Ms. Winfrey,
Can you lose weight while continuing to consume bread and other products made with wheat flour and grains? You absolutely can—though it is quite difficult physically and emotionally, requiring monumental willpower, as you already know. But I fear that you have overlooked crucial issues in your campaign for Weight Watchers and the exoneration of bread. You have, unfortunately, propagated some destructive misconceptions. And the people who you have hurt the most I suspect are the people who you would have preferred to help the most.
Losing weight by avoiding processed food products made with wheat and related grains is exceptionally easy because it means that you avoid the gliadin protein-derived opiates that stimulate appetite. The fact that you lost 26 pounds is testimony more to the power of your will than it is to the power of the Weight Watchers program. You have succeeded in losing weight—at least temporarily—despite having, I’m sure, to fight back against overwhelming hunger and cravings due to this effect of grains that you have chosen to remain in your diet. Yes: it can be done. But it is a test of willpower. Willpower wanes over time for most people, explaining why the majority of people who lose weight successfully by reducing calories and portion sizes regain the weight over time, often ending up heavier than at the start. I’d love to see you fit back into a size 4 dress, but it is far more likely that the 26 pounds you lost will return as soon as your resolve dissipates.
By embracing the Weight Watchers’ message, you have propagated the notion that people are overweight because they are gluttonous and lazy, just as government agencies claim. Americans are overweight, according to the USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, because they eat too much and move too little. In other words, it is your fault if you struggle with weight. I believe that this is wrong. I believe the blame lies with the predatory practices of Big Food who have chosen to promote high-sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, and grain-based foods, a high-carbohydrate load that inevitably leads to weight gain. Blame also lies with organizations such as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Heart Association who have clung to outdated advice to cut fat and saturated fat and increase consumption of “healthy whole grains,” in effect advising Americans to create a caloric deficit by reducing fat and to fill that void with the carbohydrates and appetite-stimulating properties of grains that yield gliadin-derived opiates. Obesity on the unprecedented scale we now witness—the worst epidemic ever in the history of man—is not due to gluttony and sloth; it is due to this convergence of phenomena. Big Food companies are to blame, the U.S. government and other agencies that offered this advice are to blame. People gained weight because of bad advice, not because they are weak-willed and indulgent. (There are indeed people who have gained weight due to gluttony and sloth, but the majority of hard-working, health-minded Americans have gained weight despite doing what they thought was “right,” given such guidelines.)
Your endorsement of a calorie-cutting, portion-limiting program thereby reinforces the false notion that people are overweight and that it’s their own fault.
Another very important issue that you should be aware of with your reliance on wheat- and grain-based products: Be prepared to have a future of health problems. Populations who do not consume grains enjoy freedom from autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and psoriasis; type 2 diabetes; hypertension; acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, and constipation; coronary heart disease; depression and suicide; and bear a far lesser burden of cancer and dementia. These are the “diseases of civilization” that plague modern humans eating modern diets, but not societies that do not consume such Western foods. With your dietary approach, you have in effect endorsed a style of eating that can, with difficulty, achieve weight loss, but propagates risk for all of these modern diseases.
Segments of the population that have historically been exposed to grains and sugars via agriculture have less susceptibility to their adverse effects. This means that people of European and Asian origin have the advantage of partial adaptation to their consumption since they have existed in agricultural societies for 10,000 years. (Adaptation to grains and sugar is never complete, else we’d have no type 2 diabetes.) Native Americans, native Australian Aboriginal populations, populations of the South Pacific Islands, New Zealand and New Guinea natives, African Americans, and native Africans develop explosive levels of the “diseases of civilization” when exposed to Western foods, especially grains and sugars. This explains why, for instance, the Pima Indians of Arizona have the highest rate of type 2 diabetes in the world. It explains why primitive populations in the Amazonian basin develop rampant obesity and diabetes in as short as 2 or 3 years when exposed to Western foods. It explains why African Americans living in the U.S. have the worst incidence of type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, stroke, and heart disease compared to other ethic groups in the U.S. The message that groups like this are overweight and that it’s their own fault is counterproductive and wrong—they, in fact, have been the most deeply victimized by bad dietary information. Sadly, these populations are also the most subject to predatory advertising practices by Big Food—once again, it is NOT the fault of the individual.
Your message that Weight Watchers “works” and that bread can be a part of a diet program thereby propagates destructive and widely-held misconceptions that are increasingly crippling the health of Americans. I fear you have failed in your due diligence, embracing an outdated program based on government pronouncements based more on politics, scientific misinterpretation, and ignorance than an objective review of the science. You may have increased shareholder value of the Weight Watchers’ brand, but you have done tremendous harm to millions of people who trust your judgment.
Perhaps it’s not too late to make amends: Sell your shares, learn and reflect on your mistakes, make the necessary apologies, come to understand that Americans have been misinformed, exploited, and used—refuse to be a part of it. And understand that solutions for weight and health will not come through conventional providers of dietary advice, whether government or private, as the profit motive is too strong and exerts too much influence. The solutions for weight loss and health are, in truth, simple, accessible to virtually everyone, and come at almost no cost. But those solutions won’t make anyone rich.
William Davis, MD
I was demoted to join weightwatchers yet another time. The first time I went at age 45 I easily lost 40 pounds in six months. This I maintained for a year and then started to slide. So I went back and lost the 15 pounds that I had regained but it was more difficult . The third time I went back it was a struggle to lose ten pounds.
I do believe that wheat belly is on the right track and that sugar and processing in foods is the real culprit as well as over serving of cheap chemical filled processed foods.
I also think that people come in genetic sizes and that not everyone can be slender as a supermodel especially after the age of 50.
