William Davis's Blog: Dr. Davis Infinite Health Blog, page 147

Stacey’s huge Wheat Belly success

Stacey shared this striking “before” and “after” comparison after losing 91 pounds living the Wheat Belly lifestyle.

“I would like to say what an inspiration you are and thank you so much for writing your book, Wheat Belly. It has changed my life for the better.

“I now feel happy and positive about my future and it’s all because of you and your book. I have lost 6 and a half stone [91 pounds] all from eliminating wheat and participating in regular exercise.”

So Stacey combined the Wheat Belly lifestyle with exercise, though this is not a requirement to lose weight. (Exercise is helpful for overall health, but is actually not that helpful for weight in the majority.) Nonetheless, Stacey has had a huge health success by rejecting the advice of agribusiness, Big Food, and their unwitting minions, AKA dietitians and doctors. Can we overstate how big a health and weight change she achieved? I don’t think so.

By losing that much weight, she has spared herself a future of knee and hip arthritis/pain/joint replacement, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, with much reduced potential for cancer and heart disease. She is living life it was supposed to be lived with NO SEEDS OF GRASSES in her diet.

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Amy was skeptical . . . but look at her now!

Amy shared her photos after a year on the Wheat Belly lifestyle. Just look at the breathtaking change!

“Thank you Dr.Davis for changing my life! One year ago I gave Wheat Belly a try thinking it would never work. I went along with it with a friend, thinking we would last two weeks.

“One year later, no cheat days, I’m a lifer!”

Unlike a “diet,” this shift in food choices that restores health is easy to adhere to because we do something very special: we remove the addictive, appetite-stimulating effects of gliadin-derived opiates. These are the wheat-derived peptides that cause mind “fog,” cause paranoia in schizophrenics, mania in people with bipolar illness, behavioral outbursts and reduce attention span in kids with ADHD and autistic spectrum disorder, and responsible for food obsessions in people with bulimia and binge eating disorder. Even if you don’t have any of these conditions, gliadin protein-derived opiates stimulate calorie intake of around 400 more calories per day, often much more.

Remove this powerful appetite stimulant, and adhering to this lifestyle is effortless.

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Valerie’s stunning Wheat Belly transformation

Valerie shared her “before” and “after” photos and story with us:

“I lost 100 pounds over 3 years. 5 years ago I could only walk on a treadmill for about 20 minutes. Now grain free, I do Crossfit 4 mornings a week.

“I’m happier and healthier than ever!”

Valerie did this, of course, without cutting calories or fat, without the emotional turmoil of 3 months in a painful Biggest Loser-type experience. She also caused inflammation to recede and regained joint health by removing the potent inflammatory effects of wheat and grains that had essentially incapacitated her.

The truth is plain and simple: the USDA food plate/food pyramid, the advice of the various agencies dispensing dietary advice cause inflammation, diabetes, obesity, joint pain and disability, autoimmune diseases, and dementia. These are man-made epidemics, not created through gluttony and laziness, but by the awful misguided interpretation of “science” passed off as nutrition.

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Dr. Mary Beth Dearmon describes her Wheat Belly experience . . . in private practice!

A physician shared the experiences she has witnessed in the first few months of using the Wheat Belly wheat/grain-free lifestyle in her Internal Medicine practice. In addition to her personal health and weight loss success–that’s Dr. Mary Beth’s “before” and “after” photos, above!–she watches as people make this switch in diet and make impressive improvements in health.

I have been in private practice for 5 months now, and results with my patients have been absolutely mind-boggling. I’ve been able to pull diabetics off their insulin as well as patients on statins and anti-hypertensives for years off these medications. Some patients balk, but most are grateful for the unvarnished truth and the amazing results. The best medicine I have EVER prescribed is a wheat-free lifestyle! The side effects are life-saving. You taught me what I was (sadly) not taught in medical school and residency — and it has revolutionized my career and practice.

