William Davis's Blog: Dr. Davis Infinite Health Blog, page 133

The year the dough hit the fan

Here is a thumbnail sketch of recent wheat history.

In 1985, the National Cholesterol Education Panel delivered its Adult Treatment Panel guidelines to Americans, advice to cut cholesterol intake, reduce saturated and total fat, and increase “healthy whole grains.” Congress followed suit with legislation requiring that the USDA provide dietary advice to the American public leading to the food pyramid and plate.

Per capita wheat consumption increased accordingly. Wheat consumption today is 26 lbs per year greater than in 1970 and now totals 133 lbs per person per year, or the equivalent of approximately 200 loaves of bread per year. Because infants and children are lumped together with adults, average adult consumption is likely much greater than 200 lbs per year, or the equivalent of approximately 300 loaves of bread per year. (Nobody, of course, eats 300 loaves of bread per year; tallying up the pretzels, pizza, bagels, focaccia, bruschetta, breading, rolls, etc., it all adds up to approximately 300 loaves-equivalent.)

Another twist: The mid- and late-1980s also marks the widespread adoption by U.S. farmers of the genetically-altered semi-dwarf variants of wheat to replace traditional wheat. (Not “genetically-modified,” but changed via other methods, including chemical and other forms of mutagenesis, the purposeful induction of mutations that is worse than genetic modification, as it introduces dozens to hundreds of changes, rather than the handful introduced by genetic modification.) While in 1980 the loaf of bread–or bagel, pretzel, pizza, bruschetta, ciabatta, or roll–likely came from 4 1/2-foot tall traditional wheat, in 1988 it was almost certainly a product made from high-yield semi-dwarf wheat. No questions were asked about its appropriateness for human consumption, no questions asked about animal safety testing. Just grown, processed, and sold.

And that’s when the dough hit the fan.

The Centers for Disease Control has been tracking the number of people diagnosed with diabetes:

From 1958 until 1985, the number of diabetics nationwide was climbing gradually. Products made with semidwarf wheat were then introduced, compounded with the proliferation of high-fructose corn syrup and a reduction in fat consumption and, after a few year lag that allowed Americans to gain substantial weight, the curve of number of diabetic Americans shifted sharply upward.

Eat more “healthy whole grains” . . . indeed.

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Quit your pushing: A cutting-edge guide to constipation

Here’s an update to an earlier Wheat Belly Blog discussion about constipation.

I really don’t like talking about constipation, since it makes me wonder whether I’m starting down that inevitable decline towards the day when all I want to talk about is having a “good bowel movement.”

But the C word–constipation–continues to come up regularly when people go wheatless and grainless. “Won’t I lack fiber?” many ask. For example, in response to the Wheat Belly Blog post, The Wheat-free “Movement,” Janne posted this comment:

I am very happy on a no-wheat regimen but I wish I knew what I should do to add enough fiber to my diet. I am not quite on the verge of constipation. When I ate lots of whole grains (I haven’t touched refined grains in years), I would have easy daily bowel movements. I am still going daily but it’s not as ‘easy.’ I eat lots of vegetables. What am I doing wrong?

Granted: Wheat products are a convenient source of indigestible fiber. But the idea that you must have whole grains from wheat to obtain sufficient fiber is pure fiction. There are plenty of other foods that are rich in fiber. The “fiber for bowel health and regularity” is really a message that has been hijacked by the grain industry. The original observations and science that demonstrated the benefits of fiber focused on the fibers from vegetables, fruit, non-grain seeds, nuts, and legumes–not the cellulose fiber of grains. The original observations on the health benefits of fiber were made by Dr. Dennis Burkitt in the 1970s while in Africa. He noticed that native Africans, who relied on large intakes of plant matter (but not grains), had voluminous bowel movements, while Europeans had small, rabbit pellet BMs and ate refined flour products. Native Africans had virtually no constipation, hemorrhoids, colon cancer and other intestinal struggles, while these conditions were rampant among Europeans. Such observations were, over time, subverted by the grain industry into their use, promoting bran cereals and other products as sources of fiber. But there is no intrinsic human need for the cellulose fibers from grains, not to mention the huge number of gastrointestinal problems caused by wheat and grains, from acid reflux to ulcerative colitis.