If it were so easy Oprah who has all of the money in the world to hire personal trainers and have chefs cook up wholesome organic unprocessed foods would not be still struggling with her weight. Look at her contemporary Vanessa Williams who has always had a fabulous figure or Halle Berry who even as a diabetic has a slim figure. Oprah has probably worked harder to maintain her weight than Vanessa or Halle although I am sure that Vanessa and Halle both are vigilant about their health.looks Bottom line is that people are meant to be certain shapes and sizes and you can probably thank your parents for most of that. But realism is that you will never look like you did at 19 when you are sixty and all you can do is try to live as healthy a life as you can.
Big food and big pharma want to keep us sick and fat and that is the shame of it.
Diane neve wrote: «I do believe that wheat belly is on the right track and that sugar and processing in foods is the real culprit as well as over serving of cheap chemical filled processed foods.»
Well, culprit #1 is wheat. It has all the hazards of simple sugars plus a long rap sheet of its own. Wheat assaults you in ways that sugar can only dream of.
Sugar, however, is an easy #2 on the list. But anyone just doing low carb, avoiding sugars, but not avoiding wheat, is apt to find that appetite is still being needlessly provoked.
#3 might be the modern industrial Omega 6 PUFA seed oils, which are increasingly seen as obesogenic. These are almost impossible to avoid in processed foods and restaurant meals.
«I also think that people come in genetic sizes…»
Genotype, phenotype and epigenetics are factors that I expect to be featured in future fine tuning of diet. Things like ApoE status already need to be considered today in dealing with cardiovascular risk.
«…and that not everyone can be slender as a supermodel especially after the age of 50.»
Everyone can shoot for looking like what they were inherently capable of looking like for their age.
«If it were so easy Oprah who has all of the money in the world to hire personal trainers and have chefs cook up wholesome organic unprocessed foods would not be still struggling with her weight.»
Through her own show, and her Dr. Oz subsidiary, Oprah has clearly been exposed to a wide assortment of approaches to diet (perhaps too many, actually). But she’s in the same position as anyone else on that. She has to recognize that the consensus advice does not work, and then decide which dissident advice might work. Hiring an expensive adviser cannot assure useful advice on this – it’s a matter of personal responsibility.
She has the further problem that it would be nice to make money on promoting a solution that works. This might tend to bias her away from answers, like Wheat Belly, that require only simple information, provide near-term results, and are trivially sustainable. Those helped to recover from consensus diet do not represent a potential on-going revenue stream.
«Big food and big pharma want to keep us sick and fat and that is the shame of it.»
I don’t think that’s their deliberate intent. Big food just wants to sell lots of cheap food-like substances, formulates for addiction (“customer loyalty”) and just doesn’t care about the health consequences. Big pharma wants to have products to sell, and doesn’t care that they may be treating entirely optional ailments, often just managing symptoms. That big food is delivering a steady stream of needless victims to big pharma is just a convenient coincidence.
________
Blog Reply Associate (click my user name for details)
I take keto-os. It puts me in ketosis in under a hour and eat a ketogenic diet. Easiest fat loss ever. New amazing supplement helping so many ppl eat right and feel fabulous.
Let me know if you are interested in hearing more,about it.
Jan wrote: «I take keto-os.»
That would be KETO//OS from Prüvit, an exogenous ketone (EK) product. There are several credible products on the market (as well as useless “raspberry ketones”). KetoForce from Patrick Arnold’s Prototype Nutrition is another.
«It puts me in ketosis in under a hour and eat a ketogenic diet.»
What do you conjecture that the product is doing for you beyond what the KD provides?
«Let me know if you are interested in hearing more,about it.»
Although Prüvit has a web site, one cannot just order from it. They are operating as an MLM, and before anyone enrolls, they need to be aware of the lawsuit:
http://behindmlm.com/companies/forevergreen/forevergreens-requested-injunction-against-pruvit-denied/
I have no opinion of the product, or on the merits of the legal action.
________
Blog Reply Associate (click my user name for details)
There is no magic. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store. Buy natural, not boxed, canned, or processed foods. Reduce or remove sugar, which is in just about everything processed. Eat healthy protein, lean meats, vegetables, fruits. The difficulty for most (including me) is the industry puts all these tasty processed foods in front of us day in and day out and it’s difficult to deny ourselves. Be strong! Stay out of the aisles in the store., and start moving your body!
Lindzey62 wrote: «There is no magic.»
True. The primary M’s are metabolism and microbiome.
«Shop the perimeter of the grocery store.»
True. They’re probably laid out that way by the same people who design casino floor plans.
«Buy natural, not boxed, canned, or processed foods.»
Natural is not a useful term, as the speaker and the listener often don’t hold the same definition, and the FDA’s is useless. But sure, avoiding packaged foods (with NF panels) is generally wise until one learns how to interpret them.
«Reduce or remove sugar, which is in just about everything processed.»
True. NF panels are particularly valuable for that. They don’t spell out net carb, so that bit of math needs to be learned.
«Eat healthy protein…»
Healthy is another one of those not-so-useful terms. What the USDA thinks is healthy can be lethal, for example. If you were to put an LCHF or ketogenic snack bar on the market, for example, the FDA actually prohibits you from using the word “healthy” on it.
«…lean meats…»
Not true. Full-fat meat is fine. What to look for is pastured organic (which tends naturally to be leaner, so eat the fatty bits).
«…vegetables, fruits.»
Veggies are in general fine in unlimited amounts. Be mindful of net carbs with fruits, some of which are not far from being candy (and were bred to be so).
«The difficulty for most (including me) is the industry puts all these tasty processed foods in front of us day in and day out and it’s difficult to deny ourselves.»