I have learned that eliminating wheat (not to mention grains) and sugar is the cure for Type II diabetes. Hemoglobin A1c (a measure of blood glucose over the past three months) drops dramatically, even after only 3 months on this diet. I tell my diabetics that, if I am to assume and continue their care, I EXPECT them to (at least) eliminate wheat from their life.

In addition, removing wheat and (even better!) all grains has a powerful effect on the cholesterol profile. I regularly run a VAP [Vertical Auto Profile from the lab, Atherotech] on my patients for routine lipid screening. This test provides so much more information than the standard cholesterol panel by telling us the size of a patient’s LDL particles — small dense LDL particles are more dangerous than large buoyant ones. Interestingly enough, the overweight and diabetic most often have the more dangerous small LDL particles (pattern B). I have seen patients’ predominant LDL particle size switch from B (small dense) to A (large buoyant) with only three months of grain-free living.

I have had a few surprises, as well, in applying this lifestyle to my patient care. It is effective for treating erectile dysfunction, as reported by one of my patients who was ecstatic upon returning to the office for his follow-up (20 pounds lighter). Also, I have seen patients with resolution of liver enzyme elevations, especially those with fatty liver (the #1 cause of cirrhosis in the U.S. and also a fairly common condition in the obese and diabetics).

Prescribing a wheat-free lifestyle has allowed me to pull diabetics off their insulin, and, indeed, all glucose-lowering medication. It has allowed me to avoid prescribing statins many times over the past several months, a class of medications which are far less benign than commonly represented by drug companies and even professional medical organizations.

I try to emphasize to my patients that prevention is truly key. Also, every medication has side-effects. Only by removing grains to simulate the diet of our ancient ancestors can we achieve the best health possible, for both treatment and prevention of disease. I have found it challenging to initially sell patients on a grain-free diet (as opposed to merely wheat-free diet), but, once they see the benefits of removing wheat, convincing them to discontinue other grains is far less difficult. It is my hope and prayer that, someday soon, American medical schools will wake up and see the light — that we truly are what we eat — and will teach that a grain-free lifestyle is truly the cornerstone of health.

What a breath of fresh air–and from the experience and insight from a physician in practice! Dr. Dearmon clearly understands that the charge of a physician is to heal, not to just prescribe drugs, order procedures, and pad the revenues of their healthcare system. She has witnessed the astounding healing power of wheat/grain elimination in her patients. Hopefully, her colleagues will take notice and be reminded that healthcare should be about health, not disease, and that the path back to health is the opposite of what the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the USDA have told us.

Dr. Dearmon practices Internal Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama in the University of Alabama-Birmingham Medical West clinics.

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Lose the grains, lose the INFLAMMATION

Here is Bonnie’s Wheat Belly experience after nearly one year. Weight loss, yes, but it’s inflammation that has receded to allow reduced aches and pains and smoother skin.

“Started Wheat Belly March, 2014…never going back. More energy, less aches and pains, clearer skin, lost 17 lbs. Love my new life. Thank you, Dr. Davis! This is my ‘before’ picture, at my heaviest.”

“This is ‘after.’ LIFE IS GOOD!”

Thankfully, Bonnie engaged the Wheat Belly wheat- and grain-free lifestyle before it resulted conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, coronary disease, diabetes, colon cancer, and dementia–the common diseases caused by wheat and grains.

Do you sense that a new world is possible, one devoid of all “healthy whole grains,” minus the oppressive profiteering of Big Pharma delivered through their unwitting servants AKA “doctors,” free of the revenue-sucking practices of your local healthcare system? Yes, indeed: once you understand the REAL rules, life is indeed good.

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Titania’s 4-month Wheat Belly experience

Titania posted a sequence of photos chronicling her 4 months living the Wheat Belly wheat- and grain-free lifestyle.

“I started Wheat Belly on 9/24/2014. I started at 192 lbs. I’m now at 157 lbs. I have loss 35 lbs to date.