Here are some better ways to regulate regularity in our wheat/grain-free lifestyle with none of the downsides:

1) A probiotic to help your poor wheat/grain-damaged intestine to recover. Wheat and grain consumption changes the bacterial composition of your intestinal tract. Taking a probiotic for a few weeks can provide organisms like lactobacillus and bifidobacterium that help regain normal bacterial populations. Look for probiotics that provide at least 50 billion CFUs (colony forming units, a bacterial count) per day with a dozen or more different species. If there are no gastrointestinal diseases or antibiotics, taking for a finite period, e.g., 8 week, is all you need to do. (People with inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions, such as ulcerative colitis or celiac disease, would be better served by taking a probiotic for longer periods, perhaps years, to allow full healing.)

2) Cultivate beneficial bacterial species with prebiotic fibers/resistant starches–I hate to admit it, but there is actually a beneficial fiber in wheat and grains called arabinoxylan. Remove all grains and you lose the 3-4 gram per day intake of prebiotic fibers like arabinoxylan that nourish bowel flora. But you can easily make up for that loss and more by incorporating sources of prebiotic fibers. We try to obtain 20 grams per day of prebiotic fibers from such sources as raw potatoes, green unripe bananas, small servings of starchy legumes, inulin and fructooligosaccharide powders, as well as some convenient commercial sources. This very powerful strategy for bowel–and overall–health is often neglected, but is very important for long-term health success. Not only does cultivation of bowel flora with prebiotic fibers ensure bowel regularity, it also reduces the likelihood of diverticular disease and colon cancer, while also helping reduce insulin and blood sugar, reduces blood pressure, reduces total and LDL cholesterol values, improves mood and deepens sleep since healthy bowel flora produce a number of neurochemicals.



3) Supplement magnesium–Magnesium provides an osmotic effect that increases stool moisture content. This is why many laxatives contain magnesium, like Milk of Magnesia (magnesium hydroxide). The majority of people are deficient in magnesium anyway, since modern water purification removes all mangesium and modern farming methods fail to mobilize soil magnesium. The form of magnesium to choose depends on what you are trying to achieve. Strictly for purposes of regularity, magnesium citrate, 400 mg twice per day, will provide a modest boost. Those of you desiring better absorption of magnesium and less bowel softening should look for magnesium malate, 1200 mg twice per day (or 180 mg twice per day of “elemental” magnesium, i.e., the weight of magnesium minus the malate).

4) Add more raw nuts and seeds, more nut meals, including the recipes in the Wheat Belly book and here in this blog. It means that even treats like chocolate almond biscotti are rich in fiber.

5) Hydrate–A helpful habit is to drink two 8 ounce glasses of water immediately upon awakening when you are substantially dehydrated from lying supine for 8 or so hours. Do the same several more times per day and be sure that, whenever you urinate, urine is only lightly yellow, almost clear, never dark and concentrated.

If you still feel you must add more fibers beyond prebiotic fibers, then safe non-grain sources low in carbohydrates are flaxseed, chia, and psyllium. These are easy to sprinkle on foods, mix in with your wheat-free baked dishes, mix in with wheat-free granola. They do not have any effect on blood sugar.

So going wheat- and grain-free does not mean a lifetime of pushing and straining, then calling your surgeon to clip the hemorrhoids. For some, it can even mean reversal of incapacitating constipation to new-found regularity. It means intestinal health that is improved because it now avoids the most destructive of diet ingredients, wheat and other closely-related seeds of grasses.

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Blow your HDL through the roof

The HDL cholesterol value is one of the four values on any conventional lipid/cholesterol panel, along with total cholesterol, triglycerides, and calculated LDL cholesterol (what I call “fictitious” LDL because of its incredible inaccuracy when compared to superior measures).

The HDL cholesterol value has some unique characteristics not shared by the others, however, and can serve as an index of overall health. Very high HDL values, for instance, are associated with extreme longevity. Centenarians typically have values of 90 mg/dl or higher. Higher HDLs are also associated with less risk for diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and dementia. Conversely, low values for HDL cholesterol can suggest that some bad things are going on in health.