The processed foods are indeed formulated and focus-group tested to generate customer loyalty if not outright addiction. Learn what ingredients are disqualifiers and why (outcomes). Most packaged foods contain multiple disqualifiers. Making choices based on outcomes makes making choices easier, as does having sane snacks handy.
«Be strong!»
In general, if a diet requires you to be strong, that diet is wrong. This is about chemistry and not character.
«…and start moving your body!»
Great for many things, but of little effect per se in managing weight or diet.
________
Blog Reply Associate (click my user name for details)
Love the letter. I saw this WW ad the other day and it genuinely made me sad how emphatic she was about BREAD…I CAN EAT BREAD! Bread bread bread. I almost wanted to rewind and count how many times she said the word bread. …product placement anyone? bread bread bread.
Disgusting.
I did WW and lost weight. Once I got tired of counting points, I gained it all back.
I did Nutrisystem and lost weight. Once I got tired of eating prepackaged gunk, I gained it all back.
I did Slimgenics and lost weight. This only lasted a week however as the little sheet of paper that listed the only foods I could eat was too restrictive…yep, gained it all back.
I did Isagenix and lost weight. Excellent program but once I got tired of drinking protein shakes, I gained it all back.
The point is, ANY diet will work as long as you have the motivation and willpower to stick with it; however, it is only temporary. I wanted something that would work for a lifetime and the WB plan fits that bill. I want for nothing. I can have anything I want really…the only caveat is that I have to make it myself or do the research if eating out. I am only 2 weeks into the program and am amazed at how great I feel. Thank you thank you thank you Dr. Davis!
KG wrote: «…ANY diet will work as long as you have the motivation and willpower to stick with it…»
As you’ve seen, any diet that requires willpower (or won’tpower) is inherently wired to failed.
Any that _require_ subscriptions or memberships need to raise an eyebrow.
«…WB plan fits that bill. I want for nothing. I can have anything I want really…the only caveat is that I have to make it myself or do the research if eating out.»
The lack of convenient packaged foods, and the restaurant minefield, will change over time, as the market responds to informed consumer demand.
________
Blog Reply Associate (click my user name for details)
It’s one thing to say I have toast in the morning. It’s another thing to mention bread several times with incredible passion in a a 30-second clip. She not just saying you can eat bread, she’s telling you to eat bread.
There is more to this than meets the eye. I wouldn’t be surprised if Oprah was bought off by some large entity. The Grain Council? Archers Daniels Midland? Who knows. But this does not meet the smell test.
Eric,
Please remember this woman stood up to the big American BEEF burger boys. Oh, and won.
I don’t think anyone owns Oprah – the name of her company is OWN.
Best,
CA
what is the wheat belly way please explain
Hugh wrote: «what is the wheat belly way please explain»
There’s a not fully up to date summary here at:
https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/2012/12/wheat-belly-quick-dirty-2/
Since then, a major addition to the recommendations is cultivating the microbiome, with daily prebiotic fiber, and perhaps a course of a quality probiotic.
It’s possible to implement the lifestyle just based on what you can find in this blog, but it’s easier and more comprehensively covered by the books.
________
Blog Reply Associate (click my user name for details)
I’ve had to endure the ads for the one that Marie Osmond does too. Have to admit Marie does look good but she’s another that can put on 5-10 lbs. in a heartbeat. As long as monetary rewards them they don’t care how many people it hurts. I’m betting that both Oprah and Marie both know the truth but overlook it to keep those paychecks coming in.
Great job Dr. Davis.
When I read Wheat Belly I was struck by Dr.Davis’s comment that his wife was a triathlon coach and how they noticed that a lot the participants were not really lean considering the hours of training for these physically demanding races. Well, guess what….they were carbo loading!!!! And carbs like pasta, bread, muffins, cookies, popcorn are basically very addicting sugar! I know because I have been there and done that. I went gluten free and upped my protein and fat and lost 10 pounds ( my wheat belly) and feel great. I improved my running time and energy level and no more headaches or indigestion or funny skin issues either! Everyone should read Wheat Belly.
Does WW not have to”protect their ass-ets” by following the governments dietary guidelines?
Greentree wrote: «Does WW not have to”protect their ass-ets” by following the governments dietary guidelines?»
In a word, no. The vast majority of named diet plans vary considerably from the USDA’s MyPlateOfMetabolicSyndrome.
About the only plans that closely follow the lethal government nonsense are those from corrupt medical associations and affliction promotion and maintenance associations.
WW’s #1 priority is more likely shareholder value. Conformance with government dogma, and actual member outcomes, don’t seem to be major concerns.
________
Blog Reply Associate (click my user name for details)
This is my story.
I was bulimic from 12 to 34 years old. I have always been a compulsive overeater. 4 years ago, Overeaters Anonymous found me (or I finally let them find me).
I have admitted and accepted that sugar has always been my drug of choice, without knowing it.
Today, I choose NOT to eat sugar or wheat, one day at a time. I have abandoned 80 pounds. I have been to my healthy weight, 125 lbs, for the past 3 years. This had never happened before! My weight had always been on a roller coaster ride. Just like Oprah.
And it cost me nothing……
I used to be sick all the time: sorethroat, headache, insomnia, laryngitis, pharyngitis, pneunomia, bronchitis, …..
I am not sick ANYMORE. I might have a 3-day cold, once a year.
I feel free and I do not have obssesions about food anymore. I believe that processed food is poison. I choose to eat food, not my emotions.I choose to eat well to live well, one day at a time. I am happy. Finally. One day at a time.
I can finally say that Life Is Good.
