm going to be in favor of this book because of my point of view. I'm supporting my own (research-free) thesis that wheat is bad for you. And this dude's an MD, he backs up his science with footnotes, the subject interests me, and I've had personal experience giving up wheat in my own life (although I haven't been able to stick with it for long periods, but I eat way less than I used to) and know the positive changes it can have on the body. I read some reviews have called this book junk science, but frankly--I think what's passing for hard cold facts from the USDA (and the current medical community) is junk science too, and we eat wheat because it's cheap, easy, and tastes relatively good (it's hard to screw up pizza.) But there is really compelling research Davis compiles about the negative (sometimes deadly) effects wheat can have on the body long term and how many different ways it can affect people. He focuses mostly on giving up wheat in the diet, but he doesn't give corn or rice a pass either in large quantities. And he CERTAINLY doesn't give "gluten free" foods a pass--he thinks they're terrible in general and raise the blood sugar just like wheat does (but with less negative effects). The book made sense to me, and it was relatively easy to read (although I skimmed the more science-y parts of the reading). I've been modifying my diet long enough that I wasn't overly impressed by his menu plans in the back (he advocates sugar replacements like splenda, and i hate that stuff), but the rest of the book was really interesting. It really does make me look at that bagel more critically...even if choose to have a bite of it. I really never felt better (and less hungry) than when i gave all that stuff up for a month...but man, it's hard! Don't let anyone tell you different.

And if I never hear the phrase "heart-healthy whole grains" again, it will be too soon. Davis uses the term (mockingly) on every other page...i will definitely be attuned to it when i see it in ads or in articles!(less)

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Mar 11, 2013 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone!

Recommended to Nancy by: Mary Lynn

Who knew?! Who knew that all I had to do is to cut wheat gluten out of my diet?! On the one hand, Dr. Davis has me convinced that WHEAT = POISON and even though I am not normally a suggestible person, I am now afraid to eat wheat. On the other hand, I feel GREAT, I have lost 4 lbs - a little more than a pound a day and, for the first time in my life since I was a child, my stomach is not bothering me. Really - I was chomping on Rolaids when I was five. This morning, I had grapefruit juice and 2...more Who knew?! Who knew that all I had to do is to cut wheat gluten out of my diet?! On the one hand, Dr. Davis has me convinced that WHEAT = POISON and even though I am not normally a suggestible person, I am now afraid to eat wheat. On the other hand, I feel GREAT, I have lost 4 lbs - a little more than a pound a day and, for the first time in my life since I was a child, my stomach is not bothering me. Really - I was chomping on Rolaids when I was five. This morning, I had grapefruit juice and 2 cups of coffee without my Nexium - no stomach problems at all. The other thing - I used to have a cup of coffee going all day long. My coffee intake has dropped - I suspect because I do not need the energy lifts that I required before "Wheat Belly".

Dr. Davis knew my story - the gradual gain of weight even though I ate whole grain, low fat, no sugar foods. Prepared foods are never on my shopping list. But, especially lately, my blood pressure, my weight, my blood sugar and my cholesterol kept creeping up no matter what I did. I exercise, I don't eat sugar (except the very occasional jelly bean), I don't eat fatty foods, even cheese (which I adore), and I used brown rice, whole wheat pasta, whole grain bread. I even make my own granola. The last time I went to the doctor, he told me he wanted me to only eat chicken, turkey and fish with steamed vegetables and salads to lose some weight, bring my blood pressure down, my blood sugar down and my cholesterol under control. I mean really, who can live like that? I go for my next blood test next week - I will let you know how I make out. I am going to be thinner, though.

Dr. Davis made a good case explaining why modern wheat is causing so many gluten problems. He linked it to asthma (I ran yesterday and didn't need my inhaler for my exercise-induced asthma), heart disease, dementia, premature aging (got my attention there!!), digestive problems, neurological problems and some that I cannot remember. Like I said, I am PETRIFIED to let a piece of wheat pass my lips. In some way, it may be similar to Atkins and South Beach, because he makes a case for limiting all carbohydrates, although I don't think it is as extreme. The one criticism I have: his recipes - oh, I don't think so. He likes coconut a whole lot more than I do, and they just look awful. I do not believe in eating what will gag me for any diet.