When I was in my 30s, I made the mistake of eating an ultra low-fat vegetarian diet. I only ate vegetables, fruit, low-fat dairy products, and whole grains, while avoiding all meats, fats and oils. After several months of my vegetarian lifestyle, my cholesterol panel showed an HDL of 27 mg/dl and triglycerides of 350 mg/dl, while my blood sugars were in the diabetic range (161 mg/dl fasting–very high).  As I came to understand diet and converted to a high-fat diet minus all grains and added sugars, my HDL increased to 94 mg/dl, triglycerides dropped to 47 mg/dl. (NMR lipoprotein analysis also showed zero small LDL particles, something I did not assess 25 years ago when I had the awful HDL/triglycerides, but small LDL back then was likely sky-high). I take no medication to improve these values, but use only the strategies I’ll discuss.

While HDL values are under genetic influence (e.g., CETP variants, Apo C3, others), there is plenty you can do to raise it. While it is not entirely clear whether it is HDL particles themselves that are responsible for longevity and protection from disease or whether they are simply associated with some other factor(s) that are responsible for the benefits, you can still view HDL as a gauge of the quality of your lifestyle. The same strategies also increase HDL size and number of HDL particles, yielding HDL particles that are more protective and provide, for example, better anti-oxidative protection.

A dramatic rise in HDL values is common following the Wheat Belly wheat/grain-free lifestyle. However, note that recent weight loss causes an initial drop in HDL, sometimes dramatic, that “rebounds” over time. HDL can also respond slowly. A typical response, for example, for a 240 pound man who starts with an HDL value of 35 mg/dl would be a drop to 27 mg/dl while losing 40 pounds, rebounding to 40 mg/dl 3 months after weight loss has ceased, then 63 mg/dl 1-2 years later. So time and patience is key.

During my busy cardiology practice days, I consulted in an area called “complex hyperlipidemias,” i.e., complicated lipoprotein and cholesterol abnormalities. Among the conditions I managed was something called hypoalphalipoproteinemia, a group of conditions associated with really low HDL values, e.g., 25 mg/dl. People who are overweight or have diabetes or pre-diabetes (metabolic syndrome) also commonly have low HDL values typically ranging 25-40 mg/dl. Following the strategies used below, I witnessed such powerful rises in HDL in these and other people that I abandoned the use of conventional treatments, such as niacin and fibrates (gemfibrozil, fenofibrate) used to raise it. HDL values of 60 mg/dl or higher were achieved with ease–no drugs required. Because the effect of the strategies below is so powerful, I no longer recommend any nutritional supplements to raise HDL, either, beyond those in this list.

Among the strategies that help raise HDL and thereby potentially protect you from multiple chronic health conditions, or at least provide a gauge of improved overall health, are:

Wheat and grain elimination–HDL is reduced by wheat and grain consumption, especially if gliadin, gliadin-derived peptides, wheat germ agglutinin, and other proteins trigger inflammation–exceptionally common. In addition, the amylopectin A of wheat and grains fuels high triglyceride levels in the bloodstream (via the process of liver de novo lipogenesis, the same process that causes fatty liver) that results in more rapid clearance of HDL particles, reducing the HDL value. Remove wheat and grains and watch HDL go up over time.
Limit carbohydrates–Just like grain amylopectins, sugars reduce HDL by the same triglyceride mechanism. Adding no sugars, avoiding sugar drinks and foods, while limiting carbohydrates, as we do in the Wheat Belly lifestyle, allows HDL to rise. Banishing the excessive consumption of fructose, as in high-fructose corn syrup, also helps raise HDL. We limit carbs in this lifestyle to 15 grams net carbs (total carbs – fiber) per meal or your individual carb prescription obtained by checking fingerstick blood sugars aiming for no change pre-meal compared to 30-60 minute post-meal peak.
Fish oil supplementation–As a source of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. The omega-3 fatty acids reduce triglycerides (fasting and after-meal), thereby making them less likely to contribute to accelerated HDL clearance. This effect is maximized with an EPA + DHA intake of 3000-3600 mg per day (divided into two doses).
Don’t restrict saturated fat–Eating fatty cuts of meat, not trimming off the fat, eating more eggs with the yolks, using more butter, and adding coconut oil and other healthy oils all raise HDL.
Vitamin D–Vitamin D can contribute to substantial rise in HDL, though it is a slow process. I use the blood test for 25-hydroxy vitamin D to gauge dosage needs, but most adults need 4000 to 8000 units per day in gelcap form (never tablets) to achieve a 25-hydroxy vitamin D level of 60-70 ng/ml.