Miss D
Miss D = I once had a relative that suffered from bulimia. Always skinny as a rail. Then one day the whole family saw her rotted teeth, loss of hair, bruises on just about limb and we were all convinced she was using illegal substances. She died about a year later weighing just 64 lbs. I’m so happy you sought help, or they sought you. I believe she had had the condition since childhood, and her close family had never insisted she seek help. A big whopping high five to you and your recovery. Great job AND DO keep us informed.
Dr. Davis,
An idea worth considering:
What do you think would happen if, along with your great open letter, you gathered a diverse group of 100 people or more — those who have found success on WB and who have ceased all grain consumption — who would be willing to meet with Oprah to share their results?
In an open forum, don’t you think she would actually hear their true “before and after” stories and feel their passion for having renewed their health ?
I keep thinking this could be done whether she was actually present or not. This way, instead of you presenting your ideas as you did on PBS, those who successfully put your ideas into practice could present themselves and represent you?
Their has always been power in numbers – especially when people freely speak about their own experiences.
What do you think?
CA
Thank you
It seems every decade or so we make a new food enemy, among others it was fat, salt and now gluten and grains. Interestingly enough grains are very present in the Mediterranean diet, in the Japanese diet, the French diet, in the Northern European diet and those are healthier populations than ours. What’s the secret? Very little packaged food and eating real, fresh food every day with an abundance of vegetables and fruits. Could that be the secret?
Yep, that’s the secret! You nailed it! End of story, no need to investigate further…
Ana wrote: «It seems every decade or so we make a new food enemy,…»
And if that’s resulted in people being skeptical of nutrition advice, that’s a healthy thing.
«…among others it was fat, salt and now gluten and grains.»
There never was any science to support the advice on fat and salt, but as seen in the confusing incremental mess that is DGA 1015, it’s going to be some time before consensus gets completely turned around. There are apologies to avoid and liabilities to duck.
Consensus nutrition isn’t even waking up to gluten and grains yet. It doesn’t help that the vast majority of gluten-free food-like substances are still junk.
«Interestingly enough grains are very present in the Mediterranean diet, in the Japanese diet, the French diet, in the Northern European diet and those are healthier populations than ours.»
Each one needs to be considered separately, and confounders accounted for. Here’s France:
https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/2015/05/debunking-the-french-myth/
«What’s the secret?»
In many cases, what’s secret is that their health isn’t actually as great as advertised. The T2D trend in Japan, for example, looks just like the US, but a decade behind.
«Very little packaged food and eating real, fresh food every day with an abundance of vegetables and fruits. Could that be the secret?»
Those things sure help, because any added grains, added sugar, added industrial seed oil and added additives need to be consciously added, causing most people to think twice – whereas with processed food, you get that stuff without asking. Historically, these regional diets have tended to be less destructive than what the US diet has become, but they are still not ideal, and expose those people to needless optional ailments.
________
Blog Reply Associate (click my user name for details)
and I don’t have LADA
You are preaching to the choir. Most of us have had stupendous results from this way of eating. We all have had various infirmities which may or may not have been caused by the Standard American Diet. Most of us have had complete reversal of these conditions and our body organs are functioning normally, or at least have improved substantially as our overall health improves because of this way of eating. Even genetic conditions have shown improvement according to various posters.
Research is showing how important your parent’s health and the health of their gut biomes in establishing your health in the womb and during the birth process. Probiotics are an important key to good health. So are the intake of fats.
Instead of arguing about how misinformed we are, why don’t you explore ways to increase your knowledge and also your fat intake for clearer thinking? Dr. Perlmutter. MD. , Dr. Amen, MD. and many many more experts have written books about this. We have read their books and adapted our menus and supplements according to our particular needs as we recover.
One size does not fit all when it comes to regaining your health. Only you can tweak the framework Dr. Davis has provided.
Hi Barbara in New Jersey!
Wise you are to point everyone back to taking personal responsibility.
Making important changes has always required any given person to make the effort to become informed and then to take actions that work — for them.
Best,
CA
Years ago when Weight Watchers first came out the advise they gave my mother in the 70’s was “if you can’t wash it, don’t eat it.” This was before they had all of the cardboard box meals and packaged treats they are making a fortune on! I have done Weight Watchers and find its so much easier and the weight stays off by following the Total Health Wheat Belly plan!
The greatest truth is that all these fringe diet writers that want to tell us how to eat correctly and slam the government for trying to do the same, are out to make a buck off us. The FREE version of how to eat healthy is simple and free! Raise a garden, declutter your home and keep in motion as much as possible. Shop the fresh produce section, the diary section and the meat section in your grocery. Limit your intake of meat to 3 ounces twice a day, use healthy fats too cook with… end of story. Whole foods heal and also manage your weight.
Cindy Lou wrote: «The greatest truth is that all these fringe diet writers that want to tell us how to eat correctly and slam the government for trying to do the same, are out to make a buck off us.»
Many are indeed just click-bait trying to deliver page hits to advertisers. Many have secret sauce to sell. Some conceal key details, available only to subscribers. A very few lay it all out, but do want to be compensated for the work of digging out the truth, presenting what works, and keeping it updated.
«Shop the fresh produce section, the diary section and the meat section in your grocery. Limit your intake of meat to 3 ounces twice a day, use healthy fats too cook with… end of story.»
Not bad, but just the beginning of story. The vast majority of people are in no position to revert to a diet that is ancestral for their phenotype (and without the hazards). Even if they figure out which neolithic “foods” need to be entirely avoided (like wheat), they also need to deliberately attend to gut flora, and address several crucial on-going micronutrient deficiencies.
Based on your userID link (which I can’t follow, not being an FB member), I trust that you are aware that T2D is a totally optional ailment; trivially avoided with diet, reversible with diet at the metsyn and pre’ stages, and even after that to the extent that any complications are.