As far as following the no-wheat plan, since I don't buy many if any prepared foods, it has been easy to adapt. For example, on Sunday, we had non-Pasta Fagiola. My husband is doing this with me, but he said he is not noticing the benefits that I am. But, to sum it up, I have more energy, I am losing weight, my stomach feels better than it ever has and I don't have hunger issues that can make it impossible to stick to a food regimen. This was a worthwhile book to read.

Update: About One Week of Gluten-Free Living: I am down 5 lbs, was hoping for more, but weekends are for partying. I have started running again - I have not had to use my inhaler for my exercise-induced asthma. My energy levels are GREAT - even though the time change has knocked me for a bit of a sleeping loop. I have not needed my daily naps AND my coffee consumption is down to about 2 cups a day from about 5 or 6. After YEARS and YEARS of heartburn, I have not needed to take my Nexium. I can eat cheese again (I have cut out sugar & wheat so I am going to eat cheese - which I love) without at problem. The thing is, I feel GOOD!!! In fact, I feel WONDERFULl!!! I am even doing some housework... I go for blood work on Friday. I will keep you posted - this is just TOO easy!!(less)

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Mar 29, 2013 BouBou rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

I don't like the title, it implies that it is some fad diet and not that's not what this is. this is a permanent lifestyle change that will improve your health whether you lose weight or not.
The book is full of references to scientific studies on the effects of wheat or gluten on the human body. It covers different aspects as the book goes along. I went into being a skeptic and now I have no doubt in my mind that subsidized wheat is causing all kinds of problems for everyone. If you are sufferi...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Rob Billingsley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: completed

Wheat Belly Cookbook: 150 Recipes to Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health by William Davis, MD.

Well, you know what they say, “If it sounds to good to be true, then…” However, my physician suggested I get this book to help me permanently change my eating habits in a way that will effectively reduce many of my issues about weight, glycemic index, aching joints, and energy (or lack thereof). He gave it a pretty strong thumbs-up.

I’ve been trying to be gluten free on my...more Wheat Belly Cookbook: 150 Recipes to Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health by William Davis, MD.

Well, you know what they say, “If it sounds to good to be true, then…” However, my physician suggested I get this book to help me permanently change my eating habits in a way that will effectively reduce many of my issues about weight, glycemic index, aching joints, and energy (or lack thereof). He gave it a pretty strong thumbs-up.

I’ve been trying to be gluten free on my own, but haven’t had much weight loss success. Dr. Davis explains that many of the gluten free products you buy have starches from rice, tapioca, potatoes or other non-wheat ingredients that actually have a much higher glycemic index that contributes to greater risk for obesity and diabetes.

The author’s one great crusade in this and his earlier work, Wheat Belly, is to convince you that the wheat produced in this country is not what it was as recently as the 1960’s. He says this is due to its genetic makeup resulting from modifications to make the grain easier to grow and produce. According to the author, the sharp increase in obesity and diabetes is not just parallel to the growth of the new wheat in our diets, but is directly due to the genetic changes in the wheat seed stocks. He goes on further to imply that the Monsantos of this world are out to get us addicted to wheat because it makes us even more hungry for more wheat-based foods, as well as for other foods in general.

His argument even goes so far as to compare this conspiracy to the tobacco companies of the 50s and 60’s that concealed the studies they conducted on the effects of artificially increasing nicotine content in cigarettes. Dr. Davis likens wheat to an opiate that can be kicked with almost immediate results. I have to admit, it takes a lot of will power to walk by a Cinnabon store without stopping.

More than half the book is devoted to going into the science of the seed, but once you get to the recipes it is well worth the read. The overall organization of the recipes is like a menu with chapter headings like: “Breakfasts, Sandwiches and Salads, Appetizers, Soups and Stews, Main Dishes,” etc. There you find tasty looking recipes with unusual ingredients like lemon seed poppy cakes, coconut flake crusts for Key Lime Pie, Shirataki noodles (yam fiber) for pasta that has almost no calories, and a long list of non-wheat breads that use baking soda instead of yeast to put loft in the loaf.