There are some other strategies that make smaller contributions to HDL rises, such as modest alcohol consumption (e.g., dry red wine) and exercise.

Be aware that substantial emotional or physical stress can work against you by reducing HDL values, as can many common drugs (e.g., Lipitor, beta blockers like metoprolol and atenolol, diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide). But, given the above strategies, combined with the tincture of time, you can watch this wonderful index of overall health called HDL climb higher and higher.

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Fat Fest

One of the most common mistakes people make when starting out on the Wheat Belly lifestyle is to remain fearful of fats. They continue to hold onto old misconceptions such as “fats raise cholesterol,” or “fat causes heart disease,” or “fats are calorie-dense and therefore make you fat.” None of this is true, no more true than “healthy whole grains” are a key to overall health. (The rationale dashing all these misconceptions is discussed in detail in Wheat Belly Total Health.)

This accounts for why some people, even after removing the gliadin-derived opiates that come from wheat and related grains, continue to experience hunger or cravings—it’s due to not taking in enough fats. The solution: get more fats and oils.

We avoid oils sourced from grains, of course, especially corn oil, since there will be corn protein residues that can mimic some of the effects of wheat gliadin, not to mention modern humans are so miserably overloaded with the omega-6 fraction/linoleic acid of oils (though linoleic acid is one of the essential fatty acids–avoiding it entirely is fatal, but you can get plenty from meats, nuts, and non-grain seeds).  We avoid mixed vegetable oils, soybean oil (like corn, it can have protein residues, although the fatty acid composition is not that bad), canola (increasingly related to health problems, such as hypertension, possibly due to the high trans fatty acid content created by the high-temperature process used to remove the erucic acid toxin), grapeseed oil (high omega-6).

Here are some strategies that can help add back the healthy fats you may be lacking:

Buy fatty cuts of meat–Ribeye steak, for example, over sirloin tip or round cuts. T-bone and skirt steak are moderately fatty. When buying ground meat, don’t buy the lean (e.g., 90% or 95% lean); buy the fattiest you can find (70% lean). (Make the fat even healthier by buying organic, non-factory farmed meats.)
Don’t trim the fat off your meat–Eat it! Some people, especially the ladies, will say “Yechhh! The fat is gross!” Just imagine what your grandma would say if you made such a declaration in her presence: You’d earn a rap on the ear for it. Everyone prior to the last 50 years ate the fat and enjoyed it–modern aversion to meat fats, as with organ meats, is a recent mistake. Just like eating Doritos, tarted up in a laboratory to intensify addictive flavors, not eating fat is a perversion of human behavior.
Save the fats/oils from cooking meat–If you prepare bacon or other meats, save the oils and store in a jar in the refrigerator to use for cooking. You will appreciate the deeper flavors they provide over, say, something bland and awful like corn oil. You can also purchase lard and tallow, but be sure they have not been hydrogenated.
Use more butter–Dairy products are not without their own set of problems. But the problems originate with the proteins (casein beta A1, whey, others) and sugars (lactose mostly), as well as hormone content and antibiotic residues. Contrary to popular opinion, this makes butter (and ghee) among the least problematic forms of dairy, as it is mostly fat. Yes: fat is the healthiest component of dairy, despite the silly preoccupation with low-fat and non-fat dairy products.
Use more coconut oil–Coconut oil is a staple around here. I use coconut oil in my cooking, baking, make Fat Blasters/Fat Bombs out of them (recipes in Wheat Belly Total Health; I shall also post some here in the Wheat Belly Blog in coming weeks), even use it as a skin and hair moisturizer (just rub it on). You can even make chocolate enriched with coconut oil with my Chocolate for Adults Only recipe. Look for organic and cold-pressed and be careful of refined (often involving organic compounds for purification, among other issues); I’ve found good choices at Costco and Trader Joes. Tropical Traditions is another excellent brand.
Pour oils over foods–T0p off your Wheat Belly Pizza with additional extra-virgin olive oil. Use more butter, bacon grease, lard, tallow, or coconut oil with your fried or scrambled eggs. Add some melted coconut oil to your (low-carb) smoothie. Most Wheat Belly recipes can readily accommodate increased oils.
Eat more avocados–With around 30 grams of fat in an average-sized avocado, you can get a nice wallop just by eating one . . . or two. Avocados added to your smoothie will thicken it substantially while providing a healthy dose of fat.