________
Blog Reply Associate (click my user name for details)
Dear Bob, you seem rather aware but poorly informed regarding T2D. Let me enlighten you. You can be born with many conditions that will lead to T2D. I was. Polycyctic Ovarian Syndrome wasn’t even known at the time I should have had treatment for it to avoid T2D. Now they know, but too late for me…and the list goes on and on of medical issues that give you T2D. I am at my ideal body weight. The un informed people who say that only people who are fat and eat poorly get it, really are unkind people who should take the time to know better. If a person isn’t predisposed genetically to the disease or predisposed by something else that happened to them medically, then they aren’t very likely going to have it. Now on to your easily controlled by diet remark. You spend a week with it, then we will talk about that. I manage without meds for now, but since it is a progressive disease, as time rolls on people with T2D also can wind up on insulin… so go study a bit, then we can talk.
Cindy Lou wrote: «Dear Bob, you seem rather aware but poorly informed regarding T2D.»
Then so is Dr. Davis, which I doubt, as he was one:
https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/2015/10/to-reverse-diabetes-follow-the-no-change-rule/
«You can be born with many conditions that will lead to T2D.»
There are definitely genotype, phenotype and epigentic factors that play into how rapidly T2D will develop, but mainstream T2D is an optional ailment. It’s a largely predictable biologic response to a full-time moderate to high-glycemic diet.
Apart from net carbs per se, other adverse elements in diet can threaten beta cells, especially auto-immunities enabled by wheat. I would suspect inflammatory modern industrial fats too.
«Polycyctic Ovarian Syndrome…»
Now PCOS is something I know little about, but be aware that PCOS reversal has been reported on this blog several times, once just this week.
«…wasn’t even known at the time I should have had treatment for it to avoid T2D.»
That’s not mainstream T2D. Without knowing your beta cell status, that sounds more like LADA. Yes, anything that permanently destroys beta cells can leave one insulin-dependent. That situation, which is the T1D situation in most cases if not caught quickly, is still managed with minimum meds via diet (Bernstein, 1996 and forward).
«The un informed people who say that only people who are fat and eat poorly get it, really are unkind people who should take the time to know better.»
You won’t get that here, so don’t make the accusation. People who are fat and eat poorly are merely the victims of defective information. As humorist Tom Naughton puts it, it’s a matter of chemistry, not character.
«I manage without meds for now…»
Excellent. What are you doing to accomplish that?
________
Blog Reply Associate (click my user name for details)
I manage with whole foods. I don’t eat ghee, I don’t use fats other than a tiny bit of olive oil. I don’t use salad dressings. I don’t use processed foods period and raise my own foods as much as possible. I am not an organic food pusher, but do encourage everyone to wash produce with vinegar water and rinse before consuming. The bulk of my fats are plant based.
and I don’t have LADA
Cindy Lou wrote: «I am not an organic food pusher…»
Wheat Belly does encourage organic. A risk being mitigated is second-hand pesticides. The threat that these pose to the microbiome is basically unknown. There is no way at present to know precisely what to test for, so all we can go by are long term health outcomes. Attending to gut flora has measurable effects on BG.
«The bulk of my fats are plant based.»
To continue on the Wheat-Belly-isn’t-just-about-wheat” theme, be aware that plant foods (which tend to be otherwise great) are particularly poor sources of Omega 3 DHA and EPA. These are not to be confused with ALA, which plants often provide, but which we inefficiently convert to DHA&EPA, and taking more ALA doesn’t fix that.
There appears to be a beneficial threshold at about 2 grams per day of DHA+EPA, with WB recommending 3.0 to 3.6g (and even more for specific lipid situations).
Most people are deficient in these essential fatty acids, and there are consequences, principally cardiological and neurological. It is supposed that ancestrally we got these EFAs from consuming seafood and entire small game. Modern vegetarian/vegan sources are marine algae, and maybe yeast (but check the DHA/EPA balance.
________
Blog Reply Associate (click my user name for details)
You are equating years of insightful research necessary to write a book (Davis) to a decision to purchase a 10% interest of a publicly-traded company for monetary gain (Winfrey).
The motives of these individuals appear quite different to me. Both deserve to be paid for their work; however, I know who I would rather be when Karma comes home.
This is a great insight, but trust me the monetary gain is totally not the same. Not even a comparison to Oprah, WW and Dr. Davis. Dr. Davis charges because everyone should be paid for their work and his monetary gain is usually put back into the research and learning materials to get people like me to understand.
Oprah monetary gain is that of her 10% interest in WW. Oprah is one of the richest people in the world. Why would she invest 10% in WW. When most people you have seen promote WW has gain the weight back and had to use it again. What was her real motive to purchase such stock when she is truly a benefit to people in Africa and gain much for her work she has embarked in her time and growing. Again, I am an Oprah supporter and we all make mistakes and learn from them. Oprah promotes and place her monetary gain in her network I assume (in which i watch all the time). Maybe that is it and that is good. But the main message here is that not everyone should be eating bread everyday. Consuming wheat products cause much more problems than just weight and that is the part that is missing.
Stephanie wrote: «I must stand by what I wrote…»
Argument by mere repetition is usually an acknowledgment of a weak position.
«Dr. Davis is a cardiologist…. they make a six if not seven figure income right there.»
And you know this is still true for Dr. Davis just how?
«Then a best seller, and several follow-up books…»
That’s determined by the public, not the author. So you’re saying that an important message that people want hear should not be rewarded and encouraged?
«… and a pay-to-be-a-member website.»
Start one. Figure out how much it costs to design it, register it, host it, launch it, populate it with valuable reference information, manage the memberships, attract a user base who are contributors and not trolls, and personally respond to complex medical questions. How much per head is it?