I tried the “Basic Bread” recipe without the suggested hard to find sweeteners, xylitol or stevia, and it while it could use some honey or sugar in the recipe, adding honey or butter after the fact does just as well.

Finally, the author intersperses his recipes with testimonials, but who can trust those? Even if you don’t perform miracles of weight loss with this book, the recipes I tried tasted great. I especially like the soda bread recipes for their ease of preparation as well as their satisfying flavor and texture, as well as the way it makes the house smell while it is baking.
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Oct 05, 2011 Eric rated it 2 of 5 stars

wheat is murder

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Jan 08, 2013 Laurel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Before reading a book like this I like to check over some of the critical reviews, just for kicks. I'd already purchased it, so after reading the reviews, I was regretting that I bought it. Then I read it. I liked it. A lot.

You may have heard that if you want to know if a book is true, you should put it to the test. I would challenge the critics to do that. I have never gone without whole wheat, and I'm going to put it to the test because I find his information to be credible. I'd like to be inf...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Erica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fast, fascinating read, and if even half of what he says is right, wow.
I'm inclined to think most of what he says is right because so much of it I directly experienced just a few months before I read it. Perhaps I have a mild wheat allergy that makes my case a good example for him--at least one of my aunts has a life-threatening wheat allergy, so it's not far-fetched.

I started cutting back wheat a few months ago on the advice of another book, and had all the withdrawl symptoms Davis talks about...more Fast, fascinating read, and if even half of what he says is right, wow.
I'm inclined to think most of what he says is right because so much of it I directly experienced just a few months before I read it. Perhaps I have a mild wheat allergy that makes my case a good example for him--at least one of my aunts has a life-threatening wheat allergy, so it's not far-fetched.

I started cutting back wheat a few months ago on the advice of another book, and had all the withdrawl symptoms Davis talks about for about a week and a half. I was crazed for carbs, could never feel full, had no energy. Then it subsided and I love all of the effects of this new way of life--I'm not hungry in the middle of the day, I don't graze because I just don't need to, I never feel hugely bloatedly full like after a heavy pasta meal. I love most wheat products, so especially through the holidays I had to cheat a bit. But on the whole otherwise this diet is easy (once you get over the hard part) and honestly, the pounds have fallen off and I feel so much better than I did a year ago. There are other effects too: he talks about a lifting of a "mind fog" that squares with my experience, and I honestly don't feel as down this winter as every other winter I've lived in the Midwest (maybe it's not really the winter?). It encourages me/us to cook a bit differently than we did, but there's also so many wheat products that I just won't ever miss again: those crappy hot dog rolls at the supermarket, poor bread for toast and sandwiches served all over (good bread for some things will continue to be hard!), etc. I've gotten to a place where I'm completely wheat free at home and can almost always order something wheat-free when out to eat. I've had a policy of eating what friends and family kindly serve me since I was a teenager, one that I'm not going to break now--but overall I'm liking this new way of eating and feeling, and loving the ability to fit into jeans from years ago. After reading a few books now, I'm utterly sold on the low-carb way of eating, and now believe in the bankruptcy of circa-80s "low-fat" diets. I kind of feel about this book the way I felt about the ONE migraine book that's worth its salt out there (Buchholz's Heal Your Headache: The 1-2-3 Program)--that I need to shout this message from the rooftops, or at least share my copy with anyone who seems interested. I feel that much better. (Unfortunately, I have Wheat Belly on my Kindle, so I can't just pass it around!)(less)

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Mar 19, 2012 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fitness-wellness, food

I have long suspected that wheat did not like me as much as I liked it - so, I decided to kick it to the curb for an experiment. This book was the first one I found in my search to back up my assertions, and I learned a lot from it.

Davis is a cardiologist, and the book is filled with stories of patients who gave up wheat under his guidance and have seen complete 180s in their health: people who couldn't walk because of severe arthritis, others who were extremely obese and depressed, and those wh...more I have long suspected that wheat did not like me as much as I liked it - so, I decided to kick it to the curb for an experiment. This book was the first one I found in my search to back up my assertions, and I learned a lot from it.