Getting sufficient fat in your diet is satiating, cuts off cravings and eliminates impulsive eating behavior, accelerates weight loss from visceral fat, helps reduce blood sugar and triglycerides, raises HDL, helps get rid of small LDL particles that lead to heart disease (not cholesterol, part of the semi-fiction of the lipid-heart hypothesis), subdues the after-meal (postprandial) flood of lipoproteins into the bloodstream, helps reverse fatty liver, and is part of the overall strategy to maintain brain health.

So go on: Go and have yourself a fat fest.

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Another early Wheat Belly experience

I previously shared the story about the experience of one woman who obtained complete relief from the abdominal pain, diarrhea, and hemorrhage from her ulcerative colitis by eliminating all wheat from her diet, all undertaken just as she was advised to undergo colectomy and creation of an ileostomy. But it was the dismissal of her experience by a gastroenterologist that got me so upset that I wrote Wheat Belly. “It’s just a coincidence. Go back to what you were doing.”

There was another episode that occurred early in the Wheat Belly experience that also provided some important early lessons. This time it was a 52-year old businessman. I met him with early coronary disease that leads, over time, to risk for heart attack. I therefore assessed his lipoproteins via NMR and saw the usual abnormalities of low HDL, highish triglycerides, and an excess of small LDL particles, along with marked deficiency of vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, a pre-diabetic HbA1c, and mild hypothyroidism. I advised him on how to correct all these factors that lead to heart disease including, of course, elimination of all wheat and grains to reduce or eliminate small LDL particles and reduce HbA1c (blood sugars).

But this man also had a disfiguring case of rheumatoid arthritis, clearly visible in his contracted, gnarled hands (similar to the example in the photo, though his were worse). Despite being on three drugs, including a monthly injection that was very costly, he still dealt with constant joint pain that had recently worsened to involve his knees as well as hands.

After beginning this process, he returned 6 months later. He was feeling good, had lost a modest quantity of weight, and corrected his metabolic abnormalities—but also reported a reduction in joint pain. He continued this for another 6 months, continuing to obtain progressive, though slow, relief from joint pain. He stopped one drug for his rheumatoid arthritis; he stopped a second drug. He returned to my office to show me near-complete flexibility restored, with very little discomfort remaining, now just on one drug.

But then he reported to me that he had taken a vacation to Germany. “My one and only trip to Germany in my lifetime. I was going to have some damn pumpernickel!” He did, but then reported that the pain and disfigurement in his hands returned within hours. Upon returning to the U.S., his rheumatologist had him resume all three drugs, once again only partially effective in reducing the inflammation and pain. It required another 6 months for the process to reverse back to the point he had experienced pre-pumpernickel.

This was one of most dramatic re-exposure reactions that I have seen, but this man’s story highlights how awful even a single “indulgence” can be. Some people have bloating and diarrhea for a few hours, then return to normal otherwise unscathed. Others have migraine headaches, skin rashes, or emotional effects such as depression or anger that lasts for several days to weeks. Some people have such extravagant re-triggering of appetite that I call it the “I ate one cookie and gained 30 pounds” effect. Then others, like this man with an autoimmune form of joint inflammation, experience months of recurrent joint pain and inflammation. I have since witnessed the exaggerated misery of recurrent autoimmune conditions with wheat/grain re-exposure in other people with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions that had initially responded to this lifestyle.

Newcomers to the Wheat Belly lifestyle often view our advice to make the break with wheat and grains 100%, not partial, and to avoid re-exposures as extreme. But it is because we recognize the power of even a small exposure to wreak havoc over multiple facets of health, including 6 months of joint pain with a few bites of pumpernickel.

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The extraordinary power of the Wheat Belly lifestyle

Janet shared her experience in reversing the phenomena of rheumatoid arthritis by following the Wheat Belly lifestyle, including regaining her vision:

“I started dieting and working out in January. My Wheat Belly journey began in February.

