Jennifer shared her “before” and “after” Wheat Belly photos with us:
“I have been grain-free, sugar-free since September, 2014. The picture on the left was me July, 2014 and the picture on the right is me August, 2015.
“I am down 70 pounds, several inches, and feel great about my new eating habits. Even though I still have a long way to go, I am motivated everyday to make good choices. This is the most satisfying lifestyle change I have ever made, thank you Wheat Belly!”
Nobody around here should be cutting calories, reducing portion sizes, avoiding fat, or engaging in extreme exercise (unless you want to do so for your own purposes). By following the Wheat Belly lifestyle, you feel better, look better, reverse multiple health conditions, and lose weight because:
- You’ve removed indigestible or partially-digestible grain proteins from your diet–gliadin, gliadin-derived peptides, wheat germ agglutinin and others are potent inflammatory factors, now gone.
- You’ve removed the amylopectin A starch of grains that is responsible for sky-high insulin levels that drive inflammation, distortions of hormones (e.g., higher estrogen and testosterone levels in females), and weight gain.
- You have removed potent bowel health disrupters in the form of gliadin, gliadin-derived peptides, wheat germ agglutinin, and others that not just damage the delicate intestinal lining and impair digestion (e.g., cholecystokinin block), but also alter bowel flora, leading to dysbiosis.
- You follow this lifestyle and are not plagued by hunger, as you have removed the appetite-stimulants in wheat and grains: gliadin-derived opiate peptides that would have previously bound to the opiate receptors of the brain to stimulate hunger, gliadin-derived peptides that block leptin, and the roller-coaster ride of blood sugar that results in 2-hour cycles of hypoglycemia accompanied by a desperate search for food.
(Anyone who is suffering from hunger or cravings on this lifestyle is really suffering from inadequate fat intake–eat more fat, use more healthy oils like coconut and organic butter.)
Jennifer looks and feels different because she has removed this collection of potent disrupters of health–yes, the ones wholeheartedly endorsed by the U.S. Government, USDA, FDA, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, and all pharmaceutical companies.
Dr Davis
I have been wheat-free for 3-4 months, and have experienced relief from respiratory issues, period migraine and although the weight loss has been modest (5 pounds off my original 125 pounds), there’s definitely a reduction in swelling so I look like I’ve lost a lot of weight in the tummy.
My question is this- when I have had re-exposure to wheat now, I experience bloating and acid reflux. Why is that? I’ve never had bloating or acid reflux before starting Wheat Belly when eating pizza or bread?!
«…re-exposure to wheat now, I experience bloating and acid reflux. Why is that? I’ve never had bloating or acid reflux before starting Wheat Belly…»
Dr. Davis may have more insight, but this seems to be just a specific instance of re-exposure reaction. Re-exposure reactions have proven to be striking and attention-getting, resulting in symptoms people either previously did not experience, didn’t previously notice.
Acid reflux is very common prior to wheat elimination. Search on the blog gets pages of hits. Acid reflux is also reported as a re-exposure reaction.
My guess would be that acid reflux due to wheat re-exposure is largely a gut biome phenomenon. When you quit wheat, and especially if you implement the Wheat Belly Total Health suggestions for gut flora remediation, your gut biome shifts. Wheat is an assault on the new you, and your gut critters are not happy with it. They may let you know in both directions.
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Dr. Davis,
One thing I imagine most of these improved people wouldn’t want talked about is relief from snoring. I’ll bet it is profound.
It was for me.
«… relief from snoring. I’ll bet it is profound.»
I doubt any of this is news to Uncle Roscoe, but it would be interesting to hear if Dr. Davis has any accumulated anecdotal information on it.
Snoring is too common (45% of adults), but then so is being above one’s desired weight. It is not just a mildly amusing physiological quirk. In 3 out of 4 cases, it’s indicating obstructive sleep apnea.
The ever iffy wiki tells us “Multiple studies reveal a positive correlation between loud snoring and risk of heart attack (about +34% chance) and stroke (about +67% chance)”.
Snoring is a hazard to self and anyone else in the room. It’s a self-perpetuating circadian disruptor. When it’s not due to weight, diet or meds, it can be caused by failing to obey the sun, and bright-or-blue light at night.
Dietary factors include anything that promotes weight gain/maintenance, drinking alcohol within 4 hours of sleep, dehydration, and perhaps food-like substances that are inflammatory. Any drugs that are relaxants are suspect.
Losing weight is often the #1 suggested thing to do about snoring (tied with changing sleeping position).
In any event, snoring is not due to CPAP deficiency, although one might think so from watching TV, where these devices appear in the advert that follows the advert for some wheat laced carbo bomb that causes the weight problem in the first place. The CPAP ads don’t even explain what that abbreviation stands for – it is assumed that these are commonly used devices that everyone knows about.
In what little TV I see, I’ve also been astonished to observe “mainstreamed” chubby characters routinely sporting CPAPs in ads for products having nothing to do with snoring or weight management. This may be the new normal, but it’s also the new unnecessary, unhealthy and unhappy.
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Well think about it. Snoring means your throat is so swollen that, in order to breathe properly you have to be conscious so that you can hold your airway open.
Yeah, I believe that overweight is associated with snoring and sleep apnea. But overweight is closely associated with release of IL-6, a very inflammatory cytokine ……read autoimmunity. And yes, especially where there is neck involvement there has to be a light/circadian rhythm connection and circulation impairment.
So autoimmune swelling, overweight, stroke and heart attack danger, and sleep disturbance are all connected, not just to snoring, but to grain ingestion.