Davis is a cardiologist, and the book is filled with stories of patients who gave up wheat under his guidance and have seen complete 180s in their health: people who couldn't walk because of severe arthritis, others who were extremely obese and depressed, and those who had unexplained aches, allergies, and ailments. The book is not just for celiacs or gluten intolerant individuals - he states clearly that everyone can benefit from getting rid of this grain, which is not what it used to be even a hundred years ago.

In several pointed chapters, Davis lays it out about wheat's effect on the brain, the body's pH balance, the skin and aging, and links to obesity and a number of other chronic ailments, chief among them diabetes and arthritis. Some of the most convincing and telling arguments he makes for getting rid of wheat are the blood sugar tests: how two slices of whole grain bread can spike blood sugars more than regular old sugar.

My one criticism of the book is how Davis shows harmful correlations (most notably that of meat consumption in the body in terms of pH balance) yet, advocates meat and dairy as "EAT IN ALL QUANTITIES" in his food plan. Why spend a whole chapter talking about pH balance in the body, and *THEN* advocate meat consumption? You just said that meat was acidic, and our bodies want neutral/slightly alkaline - just eating MORE leafy greens isn't enough to cancel out the acid of meat consumption. I found that information inconsistent with everything else he was trying to prove. I eat a strict plant-based diet so I have strong ethical feelings about this, but that aside, he doesn't make a case WHY meat should even be included in this plan at all.

In many ways this book seems to be a "repackaging" of the popular and ubiquitous PALEO food plan - just in a lighter and more palpable format. He doesn't say to get rid of rice and beans, for instance, but says to limit their consumption. Agriculture is not painted as the "fall of civilization" here.

The book isn't perfect, but it has some good tidbits, and I'm a sucker for testimonials.

--
Personal note:

Just a few days into my no-wheat / no-gluten experiment, and things are going very well. The fuel to continue comes from the general "good" feelings I have now. Of course, it is the things that only YOU would notice and that are hard to quantify: no more stomach/intestinal aches after eating (this was my big problem with wheat consumption), deeper quality sleep, increased energy (a "hop in my step" that I haven't felt in a long time), and less hunger pains in between meals. An added bonus: down a few pounds on the scale. We'll see how this continues, as I am committed to continuing this "experiment" and possibly making it a lifestyle change.(less)

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May 30, 2012 helena rated it 4 of 5 stars

Obviously this is a "pop science" book, and having now quit wheat twice and seen marked reductions in my fibromyalgia symptoms, I was already in agreement with the premise when I purchased the book. That said, the book brings to light some fascinating research on the dramatic effects of wheat on the bodies of the MAJORITY of humans.

I do wish that the science and data were presented a bit more concisely, and that there was a bit less of the hyped-up "OMG PANIC" language. But it's still fascinati...more

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May 23, 2013 Liz rated it 2 of 5 stars

I'm afraid I couldn't finish this book. I think he makes some sound points about how processed and engineered our food has become, but his more outlandish claims about "miracle" cures he has witnessed when patients have cut wheat out of their diets just don't hold water for me. The book also becomes very repetitive after a while, and he could probably have said all he wanted to say in a pamphlet, to be honest.

The thing that really made me shut the book in the end was his claim that the incidence...more

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May 13, 2013 Karah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction

Our family has slowly been cutting down on wheat/ gluten for the past year. I read both of Sarah Fragoso's Paleo cookbooks, but I haven't been able to completely cut out all grains, dairy, and legumes. The Wheat Belly plan seems much more do-able. I'm not interested in changing our diet due to weight loss, but rather to increase my family's overall health.

After reading Dr. Davis' argument explaining the problems caused by modern wheat, I'm left with little desire to even touch the stuff. He cha...more Our family has slowly been cutting down on wheat/ gluten for the past year. I read both of Sarah Fragoso's Paleo cookbooks, but I haven't been able to completely cut out all grains, dairy, and legumes. The Wheat Belly plan seems much more do-able. I'm not interested in changing our diet due to weight loss, but rather to increase my family's overall health.