“Three years ago, I went for my annual physical and everything seemed fine until I mentioned that I could no longer see in the dark with one eye. From that moment on my life changed. I was told this had to do with the rods and cones in the back of the eye and is indicative of an autoimmune disease. This started all the testing and the diagnosis was rheumatoid arthritis. It would be two years before my hands swelled and my joints started to hurt a great deal. I thought maybe I could live with it until I started to feel it in my knees and ankles and had trouble with the stairs. I was told to lose weight for the sake of my joints.

“A friend told me to read Wheat Belly and, since then, I am down 31 pounds. I no longer have joint pain or swelling and I’ve never been on rheumatoid arthritis meds. I stopped taking all my asthma and allergy meds and somehow I am no longer allergic to dogs or cats. I can visit friends with pets now. My acid reflux is gone and I sleep all night (what a relief). I have so much energy that I walk five miles in the morning and five miles after work.

“The most amazing thing, however, is that as of this week, my night blindness is gone. How is this even possible? I am still reading and learning and will delve into the gut next. It’s not easy for me as I am a picky eater, but I force myself to try something new each week. Thank you for changing and maybe even saving my life. I’m 53 and I feel better than ever.”

Better sleep, relief from common allergies, weight loss . . . and reversal of organ damage to the joints and eyes–how spectacular is that?

I shudder to think what might have become of Janet had she not discovered the power of eliminating this common trigger of increased intestinal permeability and misguided immune responses in the form of an innocent looking loaf of bread or bagel. It’s not cutting carbs that achieves these sorts of health transformations. It’s not cutting calories or reducing portion sizes. It’s certainly not cutting fats. Changes like this come from removing the initial trigger of a disordered immune response: wheat and closely related seeds of grasses.

Autoimmunity can come and go if the factors that allow it are permitted to continue. Janet has already had a wonderful response just to elimination of wheat and grains. She can put further distance between her health and autoimmune processes by correcting issues such as vitamin D deficiency, omega-3 fatty acid deficiency, and cultivating healthy bowel flora, as discussed in this Wheat Belly Blog post and in an entire chapter in Wheat Belly Total Health. Because she responded so powerfully to just elimination of wheat and grains, she has a terrific chance of maintaining freedom from her health problems for a lifetime.

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Ann’s stunning Wheat Belly update

I’ve posted Ann’s wonderful Wheat Belly journey previously, detailing her relief from rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the phenomena of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), migraine headaches, chronic hives, asthma, and other conditions, as well as her success in losing a large amount of weight over several months.

Well, Ann is back with another update:

“I wanted to update you with my progress. Today it has been 10 months since I began this journey. I lost another 6 1/2 inches this month and have now lost a total of 125 lbs.

“I feel incredible. I am a new person. Without your books, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Doesn’t she look spectacular? Ann has truly undergone a life-changing transformation. In her communications with me, I also feel a new hopefulness that was most definitely not present just 10 months earlier. Note that Ann has not been counting calories, limiting portion sizes, or engaging in extreme exercise. And, although she has indeed been limiting carbohydrates, when would a low-carb diet alone achieve relief from an autoimmune condition like rheumatoid arthritis, the endocrine disruptions of PCOS, or the misery of migraine headaches? Low-carb is not the defining, crucial factor here–it’s the elimination of wheat and grains.

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Dr. Steven’s spectacular Wheat Belly success

Chiropractor Dr. Steven Chang provided this update after one year on the Wheat Belly lifestyle:

“Almost one year grain free Dr. Davis! 125 pounds down so far, and loving life.”

Back in March, 2015, Dr. Steven said:

“I have been grain-free for 10 months now, and only began working out January 2015. It’s amazing what a simple diet change can do to transform your entire life. I’m getting stronger, faster, leaner, and healthier every single day. I hope my picture can inspire others to give up grains and completely change their bodies/health.

“A year ago, I had high blood pressure, pre-diabetes/insulin resistance, many skin problems, painful knees/ankles, plantar fasciitis, and no energy. Ten months later, I feel absolutely flippin’ fantastic and all the problems above are gone! I’m 35 and now in the best shape of my life.”