«If anyone is TRULY wishing to supply correct information to ALL, it can be done through You Tube videos, and a free-to-all website with valid information.»
Everything you need to know to follow basic Wheat Belly you can get for free, both on-line and from a public library. Want a free forum? See http://wheatfreeforum.com/
We are in the early stages of truly beginning to understand how to optimize human nutrition, and in the very primitive stages of comprehending microbiome. How do you propose to fund following the emergent science, carefully drawing actionable recommendations from it, and presenting it in comprehensible forms that must change over time?
Entirely apart from that, there may be a bit of psychology involved. People tend to take less seriously that which they get for free.
________
Blog Reply Associate (click my user name for details)
Well nothing more to be said from that.. Outstanding Bob Niland. Very well said.
I like reading Bob Niland’s replies too. They’re well thought out and considered.
Please do not get me wrong I love Oprah. But I also know what Dr. Davis is referring to. I follow various investments in the Stock Market. This what Dr. Davis is saying is what stopped me from purchasing the shares this week when she announced she lost weight but encouraged to eat bread everyday. “I am not depriving myself of bread”, is what she stated. (I think, Never know with the media). But let me explain a personal experience, I personally loved ed ed ed bread and everyone in my family love bread too. However, 1/1/2014 I read Wheat Belly and stop eating bread. When I did that all my health problems PCOS, infertility, diabetes, manic depression was eliminated. So when I saw Oprah mentioned eating bread, I thought to myself OMG Oprah. You are actually gonna kill the people to increase shares and revenue for a company that is old, outdated and work for a short period of time. Every one I know that used WW, had to use it again and again and again. It is never permanent. What is proven permanent to me is eliminating the consumption of Wheat products. I was heart broken and although the WW shares were quite affordable, I refused to invest my money. I felt that Oprah has been mislead or didn’t read the Wheat Belly Book. Then I said, wait I am sure she has read the book. So I was very confused. But this letter confirmed my feelings. Oprah, please correct this wrong, bread is not good for everyone. Bread is destroying people skin with ezcema and skin disorders. I experienced that to until I read Wheat Belly and stopped consuming Wheat products. It is causing unusually brain patterns that lead to unexplained behavior problems like depression. Have not had an episode since I stop consuming wheat products. My menstrual were never aligned until I stop consuming Wheat Products. I even became pregnant at the age of 40. So no matter what, I refuse to sale my belief for money. WE have been fooled for far to long. These are personal experiences I have witnessed and lived for me and my family. Cancer, skin diseases, tumors are common in my family and you know what else is common. We all loved bread. So to hear our Icon say “I don’t deprive myself of bread”, is like saying Eat bread everyday and kill yourself so my stocks and revenue will increase. WW has had its run of success, time is up. Time to retire.
When I saw that ad, I wondered how long before we’d get a marvelous blog post from Dr. Davis addressing it. Kudos!
Since Oprah Purchased 10% of Weight Watchers Stock, She is Just Using Her Name To Make The Stock Soar! I’ve Been Wheat Free for 2+ Years and Would Never Go Back, But For a Billion Bucks I Would Promote Bread Too, LOL! I Use The LA Weight Loss Plan I Downloaded from SmarterSaver.com with Wheat Belly Bread Recipes Instead of Regular Bread and the Weight Comes off Super-Super-Fast!
“Oprah buys 10% of Weight Watchers, stock soars:” Link http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/10/19/oprah-winfrey-weight-watchers/74206132/
perfect well said with the proof.. My point exactly… WW is in desperate times..
Yup…. Everything boils down to the almighty $$$
Fantastic Dr. Davis,, and so well put . Oprahs endorsement of WW scares the heck out of me . I so wish she had come on this Journey instead,, it would have done the country so much better . And you are so correct as she did not do her Due Diligence to the people of this country .
Thank you
Tamarah
Dr Davis! You are my hero. I am a WW ‘graduate’ from last summer. I read your book and the new lifestyle and journey began, for me. I have been following your podcasts, along with Fat Burning Man, Dr Purlmutter, Dr Hyman and more. Even my doctor changed her lifestyle of eating with your book. And, she LOVED my labs after I gave up wheat and sugar and THEN all grains.
You rock. I do a video a day on my YouTube and Facebook page. Pearls of Wisdom and Food. I call my followers the ‘tribe.’ What you wrote to Oprah is so true. She’s never been honest with her food, all her career. I wait for the pride to become given up for a willingness. But, she IS BIG BIG business and WW loves it as it’s lining their pockets. If nothing changes, alas, nothing changes.
High FIVES for your open letter~!~ Sarah Pearls of Wisdom and Food
Excellent letter Dr Davis!
Because of you I am now extremely healthy. I see other people every day who would be so much healthier if they did what I have done by following the Wheat Belly lifestyle. It’s so sad to see so many unhealthy people. So sad that they adhere to the bogus beliefs that have been promoted by big food companies, Heart and Diabetes Foundations, big pharma, corporate media and the government. And it’s so simple once a person starts the Wheat Belly way of eating. It’s uncomplicated, inexpensive and so rewarding. So very rewarding. In addition to the Wheat Belly books I think people should also read Dr David Perlmutter’s books and the book The Big Fat Surprise by Nina Teicholz. It’s insane to do what people have always done…all types of diets that continue to make people sicker and less healthy, absolutely insane. It’s like ants who go to to feed on poison because it tastes good and is addicting…til they die.