After reading Dr. Davis' argument explaining the problems caused by modern wheat, I'm left with little desire to even touch the stuff. He challenges the "Healthy Whole Grains" belief, calling it a myth and explaining the fact that large pharmaceutical companies are aware of the dangers of wheat, but are the ones behind the lobbyists demanding we eat more healthy whole grains. I didn't read the entire "Wheat Belly" book, but he summarizes quite a bit of that book in the introduction of this cookbook. He goes into detail about the changes wheat has undergone in the past 30 years, and shows that it has been linked it to asthma, digestive problems, neurological problems, cancer, diabetes, inflammation, arthritis, and so many others. He also talks about sugar and points out several startling stats like this one: A Snickers Bar raises your blood sugar/ insulin levels less than two pieces of whole wheat bread.

Although my family is not 100% wheat-free, we're steering in that direction. We haven't eaten sandwiches forever, gave up cereals with gluten, and found some great alternatives for pizza and spaghetti. The recipes in this book seem easy to read and follow, and very likely to be referred to. That being said, we've already changed most of our pantry over the course of the last year, so it might be hard to start this type of cooking/ baking "cold turkey". I will admit that both my husband and I have higher energy, feel better, and experience fewer digestive issues since cutting back on wheat. Overall, this is a great read that really makes you stop and think about all the wheat we're consuming and what it may be doing to our bodies. (less)

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May 07, 2013 Gary Pearson added it

Watch out for this one.
This book's subtitle, in big print at the top of the cover, is "Loose the Wheat, Loose the Belly..." And for 192 pages I was open-minded and giving his theories a chance: that modern hybridized wheat beginning at the later half of the twentieth century was modified in such a way to make up addicted to it and obese-all because we weren't eating "ancient wheat" anymore. Then he shows his true colors on page 193.

"If you fill the gap let by excising wheat products with corn ch...more

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May 04, 2013 Kimberly Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book will turn everything you THOUGHT you knew about diet and nutrition completely upside down! All my life I thought I was eating healthfully, but wondering at the same time "WHY do I feel so lethargic? WHY do I have so many gastrointestinal issues? WHY aren't I thinner when I eat so well overall?"

Thanks to this book, now I know.

I had gone mostly gluten free before reading this book, but now I am COMPLETELY gluten free, as well as carb free. It turns out that the tiny trace amounts in sala...more

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May 02, 2013 Katharine Spano rated it 2 of 5 stars

So, he got me. I'm going to try reducing the wheat in my diet. The science in the book definitely cued me in to my body's (possible) response to gluten. I'll eliminate it, see how I feel, and decide where to go from there.

While some of the science convinced me, I actually felt angry and insulted after reading this book. He has a very rude tone, flippant at times, and tries way too hard to be relevant (a Tiger Woods mistress reference? In a book about wheat?) He sidesteps years of research into...more

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Apr 27, 2013 Stacey rated it 3 of 5 stars

So I have mixed reviews on this book. I've been gluten free for several weeks and I have noticed some differences in energy levels and cravings, etc so I'm a believer that there may be something to the idea of limiting wheat/gluten. But, as a lactose-intolerant vegetarian, I also believe Americans consume too much red meat and dairy and that ALSO contributes to health problems (and have noticed similar differences in health since cutting those items out of my diet).

What I find most interesting...more So I have mixed reviews on this book. I've been gluten free for several weeks and I have noticed some differences in energy levels and cravings, etc so I'm a believer that there may be something to the idea of limiting wheat/gluten. But, as a lactose-intolerant vegetarian, I also believe Americans consume too much red meat and dairy and that ALSO contributes to health problems (and have noticed similar differences in health since cutting those items out of my diet).

What I find most interesting in this book is the discussion about modern wheat versus, say, caveman wheat, and how it affects our blood sugar and overall health. This is something worth investigating and considering, especially with all the GMO's floating around in processed foods. I also found the discussion about the addictive properites of wheat very interesting.