Dr. Steven now has the insight–and the personal success story–that he can share with thousands of people as a healthcare practitioner. By eliminating this common and ubiquitous collection of dietary toxins in the form of wheat and grains, he has avoided prescription drugs for high blood pressure, diabetes, joint pain and inflammation. He has side-stepped the misery that joint inflammation and diabetes can provide while becoming more energetic and looking terrific. He has added many years to his life by not being pre-diabetic/diabetic. As more and more healthcare practitioners come to appreciate the power of this lifestyle, think what this will do for the health of the public, not to mention healthcare costs.

Regaining health is not just about counting calories or “everything in moderation,” or exercising more, or taking handfuls of nutritional supplements. Genuine health begins with eliminating the factors that destroy health–yes, the “foods” that all health authorities agree should dominate your diet: wheat and grains.

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Kerry’s one-year Wheat Belly success

Kerry shared her wonderful 12-month results following the Wheat Belly lifestyle:

“The first photo was taken 12 months ago, the second was taken today. I decided to go gluten-free/paleo at the end of January, 2015 without much change. I discovered Wheat Belly end of March, 2015 and this is the result. Down 13 kg (nearly 29 lbs) and off all medications. Still have a way to go with my weight but I’m happy.

“I stopped statins, reflux, and osteoporosis meds. I have my doctor on my side– unusual here in Australia. My cholesterol was a bit high, but when I told her that I had given up wheat and grains, she agreed to let me persevere and we will re-check in 3 months. The major difficulty has been going off the reflux med. I had been on it for 9 years. Now after being on Wheat Belly, I can now say I am healed.

“I have had psoriasis since my early 20’s (a long time ago). I am noticing that I am using my cortisone based creams less now than before. I’m finding that a moisturiser on my skin is enough. It is winter here in Australia and generally my psoriasis gets worse but not this year.

Thinner, freed of acid reflux, on her way to not having to deal with psoriasis, following a lifestyle that raises HDL, reduces triglycerides, and reduces or eliminates the expression of small LDL particles that lead to heart disease, while getting off prescription medications that pack plenty of downside with their modest benefits–all because she has rejected the food that Australian “authorities” say every person should eat every day, every meal: wheat and grains.

By doing so, Kerry is reverting back to the health and weight that she was supposed to enjoy all along, ridding her body of the metabolic distortions, diseases, and excess weight that are dismissed as the “diseases of civilization,” but really in large part nothing more than the long-term consequences of consuming the seeds of grasses–“grains”–that were never meant for human consumption. Now, if she can educate her doctor that “high cholesterol” is not a cause for coronary disease . . .

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Joint pain, edema, acid reflux, skin rashes: All part of the inflammation from grains

Aibreanne shared her Wheat Belly experience and photos, since she has experienced some pretty impressive relief from inflammatory health problems:

After following a friend’s astounding transformation while following Wheat Belly, I decided to try it for myself. The photo with me in the Kilkenny colors [left] is from September, 2014. I’ve had to wean myself off Protonix and Zantac. I’ve had some fits and starts and some major cheating episodes–grains are drugs, I’m addicted, I eat, I suffer, I clean up. I’m trying to reduce and eventually rid myself of sugar but my current work schedule makes it a bit tough. Some days all I have to eat is coffee with cream and sugar! But for the first time in my whole life I can finally comfortably fit into a size 14

“The second photo is from this Sunday past, 14 June, 2015. I have a collarbone (!), my knees don’t ache, my edema in my legs even after a full 14-hour workday are gone, and I have energy to spare. So far I am down 30 lbs, but the loss of inflammation is the biggest, most noticeable change. I’m not in a rush to lose a bunch more weight too quickly but am enjoying the slow and steady pace. That and I love potatoes, haha.

Aibreanne now understands that wheat and grains are essentially mind-active drugs that impair judgement, impulse, and amplify appetite. She also understands that, because of their content of indigestible or partially-digestible proteins, they exert potent inflammatory effects that manifest as joint pain, acid reflux, or edema.

Clearly, she is still young–imagine what would have happened to Aibreanne had she not discovered the Wheat Belly lifestyle and experienced another 10 or 20 years of pain and deteriorating health, succumbing to medical procedures, drug after drug to treat the consequences of wheat and grain consumption–makes you shudder just thinking about it. But that is the status quo in health: a lifetime of being given destructive dietary advice that causes so many health conditions.

But now you know! Eat no wheat or grains and take back control over health and weight.

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