Weight Watchers has repeat business of 84 percent. Nice investment, Oprah. I doubt she attends meetings. My guess is that her own personal chef makes her wholesome organic meals from her Hawaiian farm and counts the points for her, too. And don’t be fooled, people. She probably is familiar with what Dr. Davis is talking about, but will never admit it. My guess is that her team tweaks the WW plan so she can be successful, for the time being. I’d do the same if I were a billionaire. Why not? She is not a one-man-band. Nobody gets to that level alone.
She is a religion onto herself. People follow her like a god. Not me.
They feed corn to cows for a reason. Processed foods are bad news for the human body. Let’s not forget, not only are US government agencies and other organizations responsible for the bad nutritional advice throughout the decades, commercial farmers also continue to play a major role in fattening up America all for the love of money. Add to this the other “pharms” with their drugs to counteract the deadly results. They also have a stake in this “bad advice.”
Dr. Davis, you say, “The solutions for weight loss and health are, in truth, simple, accessible to virtually everyone, and come at almost no cost.”
So where are these solutions you are referring to? How do we get them at almost no cost?
Also, you say “…once again, it is NOT the fault of the individual.” I disagree, in part. Where is the self accountability, Dr. Davis? Certainly not everyone holds the American Heart Association, the FDA, and other agencies on a pedestal and takes their word as God breathed.
Let’s not forget Oprah and Optifast back in 1988. She promoted a high protein liquid diet and quickly lost 67 pounds. She had many followers who lost weight, gained it back and some got incredibly sick in the process. Since then she also gained it all back, plus more and ruined her health, she once stated on air. Today it is Weight Watchers. I wonder if she’ll be one of the 84 percent repeat members.
Where are the weight loss solutions at virtually no cost?? Why it’s simple! Eat REAL food!! Low carb (no sugar), medium protein and high fat (good saturated fat such as olive oil, coconut oil, butter, avocado oil and ghee. Not only will you lost excess weight but your health will improve dramatically. T2 diabetes can be reversed following this lifestyle – it’s not a diet; idea a way of life!!
I see people advocating “eat real food” all the time. How are butter (a processed food made from cream of milk), ghee (an even more processed food made by cooking butter down) , coconut oil ( a processed food where one extracts oil from coconuts) , and avocado oil (a processed food where oil is extracted from avocados) “real food”? To me, real food would be milk, coconuts and avocados. Anything else is processed.
I agree that eating high fat is good, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with animal fat. I eat as much fat every day as I can, and I try to make that as much animal fat as possible. Unfortunately, everything has been bred to be lean, and it’s difficult to find fatty meat at times. I particularly avoid eating oils from plants, particularly soy, corn, vegetable oils. I’m even concerned about olive oil and avocado oil, as there are limited randomized controlled trials involving these. I think monounsaturated fats probably aren’t bad, so maybe these are OK. I do eat them, as I’ve been using these to make mayonnaise, but I try to eat as much animal fat as I can if that’s possible.
For some reason the term ‘real foods’ rubs many people the wrong way. Anyhow, I’ll just say the items you mention require very little processing; little more than mashing potatoes, peeling eggs or cooking meat.
I have just been watching the most informative videos by a Dr. Jason Fung a Nephrologist[ {kidney specialist} from Scarborough [Toronto} Canada—if you want to really know how to loose weight, be healthy cure type two [, get off drugs, and be healthy–watch his videos, it is insulin and hormones that drive obesity and diabetes, he says, diets don’t work, and it is not about calories i , calories out, and exercise..— and his approach makes such common sense–, , and the lies about salt reducing, [he has data that actually support reducing salt , especially in people with cardovascular problems spikes the rate of heart attach and stroke,and change of dying, as salt may lower bp only slightly but the hormones it spikes makes is so much worse–this DR IS BRILLIANT, just google his name and go to his lectures it will change your life..he says giving type 2 diabetic people insulin , is making them worse and drinking dairy milk for calcium is also bad—-HE IS BRILLIANT AND HAS the documentation that supports what he is teaching…
Hi Joan,
Interesting. Have you read Dr. Davis’ books?
CA
Joan wrote: «Dr. Jason Fung … it is insulin and hormones that drive obesity and diabetes, he says, diets don’t work…»
That’s contradictory on it’s face. For the majority of us with functioning beta cells, the knob that controls insulin is diet. Although Wheat Belly outlines dietary principles, it is not strictly speaking a Diet™; it’s a lifestyle, about a good deal more than just food, and not a temporary quick fix that will fail later (as most diets are).
«…it is not about calories in, calories out, and exercise.»
Correct, and if you read any of the WB books, or just a reasonable sample of this blog, you’ll see that the CICO myth holds no sway here; and exercise is encouraged, but for reasons other than weight loss (something for which exercise per se is spectacularly inefficient).
«…he has data that actually support reducing salt…»
Are you sure that’s his position? A quick search gets results suggesting that he dissents on what was until recently low salt dogma. Unfortunately, a lot of what he has to say is buried in videos which are both disrespectful of our time, and inaccessible to those with slow or marginal internet connections (which at the moment is my situation).
«…he says giving type 2 diabetic people insulin , is making them worse and drinking dairy milk for calcium is also bad…»
Agreed and agreed, and if you had more familiarity with Wheat Belly, you’d have known that such advice is not news here.
«…HE IS BRILLIANT …»
Well, her loyal viewers probably say the same about Oprah ☺, and in both cases, there is some disagreement on the appraisal. But without having studied Dr. Fung’s work extensively, I suspect there’s not as much distance between what he advocates and Wheat Belly as you imagine. My impression is that he has a narrower focus.
________
Blog Reply Associate (click my user name for details)
The so called “process ” of coconut oil and others like bitter is not the same as mist processed foods as there are no additives.
Butter from grass fed cows is best. Grass fed beef at 15% fat us best.