“I still have 17 lbs to reach my goal, but I’m glad that I made this change in my life. I feel so much better. Thank you, Wheat Belly, for making my goal possible.”

Everyone following the Wheat Belly lifestyle understands that we do not count calories, advocate extreme exercise, pushing the plate away, etc. By eliminating wheat and related seeds of grasses, we eliminate gliadin-derived opiates that stimulate appetite; wheat germ agglutinin that blocks the effects of leptin, the hormone of satiety; and the hyperglycemic/hypoglycemic swings that create 2-hour cycles of hunger.

Not only does someone like Titania obtain the slender figure she really wants, she is also far less likely to require prescription medications for hypertension, “high cholesterol,” acid reflux, bowel urgency, join pain and inflammation, depression, and many other conditions. Yes: Wheat Belly can be used as a weight loss program, but it SO much more than that.

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Jennifer’s 10-day results with the Wheat Belly lifestyle

This is Jennifer’s result with just 10 days on the Wheat Belly wheat- and grain-free lifestyle. On the right is “before,” on the left is “after.”

Jennifer originally began this lifestyle because she wanted to lose the weight, but also hoped to undo many of the phenomena associated with her polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOS.

Jennifer: “I completed my day 10 of going grain-free and honestly can say that I’ve never felt so alive and clean. I’ve lost weight before, but never felt this good!

“I wanted to share a pic because I know the other pics that I’ve seen on this site motivated me, so hoping mine will do the same! Thank you for saving my life!”

Along with the rapid loss of visceral fat, visible as the marked reduction in waist girth, Jennifer should also see hormonal distortions trending back to normal (including a reduction in androgens, i.e., male hormones), as well as a reduction in blood sugar and blood pressure. She cannot change the fact that she is genetically prone to PCOS, but she has profound control over its expression–by following the lifestyle contrary to all conventional notions of healthy eating!

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Remember: Cultivate healthy bowel flora!

CB chimed in on the Wheat Belly Facebook page with this interesting observation after taking efforts to cultivate healthy bowel flora:

“Added green bananas and raw potatoes to my fare: cannot believe how much better I am sleeping and dreaming! I was not getting enough sleep this last year. Now, every night, technicolour vibrancy and fully under.

“I also notice my running has improved, as my joints feel looser and don’t hurt afterwards as they normally do, and I do not tire as easily.

“I was skeptical about the whole resistant starch thing, especially as I was complacent with my food habits after 3 years on Wheat Belly. I suppose this means old dogs CAN learn new tricks by keeping an open mind and giving things a try. Thanks once again, Dr. D.!”

CB’s observation highlights how bowel flora affect emotional and mental health in important ways. Not only cam sleep become deeper and be filled with vivid dreams (reflecting deeper, more extended REM? enhanced endogenous pineal melatonin?), but depression can lift, anxiety can be reduced. It’s not entirely clear how healthy bowel flora exert this effect (via butyrate, as with other metabolic parameters?), but it reflects the profound influence healthy bowel flora species have on the human brain.

The pro- and prebiotic approach to cultivating bowel flora is discussed in this Wheat Belly Blog post, as well as an extended conversation in Wheat Belly Total Health. Also bear in mind that we try to cultivate bowel flora species diversity. In every instance when healthier populations are compared to less healthy populations–non-daibetics vs. diabetics, slender vs. obese, no autoimmunity vs. autoimmune disease, primitive culture vs. modern culture–diversity of bacterial species is a consistent characteristic among the healthier population. There is therefore benefit to varying your prebiotic fiber/resistant starch routine, and not doing the same thing day in, day out. More about this to come in future.

