Here’s a recent TV interview for local Milwaukee TV.
The local reporter interviews a nutritionist at the Medical College of Wisconsin, who brilliantly defends the “healthy whole grain” dictum. (Just kidding; she barely knew what she was talking about.)
The inevitable Dr. Glenn Gaesser of the Grain Foods Foundation makes a brief phone appearance, as well, defending Frankengrain by pointing out that it is not “genetically-modified” and people who eat wheat are more slender. (It’s always good to throw in a bit of comedy with the serious stuff!)
Followers of this conversation already know that:
1) Modern high-yield, semi-dwarf wheat created by geneticists in the 1970s has indeed NOT been genetically-modified, applying the terminology of geneticists. In other words, gene splicing techniques have not been used to insert or delete genes in any commercially available wheat strain today. (It is done quite actively in research, however.) Instead, the techniques used to generate the 25,000 current strains of wheat were less precise, less predictable, less controlled than genetic modification, involving techniques like repetitive hybridization, crossing dissimilar strains, backcrossing, embryo “rescue,” and chemical and gamma ray and x-ray mutagenesis (induction of mutations). In short, the techniques used to generate modern wheat were far WORSE than the relatively controlled methods of genetic modification. So Dr. Gaesser uses this semantic sleight-of-hand to throw off the uninformed public. (Is this the best the Wheat Lobby can do?)
2) People who consume whole grains are indeed more slender and healthier . . . compared to people who consume processed white flour products. But that’s not the issue. The issue is what happens when you eliminate wheat. That’s when you witness the transformations, the relief from joint pain and stiffness (as did Joe and Darleen, the interviewees in the report), spectacular weight loss (27 pounds in 3 months for Joe, 55 pounds over 6 months for Darleen), reversal of multiple gastrointestinal complaints, and on and on.
I am grateful to Joe and Darleen, who took the time and effort to be in my office for the interview, as well as the WISN team who put together a very nice report.
Dr. Davis. I was just reading Dr. Oz’s diet plan and all you see on it is “whole grain” Is this because Dr. Oz is not in agreement with your research or is it the tube light affect? I read you book from cover to cover but, I am having a hard time understanding why this is not coming out and being promoted everywhere. Is your research relatively new?
I would encourage everyone to consult a RD, registered dietitian, when it comss to matters of nutrition. They are the most knowledgeable on matters of how our body processes all the foods we eat. I say this because my wife is a RD, as well a LDN(Licensed Dietary Nutritionist) and certified in weight loss management. And FYI, anyone can call themselves a Nutritionist, there is no certification for that.
> … defending Frankengrain by pointing out that it is not “genetically-modified” …
> (Is this the best the Wheat Lobby can do?)
Their chanting of this mantra speaks of panic.
If “traditionally modified” wheat is as poisonous as it appears to be, what does that say about crops that really are GE? (which includes the upcoming RoundUp-Ready so-called wheat).
They are scared to death of the public reaction to future GE products if the public comes to realize that “traditional” products can also be genetic monsters.
Dr. Davis-
I just started the book. But I”ve been wondering, have you done any research into baking with heirloom grains? Is dwarf wheat the problem or all wheat?
Hi, John–
Please see a prior Wheat Belly Blog post called Upper Crust.
It lays out the issues with heirloom forms of wheat. They are better, but not necessarily good.
Hello all… Terry here,
How hard-headed can dominant discourse be, and especially in the medical, scientific and research community? Well… a small but enlightening excerpt from history is startling to me at least: Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis argued in a lecture in 1847 that “handwashing” could basically eliminate the spread of bacteria and subsequent “puerperal fever” that was killing patients in his time. The medical community was cold if not hostile to his ideas because his views went against the current scientific OPINION of the time. It was not until after his death that the merits (that”s an understatement) of handwashing in medical settings was recognized. Now, handwashing procedure is a required course in hospital settings.
Okay, so we here we are in 2012 and times have changed, but have they? There is still the tendency to buy “hook, line and sinker” the dominant marketing and lobbying influences that drive public opinion. There is so much to do with psychology here folks and they (the marketing gurus) know it. Like Ponce de Leon, most people want to discover the fountain of youth and the “healthy grains” “heart smart” “may help lower cholesterol” lobbyists monopolize on that desire. Sadly, in the midst of all of this quicksand, most folks are really searching for healthier choices.
My suggestion… get Dr. Davis” book and share it with loved ones and friends. Like I said in another blog to Dr. Davis: ” I don”t care about the controversial OPINIONS anymore”; I have applied his strategies and have measurable outcomes after adopting the wheat belly approach 10 weeks ago.