Coconut oil us by far the best for multiple uses from our body’s to cooking it to digesting it alone.
Try the “wild diet” by Abel James
It makes total sense and will open your eyes to the controlling if America by big food and big dollar companies to convince us to just buy and consume more and more while they make money selling foods they don’t even feed thier own families.
Think about it……we weren’t a fat nation pre processed foods were we?
Jeezzz Bob M….if you know anything about true wellness and those products you mentioned and are trying to pick apart…. SOURCED AND CONSUMED in the proper way and form, are minimually processed and are far and away superior to westernized, traditionally processed fats consumed by the huge majority of people in this country. You are nitpicking to say the least here.
Sean Ward wrote: «…in the proper way and form, are minimually processed and are far and away superior to westernized, traditionally processed fats…»
Bob M’s point might have been that “eat real food” is a pretty useless phrase. It’s not as widely abused as “all natural”, but anyone using it can’t assume that it means to the listener what it means to the speaker.
Perhaps the biggest problem with the healthy plant oils and fats is provenance: are they what they claim to be. This is a huge problem with olive oil, for example.
«You are nitpicking to say the least here.»
We do that here. “Minimally processed”, for a further example, is likewise a phrase of limited communications value. What matters is what’s on the plate, and how it got there. To be sure, the more processing, the harder it is to tell, but minimally processed glucose and fructose are just as troublesome as HFCS.
Considering the products linked from your username here (which pages neglect to specify macronutrients or ingredients unless one chases them down), I see high glycemic snacks and wheatgrass products. You can get just as fat and diabetic on minimally processed organic dried fruit as you can on a similar product from Big Industrialized Food. Wheatgrass contains the toxic lectin wheat germ agglutinin no matter how it’s processed.
“Superfood” is another term to avoid. In every case I’ve dug into, it turns out to be a warning label.
________
Blog Reply Associate (click my user name for details)
No argument on the animal fat, However:
Coconut oil: squeeze the meat let set for 1 day, skim oil off top.
Butter: Do similar with cow’s milk (just let sit for a while and skim the top layer), then shake a lot or churn – you get butter
Ghee: Milt the above butter. It separates. Skin off the olein (oil) portion and you get ghee.
Is THIS what you mean by “processed”?! Those are totally natural foods and that is not the meaning of processed foods according to anything I’ve heard of.
Well said Susan!
Susan Dey – Too bad you are not the president of the American Diabetes Association. With your basic internet and Wheat Belly education, you clearly know more about T2 diabetes than the idiots (notwithstanding their MD’s and doctorates), who currently run the ADA, and continue to recommend high-carb junk food.
It’s a shame.
Dieting is not a solution, cutting out fatty foods, drinks and start eating healthy is what makes you lose weight. You must make a commitment to yourself, and start a complete lifestyle change. This is not only eating 4 healthy balance meals throughout the day and exercising, but also thinking positive, being motivated and keep on going regardless of what other people tell or think of you.
I agree with you Gina. Most diets come and go. I tried Weight Watchers for a year and regained what I lost. Now I’m just eating healthy, and working out three times a week. It’s working and I’m healthier and happier.
Gina Cianfarani wrote: «Dieting is not a solution…»
True.
«…cutting out fatty foods…»
Untrue, but which fats to consume matters quite a bit. Low fat mania is a major part of the adverse chronic non-infectious disease trends over the last 40 years. DGA 2015 has started to reverse course on this, but it will take them decades.
«…and start eating healthy…»
That depends on whose definition of “healthy” we are using. If it’s the FDA’s, or the USDA’s, for example, you’ll get MyPlateOfMetabolicSyndrome instead of health.
«You must make a commitment to yourself, and start a complete lifestyle change.»
It is a lifestyle change, but it’s more about chemistry than commitment (character).
«This is not only eating 4 healthy balance meals throughout the day…»
4? Wheat Belly works fine with 3 meals a day, and is pretty much ad libitum for the recommended foods. As I’ve put it in the past, on a consensus diet, grazing doesn’t help. On Wheat Belly, grazing doesn’t hurt.
«…and exercising…»
Wheat Belly recommends exercising, but it’s important to note:
not for weight loss per se.
Exercise is spectacularly inefficient for weight loss, to the point of being destructively discouraging (as is obvious from those fake TV weight loss “reality” shows).
«…but also thinking positive, being motivated…»
Interestingly, that tends to take care of itself, and is not a major focus of Wheat Belly. Much about consensus diets is a neurological disaster. Remove the antagonists, provide what the brain needs, and it simply functions properly.
«…keep on going regardless of what other people tell or think of you.»
That attitude might be necessary to get started, but personal results tend to be very reinforcing.
________
Blog Reply Associate (click my user name for details)
Hi Bob, You are right. I am finding that a positiving attitude, and eating the right kind and amount of food is good enough for me. Everyone have a super Monday.
Of course personal results depends on the person following thru any kind of lifestyle changing method they use. For me personally, I need to get motivated to get my butt moving and doing what I have to do. I also need to see results and proof as a Gemini it’s the way I am. As for Ms. Winfery it’s all about money.
Oprah declaring ‘I love bread’ disgusts me. She acts like a greedy golem.
Her alliance with WWs is strictly a money-making proposition . Eat less–move more. Nothing more, nothing less.
WOW! I’m so glad you spoke up about this. When I saw the ad, I was so disappointed that someone whom I have admired for a long time would say such a thing. People trust her and that is what is so scary about her message. I tried weight watchers several times in my life and lost about 10 pounds quickly and then got discouraged over time when no more weight was coming off. I proceeded to gain the 10 pounds back and more. She has struggled with weight all her life as I have, but I feel I have it under control now thanks to your help and knowledge.