But there's a lot of technical jargon in this book and a lot of repetition and biased research - by the time he got to the part about suggesting we mainly only eat eggs, meat, cheese, vegetables, nuts and oils - he lost me. This is Adkins. This is Paleo. This is the low-carb diet all over again. He suggests limiting wild rice, potatoes, oats, trail mix!, some fruits (bananas and pineapples?) He also suggests that most people with gluten sensitivity are also lactose intolerant, but then suggests we eat some form of cheese with just about every meal (even saying unprocessed cheese is ok even for lactose intolerance? Um, not so much. What on earth would he suggest if HE were lactose-intolerant?) And when did the healthy caveman have time to make cheese? And from what animal was he getting his milk? It certainly wasn't from cows. Also, if the ancient grains were 'healthy non-blood-sugar spiking' grains - why can't we reintroduce those? Why does ALL wheat need to be banned?

I intend to continue with my gluten-free lifestyle and will indeed continue researching this topic, but honestly, I feel I could have gleaned all this same information from blogs and saved myself the money I spent on the book. This one's perhaps good to read, but not shelf-worthy.

(less)

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Apr 22, 2013 Cindy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Definitely thought-provoking, but presented in such an extreme way that it reads like propaganda for the next overhyped fad diet. The enemy: wheat. Genetically modified dwarf wheat specifically, which was engineered in the 70s-80s for its high yields, contains new proteins that wreak havoc on our bodies. According to Wheat Belly, it’s the cause of obesity, diabetes, schizophrenia, autism, ADD/ADHD, high cholesterol, joint pain, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, Alzheimers, acne… you name it...more Definitely thought-provoking, but presented in such an extreme way that it reads like propaganda for the next overhyped fad diet. The enemy: wheat. Genetically modified dwarf wheat specifically, which was engineered in the 70s-80s for its high yields, contains new proteins that wreak havoc on our bodies. According to Wheat Belly, it’s the cause of obesity, diabetes, schizophrenia, autism, ADD/ADHD, high cholesterol, joint pain, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, Alzheimers, acne… you name it, wheat causes it. The author shares stories of his patients who have come in after having tried everything, are eating lots of veggies and “healthy whole grains”, exercising and being active but are unable to lose weight and experience chronic aches and discomfort. His solution is to cut the wheat. These patients come back in 3 weeks, have lost 15 pounds and feel 99% better. I don’t doubt that it works for some people, but I have a tough time believing the author’s rant that wheat is the devil food. I don't put a lot of weight into his research because I have no ability to critique the studies he does cite and I’m fairly certain a study exists to support any crazy theory one might have anyway.

As for me personally, I think I’m reasonably healthy. I don’t consume a lot of wheat, which I suppose would support the author's position, but I do eat some. I eat bread only when I feel like baking it myself, which isn't often. Same goes for cookies. I only like hot sandwiches but I pretty much would prefer anything else over a sandwich. I only like Montreal style bagels and they're not widely available where I live, so I don’t eat many bagels. I don’t like sweet pastries or cake all that much. I don’t eat cereal and I don’t eat crackers. I do love a good croissant, waffles, savoury and sweet pies, but those are not everyday or even every month foods. My biggest weaknesses are potato chips and pasta. I haven't bought potato chips since the holidays and you can't eat what you don’t buy, so that's how I curb my chip intake. But pasta and noodles, I love and usually do have a serving every day or every other day. I can’t say that I’m planning on changing my wheat habits after reading this book, but I will be more aware of how I feel after consuming wheat and know if it becomes an issue.(less)

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Apr 20, 2013 Kathrynn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, ibook, nonfiction-health, own, reviewed

Enjoyed it! The first part of the book the author spent informing us how he reached his conclusions and he reiterated key points throughout the book. Even though the author mentioned this book is not about Celiac Disease, he did cover it very well in a few areas then mentioned it throughout.

A few key points: acne and skin ailments are a main result of inflammation brought on by the modified wheat we have been forced eat. Modified wheat has addictive behaviors. Modified wheat raises our blood su...more Enjoyed it! The first part of the book the author spent informing us how he reached his conclusions and he reiterated key points throughout the book. Even though the author mentioned this book is not about Celiac Disease, he did cover it very well in a few areas then mentioned it throughout.

A few key points: acne and skin ailments are a main result of inflammation brought on by the modified wheat we have been forced eat. Modified wheat has addictive behaviors. Modified wheat raises our blood sugar. Modified wheat was not tested before it was released to us in food. Just as Dr. Oz has said many times, the worst kind of fat to carry around is belly fat as it wreaks havoc on our bodies. Men who have a lot of belly fat produce estrogen and can begin growing "breasts." Women can increase their estrogen to unsafe levels and breast cancer can be a result. Not only do we have "belly fat" but our organs also expand and "fatten" to unsafe proportions.