I like the successes conveyed by people struggling with diabetes. Thanks to Nikki and Mary G. this time around. I am now approaching the 30 pound mark in terms of weight loss. In a former blog, I explained that I had dropped my 24 hour insulin from 90 units at bedtime down to 30 units and had eliminated rapid acting doses (usually 15 – 20 units) with meals totally. I am now down to 20 units total of 24 hour insulin at bedtime and often only every other night. Yup, I inject one night and then skip the next. My glucose readings are still excellent; for example 5.2 this morning. I feel great both physically and psychologically.
Thanks, Terry
Great progress, Terry!
And achieved by “washing your hands” of wheat!
It is unfortunate, however, that at the conclusion to this “news story” it is obvious the newscasters are not convinced of anything, in spite of the two success stories. No one wants to hear that what they”ve always thought was correct isn”t. It is easy to dismiss your information with very feeble arguments and statements, such as “To make a claim like that, you would have to back it up with evidence and research.” It is not mentioned that the book DOES back up the claims with pages of references. I still wonder: how many success stories must be documented before they can be considered “data” in support of your claims in “Wheat Belly”?
Dr. Davis,
This is incredible, but I should not be surprised. This may be the start of the wheat industry”s push to get their word out with the influencers. The unbelievers should just try being totally wheat free for 2 weeks and then they will become believers. After 1 year of being Totally Gluten Free I am still amazed that I feel so great in so many ways! The only health problem that I knew I had was the inability to lose weight. Yet, so many things have improved, from memory to skin to weight and many more.
I appreciate Dr. Davis for writting this book, for it is helping so many! Wheat Belly confirmed that I have been doing the right thing and it”s not fluke!
Thank you and continue your good work.
Emily
Hi, Emily–
Very comforting, isn”t it, being on the side of right!
……But VERY frustrating knowing that most of the people I tell about it will politely listen, all the while thinking I”m just another “heath-nut-evangelist” and, of course, totally ignore the message.
Yup. But, like advertising, Jeff, after people hear it 20, 30, or 100 more times from various sources, it may finally sink in.
That”s when they finally say, “Gee, Jeff. Isn”t that what you told me 5 years ago?”
I am attaching a letter that my brother wrote to his doctor in 2009. I just wish your book had been available before he passed away in 2010. I am certain he did of sever wheat toxicity. He drank beer as well as ate bread and had battled his weight all his adult life. He died very suddenly, driving my car on the expressway. The autopsy was inconclusive, in fact two were performed and no cause of death could be determined. Please feel free to share this with your readers on your blog/web site. I am giving up wheat this week. I am not going to watch myself fall prey to this same poison. My mother had colon cancer, two of her sisters were diabetic and of course, my brother died far to early at 62 years of age. you will see from Jeff’s letter that he thought his problems were related to a root canal and I could not convince him to give up gluten/wheat even though his daughter was diagnosed with celiac about 5 years prior. I think had he read your book, he would have been convinced and would be alive and healthy today.
You are speaking a truth which needs to be heard. I will let you know how I do once I become wheat free. I am almost positive I will be slimmer, have less aches and pains and feel better all over. All the best, Patricia
DR. S. 09-08-18.
DEAR DR.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS THAT I’M EXPERIENCING:
PAIN. PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE. NECK, SHOULDERS, ELBOWS (OCCASSIONALY), WRISTS, BACK, HIPS, THIGHS, KNEES, CALVES (OCCASIONALLY). THIS PAIN IS SEVERE AND CONTINUOUS.
DIFFICULTY FALLING TO SLEEP AND STAYING ASLEEP. I DO NOT FEEL RESTED AFTER A NIGHTS “SLEEP”.
BRAIN FOG AND MEMORY LAPSES. I CAN’T THINK STRAIGHT.
INABLITY TO FOCUS ON TASKS. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT “I ABSOLUTELY MUST ACCOMPLISH” BUT I CAN’T EVEN GET STARTED.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE “REMEDIES” THAT I HAVE TRIED, TO RID MYSELF OF THESE PROBLEMS:
TRIED ALL OF THE NSAIDS, NONE OF WHICH HAD MUCH, IF ANY EFFECT ON THE PAIN. I HAVE TRIED OTHER “BORROWED” SCRIPT MEDS, INCLUDING, OXYCODONE, COLTRASENE (MADE MY LEGS FEEL LIKE THEY WERE ON FIRE), and INDOMETHACIN. I GOT THE MOST RELIEF FROM INDOMETHICIN, WITH NO APPARENT SIDE EFFECTS.
NUMEROUS “ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES”, TO NO AVAIL.