The relief from joint stiffness that CB experienced also suggests positive changes in joint health and further reduction in inflammation. Disrupted bowel flora can trigger autoimmunity and inflammation on their own, even after grains have been removed from the diet. This effect, along with metabolic benefits that include reduced insulin, reduced blood sugar, reduced blood pressure, and reduced triglycerides, is likely at least partially from bacterial metabolism of resistant fibers to the fatty acid, butyrate. Butyrate also exerts important effects on nourishing intestinal tissue and promoting healing (of cellular tight junctions).

Like CB did, everyone needs to purposefully cultivate healthy bowel flora, as we all start with bowel flora disrupted by many factors in modern life: intermittent antibiotics, wheat and grains, sugars, antibiotic residues in meat, chlorinated and fluoridated municipal water, Bt toxin and glyphosate-containing corn,and others. By “seeding” the intestinal tract with a high-potency probiotic, then nourishing bowel flora with prebiotic fibers/resistant starches, it’s your best chance to regain something close to healthy bowel flora over several months of effort.

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Wheat Belly: NOT just weight loss

A lichen planus rash, from Wikipedia

Catherine shared this wonderful story of wheat- and grain-free success on the Wheat Belly Facebook page. Her comments are such a wonderful and concise summary of what can happen beyond weight loss that I share it here.

“Thank you, Dr. Davis, for changing my life. Having your Facebook page available is so helpful and gives me a chance to communicate with people who are living my new lifestyle.

“After 44 years of marriage, I became a widow five years ago. I have pretty much been in the doldrums ever since. Eating the Wheat Belly way has changed everything for me.

“I am starting day 10. I have lost 5 pounds and 2 1/2 inches off my waist. I feel like a New England Patriots’ Football that has been deflated. But, best of all, I feel real good and my mood is very happy. I haven’t had diarrhea since I started the plan and my autoimmune skin disease, lichen planus, has totally disappeared for the first time in about 15 years.

“At this point, I see no reason why I will ever got back to eating wheat and grains.”

You can understand why I bristle at criticisms of this lifestyle such as “It’s just cutting calories,” or “Wheat Belly is just a new twist on low-carb.” No: Wheat Belly is an indictment of the health havoc caused by wheat and other grains. It is also a celebration of all the wonderful changes in emotional and physical health that develop when you remove them. Catherine is not only on her way to fitting back into a size 4 dress, but has been freed of the depression that lingered so long after losing her husband. She is losing inflammatory visceral fat, as reflected in the outsized loss of waist size. She has been freed from bowel inflammation and the embarrassment and inconvenience of diarrhea. She has been cured of the autoimmune skin condition she had, the disfiguring lichen planus.

This is why I remind everybody over and over: Wheat Belly is not a “diet”–it is a lifestyle that helps restore health in so many varied ways.

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Denny’s Wheat Belly “before” and “after”

Denny shared his 3-month experience living the Wheat Belly wheat- and grain-free lifestyle.

Denny:

“The picture on top is during my 50th class reunion held last June, 2014. I started following the Wheat Belly way October, 2014. The second picture was taken at my birthday celebration in January this year, approximately 3 months after starting the program.

“As you can see clearly for yourself, my face is no longer as round as a basketball, I’ve lost 20 pounds, my complexion has improved, and my smile says the rest. I no longer suffer from heartburn or reflux, my blood glucose readings have lowered to near normal levels, and I have energy to burn.

“Who would have thunk it huh?”

Denny’s smile does indeed tell the story: Denny got rid of his acid reflux while reducing blood sugar and, as his photos reflect, lost skin inflammation that likely reflected body-wide inflammation–no drugs required, no calorie or “point” counting, no extreme exercise, no pushing the plate away, etc. Just ridding his life of the inflammatory, appetite-stimulating, blood sugar-raising effects of wheat and grains, the foods that we are all told should dominate our diet.

Make no mistake: Wheat and grains increase appetite, trigger inflammation, raise blood sugar to diabetic levels, and are THE major cause of hundreds of modern chronic diseases that profit the drug and healthcare industry. Have nothing to do with them and you have taken back enormous control over your health.

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