One more way the FDA let down the people.

Some of the beginning was abit "technical" and after awhile, I got what I needed and understood what was being explained. The author also had a knack of putting things in "laymen" terms. He also inserted abit of his humor here and there.

The second part of the book was what I enjoyed the most. What to do and how to do it. It was abit disconcerting to see so many things on the list of items containing wheat. Lip stick? Really? Ketchup? Then I thought, okay I could do this, but then he mentions rice (brown and white) as bad and, to me, most of the things we eat.

Bottom line, eat more fruit, nuts cut out the modified wheat, but do not fill in with junk like sodas and other things that are equally unhealthy.

Everytime I learn more about how the food industry is poisoning us, I wonder why there hasn't been a class action lawsuit against them in general for putting all this unnecessary crap in our food? Yes, we should take responsibility for what we put into our tummy's, but poisoning us should not be allowed, either.
(less)

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Apr 06, 2013 Dave Roberts rated it 1 of 5 stars

I've read this book and a number of commentaries on it.

The book is written by a physician, so you tend to trust its assertions of fact, but after a while I became suspicious and starting to look for scientific commentary on the book.

The thesis of the book is that the wheat that is so much a part of our diet today is bad for us, because it has been manipulated and transformed from the original plant that occurred in nature. It has been changed--the "green revolution" is all about wheat plants tha...more

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Apr 04, 2013 Amy M rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5. I found this book pretty interesting, but I do not believe all of it. Yes, there are many footnotes and scientific "facts" and it's written by a cardiologist, but I just find it hard to believe that wheat is the root of all evil. The author does make a pretty compelling argument in the beginning about how today's wheat does not resemble the wheat that was eaten long ago, and I agree that hybridization and GMO have likely changed a lot of the molecular structure of wheat, and thus the nutrit...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Karin rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: health-and-medicine

This claims in this book are anecdotal which doesn't necessarily mean they are not true but it does mean that there is no evidence that the author is proposing anything more reliable than all the other diet authors on the market. I have read 4 books written by medical doctors in the past 6 months that each offer a point of view that will appeal to anyone looking for answers but are not necessarily to be taken at face value. If you Google "wheat belly" from a 'is this credible' perspective you wi...more

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David Fayad Fight the idea...even though it makes tons of sense...you will lose.
Mar 31, 2013 06:28am

Karinpeoplestrategy What is the purpose of your comment?
Mar 31, 2013 07:21am

Lea You either a) did not read book thoroughly or b) lack basic comprehension skills. He explains that studie are often financed through pharmaceutical or...more You either a) did not read book thoroughly or b) lack basic comprehension skills. He explains that studie are often financed through pharmaceutical or other big business, including fed govt, agri business, etc. why would they fund a study that did not result in a drug to fix? Wake up...it's how medicine works. 16 years in healthcare I know it's true.

He also speaks to those of us who do NOT eat crap, but eat healthy and exercise....I run five plus times/ week and have asthma....and despite a 1400 cal/ day diet rich in veggies, fruit, lean protein and whole grains was still gaining weight in my abdominal area...to the tune of 25 lbs. I have been wheat free for 4 weeks and have dropped 20 lbs despite increasing my calories due to nuts/ seeds. I just dug my favorite jeans out of the donation pile and proud to say I am rocking them for the first time in a year. Oh and another thing...despite spring allergy season, haven't used my inhaler at all past two weeks and have a lot more energy. I'll take anecdotal evidence of his 1000's of patients, schizophrenic studies, opiate studies, genetics studies, blood brain barrier evidence and others and am more than willing to offer my self up as yet another....this worked for me when eating well and exercising didn't despite the lack of a formal study.

I also enjoyed how the wheat industry is compared to the tobacco industry in the book. Did we really need the formal study to know that smoking was bad/addictive for most people? There are always exceptions. If you are one of them, good for you, but don't turn off the people who could be helped. There is certainly no harm in trying his approach for 30 days or so, which was my intent, to see if it helped. It helped me and many others. I plan to keep it up.