WENT TO THE ALLERGY WELLNESS CLINIC TO SEE IF I HAD FOOD OR OTHER ALLERGIES. THAT WAS A TOTAL WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.
THERE IS A WHOLE LOT MORE TO THIS, BUT I CAN’T REMEMBER ALL OF IT.
SOME HISTORY.
I HAD A ROOT CANAL PROCEEDURE DONE IN 1983 AND SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MANY MALADIES. SHORTLY AFTER THE PROCEEDURE WAS DONE I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH:
CONTACT DEMATITIS (CAUSE UNKNOWN), FOLLOWED BY PSORIASIS (WHICH WAS SEVERE) AND UNABATED UNTIL I STARTED TAKING FISH OIL IN 1985, WHICH REALLY HELPED, BUT DID NOT ELIMINATE THE CONDITION.
THEN CAME PERIODONTAL DISEASE, WHICH REQUIRED PERIODONTAL SURGERY AND GINGEVECTOMY.
THEN CAME JOINT PAIN, MUSCLE PAINAND MORE SKIN PROBLEMS.
DURING A DENTAL CLEANING AND CHECK UP, MY DENTIST MEASURED THE POCKET DEPTHS AND UPON CHECKING THE ROOT CANAL TREATED TOOTH, HE MENTIONED THAT THE POCKET DEPTH ON THAT TOOTH WAS INCREASING. THE PAIN THROUGHOUT MY BODY INCREASED DRAMATICALY. WITHIN 3O MINUTES, I COULD HARDLY WALK. I FELT AS IF I HAD BEEN IN REAL BAD FIGHT. THIS PAIN TOOK DAYS TO SUBSIDE AND THE REDUCTION WAS ONLY SLIGHT.
I DECIDED THAT I WANTED THAT TOOTH REMOVED. AFTER MANY DISCUSSIONS WITH MY DENTIST, HE AGREED TO EXTRACT THE TOOTH. UPON EXTRACTION, THE FOUL ODOR WAS UNBELIEVEABLE…. “THE SMELL OF ROTTEN MEAT”. ALMOST INSTANTLY, I HAD MAJOR RELIEF FROM MY SYMPTOMS, ESPECIALLY THE PAIN. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PAIN RETURNED A FEW DAYS LATER, WITH A VENGENCE.
I HAVE HAD MANY BLOOD TESTS, (ALL OF THE BLOOD WORK IS GOOD), 2 CT SCANS, BEEN TO A NUEROLOGIST, HAD 3 MRI’S, AN EKG, ULTRA SOUND OF MY HEART, ABDOMEN, GROIN AND LEGS, XRAY’S, ALL TO NO AVAIL.
NOW I’M EXPERIENCING SEVERE EDEMA, ACCOMPANIED BY LEG ULCERS THAT LEAK BODY FLUIDS. THE ANTIBIOTIC THAT I’M TAKING APPARENTY HAS NO EFFECT ON ANAEROBIC BACTERIA AND I’M ONLY HAVING LIMITED SUCCESS WITH THIS TREATMENT.
IT IS MY SINCERE BELIEF THAT I MAY HAVE A CAVITATION AT THE SIGHT WHERE THE ROOT CANALLED TOOTH WAS REMOVED. I BELIEVE THIS MEANS THAT THE SITE HAS ANAEROBIC BACTERIA THAT IS GENERATING TOXINS WHICH ARE COURSEING THROUGH MY BODY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD BE THE SOURCE OF ALL OF MY HEALTH PROBLEMS. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT A 3D/4D ULTRA SOUND COULD REVEAL THAT THE AREA IS INFECTED. IF THAT IS WHAT IS FOUND, WE CAN PROCEED WITH CORRECTIVE SURGERY.
DR. I NEED YOUR HELP!!!
SINCERELY,
JEFFREY S.
Thank you for sharing your brother”s painful story and letter, Patricia.
I will put his letter on the blog for all to read. The more people that hear this, the less likely it will allow tragedies like your brother”s loss to continue.
I just clicked on the link provided above and watched the YouTube video of Dr Glenn Gaesser and his response to Dr Oz”s show about carbs being like cocaine. Then I watched online segments from that Dr Oz episode. Dr Oz”s message is certainly not “no carbs”, but it is certainly “no refined wheat”. In fact, the alternatives that he gives to wheat bread, potato chips and wheat pasta are mostly carbs (rye, lentils and brown rice with flax.) As Dr Davis shows, there are still significant problems with these proposed alternatives to wheat, but my point is that Dr Gaesser”s criticism of the Dr Oz episode is unfounded, given that the message of the show was not “all carbs are bad.”
I”ve been grain free for almost three months, but started by going wheat free first, then eased away from rice and oats, then other grains. Now I”m working on eliminating sugar and honey (we”ve switched to xylitol, which is good for oral health; see Dr Ellie Phillip”s blog and website.) Not everyone or every family can go “cold turkey.” For us, it has been a gradual transition. Hopefully, after a year, we”ll be eating the “ideal” diet. And I found the Dr Oz episode to be at least encouraging given our current path….certainly not the picture of perfection, but it didn”t seem anything like Dr Gaesser”s perspective.
Karen
Xylitol is very poisoness to dogs and it doesn”t take much to kill. I have been using stevia products with good results.
Carol
Xylitol is helpful in preventing cavities and it”s impossible to overuse for people because it works as a laxative when you eat too much, LOL. It is very toxic to dogs but for many people Stevia has a bitter aftertaste.
Birgit
My A1C went from 9.5 to 5.9 in 6 months of eliminating grains from my diet!
Wow. That”s absolutely spectacular, Mary!
The nutritionist needs ”evidence” but she didn”t say what exactly constitutes evidence. Perhaps I should send her my a1c test results from the day I went wheat-free (9.6) and the test results exactly three months later (6.7). Wonder if that would be accepted as ”evidence”… :)
What gets me, Nikki, is that she is completely oblivious to the evidence that exists.
Clearly she did not read the book, else she would at least be familiar with its arguments and the evidence that backs it.
This is what you get from people who have their education provided by Big Food. They promote Big Food.
Same thing happened on the Marylin Dennis Show. They brought up your diet but ignored all the reasons for not eating wheat, hi GI, effects on the brain etc. Having said that the nutritionist Dr. Melissa Hershberg does have her own book to promote. Link here :http://www.marilyn.ca/Video.aspx#clip619655&vp105338
She was even worse when talking about the Paleo diet it was as if she didn”t even bother to research what it is about and the foods you can eat. Link here http://www.marilyn.ca/Video.aspx#clip618043&vp105047
I appreciate she is can have her own opinion but to blatantly misrepresent these two healthy ways of eating is very very wrong. I did email the show and all they had to say was she was a qualified nutritionist. That still does not give her the right to misrepresent things.
It”s frighteningly common, Rob. Talking heads on TV expressing opinions without actually having reviewed the information or data, just like the nutritionist on this interview.
Dr. Glenn Gaesser really has his work cut out for himself. Here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q-sHS27PZU), he very unconvincingly trys to defends grains from the claims “Are Carbs the new Cocaine?” He sounds like someone has a gun pointed at his forehead. Could it be the GFF?
Nice Find !! Here is his ASU Faculty Page:
http://healthpromotion.asu.edu/directory/1263739
Take a look at the folks who fund his research:
Current/Recent Grants and Projects
A Wireless, Multimode, Artificial Neural Network-Based Physical Activity Monitor; NIH, R01 HL091006; 9/19/08 – 6/30/13; Role: Co-PI
Improving Control with Activity and Nutrition (ICAN); NIH, DK062942; 9/01/03 – 8/31/09; Role: Co-investigator
Effect of high-complex- and high-refined-carbohydrate meals, and low-carbohydrate meals on endothelial function; Wheat Foods Council; 7/01/06 – 6/30/09; Role: PI
Effect of glycemic index and cereal fiber on vascular endothelial function; Grain Foods Foundation; 6/01/06–4/30/09; Role: PI
Comparison of low-carbohydrate and low-fat, high-fiber diets; Wheat Foods Council; 7/01/04–6/30/09; Role: PI
Hmmmm…..
He”s going to get awful lonely pretty soon!
Dr. Davis, what are your thoughts on “properly prepared” grains such as soaking the grain?
Oh, boy, Kimberly.
It would be like saying “Provided you don”t inhale, smoking cigarettes is okay.” Of course, it”s not.
Soaking only slightly reduces the destructive effects of lectins, but does not disable the entire package of harmful effects.
Properly Prepared Grains”, as they are called by Weston Price Foundation and other groups, can raise your blood glucose as much as Wheaties, oatmeal, white or whole grain bread, etc.. In my case, fasting blood glucose rose from the mid-80”s to 160 to 170 in one hour with a bowl of “Properly Prepared” breakfast porridge made according to their recipe. Try it and see what it does for you. Glucose triggers an insulin response and insulin controls adipose fat accumulation. Lose the wheat and lose the weight.
Also, the mutant grains have a whole host of unintended side-effects as pointed out in Dr. Davis”s book.