Kudos to Dr Davis for being the whistle blower and shame on you for trying to pass yourself off as some kind of expert. Medicine is an art not a science and there are still many things we have to learn. What works for one doesn't work for another. You go on and wait for the study. While you are doing that I'll be buying my knew bathing suit and rocking that, too!

Lea(less)
Apr 05, 2013 08:56am

Jan 30, 2013 Nikki rated it 4 of 5 stars

I procrastinated reading this book because I was afraid of what it would say. And sure enough, Davis shows all of the problems with modern wheat. Davis shows how the modern modifications of wheat have adversely changed the structure of wheat--it doesn't even resemble wheat of 100 years ago. Wheat glutens, in particular, have been altered--thus the rise of celiac disease over the last 50 years. He draws links to many diseases and conditions. Wheat creates an inflammatory condition in the body.

My...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Toomy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This books tells the familiar story like new invention (or advancement) --> system (or technology)being abused --> people become the victim. In term of wheat, it helped to start the agricultural revolution. For better yield and other preferred characteristics, wheat is altered genetically drastically. Human evolution can't keep pace with the change of wheat. So is the wheat belly.

The book is an interesting read and seems convincing. I am just not sure wheat is the major culprit to blame. I...more

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Dec 25, 2012 Tiffany Hughes rated it 1 of 5 stars

I had a friend read this and she jumped onto the gluten free bandwagon and had great results so I was looking forward to learning more about the science behind it. This book is motivating but truly only provides over-generalizations, no true research, and just anecdotal evidence. It doesn't delve into other possibilities for obesity but tries to completely blame it on wheat. Guess what folks, a few years ago the fad was to blame corn, before that sugar, trans fats, wheat again (I recall all the...more I had a friend read this and she jumped onto the gluten free bandwagon and had great results so I was looking forward to learning more about the science behind it. This book is motivating but truly only provides over-generalizations, no true research, and just anecdotal evidence. It doesn't delve into other possibilities for obesity but tries to completely blame it on wheat. Guess what folks, a few years ago the fad was to blame corn, before that sugar, trans fats, wheat again (I recall all the episodes of gout and other issues that arose from Atkins). Eliminating any food group from your diet eaten excessively will result in weight loss and an improvement in health in some ways, in most cases you should feel better, have more energy, etc.Tthis book nearly says that everyone has Celiac's disease and suffers from diarrhea, migraines, constipation and bloating haha It doesn't emphasize the importance of exercise and takes more the stance of "Poor you, you try to lose weight and just can't, because you eat wheat." It's more like poor you, you try to lose weight but you continue to shove food in your mouth that you know is bad and not exercise nearly enough. I am guilty! The empathetic strategy doesn't work. It is like an addict who finds a doctor that never discusses the addiction, just listens to the excuses of why she has liver failure, jaundice and dementia and gives the patient a pill. Yes the patient will love the non-accusatory doctor, but will she stop drinking? Hell no, someone is on her side now. Telling me it sucks to be me stuck in my fat body will not make me fix the problem long term, maybe for others it will. I work in a field where 4/5 of my 5-6 year olds are very overweight, so are their parents, yes they eat like crap, they also sit in front of computers, iPads, tvs, and smartphones, which impacts development and their health. The kids i work with understand the words "eat" and "drink" at 2 and 3 years old hands down, you know what words I need to teach them? "Run" "Walk" "Jump" "Bounce." As a society, we need to be more active and enjoying all we can do, teaching the next generation to appreciate life outside of a screen. Any book that minimizes this, to me, is missing the big picture.(less)

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Dec 23, 2012 Andy rated it 2 of 5 stars

I don't know how to square it with the First Amendment, but there ought to be a law that these health/science/diet books have to be reviewed by the FDA or something. I'm not saying they should be censored or banned, but just have some 0-10 quality rating. They are making medical claims and are used like medicines to address health issues, but the average person has no way of telling what is bunk.

Wheat Belly is toward the bunk end. It relies largely on anecdotal evidence (stories about some pati...more

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