OT: Wheat Belly

Zippylip

I’m always curious about what drives the latest food fad & and diet craze & it seems gluten is the current poison responsible for all the health woes of Americans.  I think its origins were in the plight of those with celiac coming to light but this book seems to have added to the mix particularly for people that don’t have celiac or even a gluten intolerance.  I’m about half way through it now & I’m getting the gist of the proposition.  Not sure I’m buying it, but I get it.  Just curious if anyone else here has read it & what their take is.

Darby_Crenshaw

The real surprise here is that you can read. 

Zippylip

Darby_Crenshaw said:

The real surprise here is that you can read. 

Thank you for your as always insightful comment

Darby_Crenshaw

Oh, taking the high road. That's just not fair. 

Zippylip

the only way I know to throw you off your game

Darby_Crenshaw

[insert disparaging remark about your lifestyle and/or sexuality here]

in all seriousness, have not read the book. What's the premise?

Zippylip

in a nutshell wheat is directly responsible for hastening most major health problems we are facing including hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, increase in visceral fat, 'wheat bellies', obesity, inflammation & joint disorders & probably others I forgot.  It all has to do with its super high glycemic index & thus its effect on insulin levels & blood sugar which spike following eating any wheat product, then plummet causing side effects not the least of which is the need to eat more, kind of a cyclical process which leads to over eating & all of its associated issues.  Says wheat also scratches the same itch as some controlled substances thus it has addictive qualities that go beyond hunger.  All of these claims which I kind of heard in dribs & drabs over time caused me to wonder why all of a sudden these things are an issue when they apparently haven't been throughout most of human history.  Was it that they were always present & we just didn't notice?  Anyway his response is that wheat (like so many other modern food products) bears little resemblance to wheat of the past.  Though I don't think it's specifically genetically modified (as in the disruption of its DNA, think GMO soy, corn...) it has been cross bread to death according to the author so we're not eating the wheat that sustained human kind from the beginning of our time until maybe midway through the 20th century.  Pretty interesting stuff but so far in the book he leans pretty heavily on anecdotal observations, not that they can't be valid given the fact that he's a doc & sees a lot of patients with these issues but it's a little fast & loose for my taste so far.

kl8ton

It is Monsanto's fault.

Zippylip

kl8ton said:

It is Monsanto's fault.

that's funny, and usually accurate.  I read a couple books about GMOs & at least as of the last publish date which I cannot recall at this point, the American Wheat Growers were successful in beating back Monsanto's attempts to introduce GMO wheat into the mainstream.  Apparently the wheat guys saw the issues created by all the other GMO crops & opted out.  I haven't looked into it since to learn if that has changed however...

HeavyG

Does the book explain how many cultures have been raising/consuming wheat as a staple in their diets for literally thousands of years sans any of the harmful health impacts the book is touting/promoting?

Certainly the wheat grown en masse today in many parts of the planet is likely quite different in many ways than what was grown a hundred or thousands of years ago.

Has a detailed genetic/chemical analysis of the modern monoculture strain of wheat been compared to the various heritage/ancient strains of wheat?

Would seem to be fairly easy to determine those differences. Probably a bit more difficult to determine the actual causative agents and impacts of those differences.

Personally, when it comes to books like "Wheat Belly" I always make sure to seek out the critiques of the evidence/agenda of the authors.

So, is there really anything to the problems and the cause/effect the author of "Wheat Belly" is touting? Beats me. Could be. The problem with diet/health/nutrition/lifestyle studies is that to do them properly is very time consuming and very expensive which is why few quality studies are really ever done.

gdenby

The observation that most of the wheat on the market bears little resemblance to what was eaten throughout history seems correct, altho' it may be irrelevant. The notion that the gliadin component can cause many negative side effects appears to be a worthwhile one. That it can cause tissue inflammation would have all sorts of negative effects. When many people report cutting out wheat and feeling better than they have for years makes a lot of sense, because they would be decreasing soreness, and the clumsiness that comes w. swollen joints.



Myself, I think that saying wheat is addictive like other controlled substances is hooey. Remember how addictive tobacco was supposed to be, worse than cocaine I heard it said. Consider how many people stopped smoking. Does anyone really think if 65% of the US population was snorting up every 15 minutes, there would have been a drop off such as has happened? Heroin, any one? Think a loaf of wheat bread a day is anywhere near as addictive as even a dime bag?

While dietary research is valuable, the history of claimed panaceas is extensive. Gluten-free seems to be a current one. Certainly not as poor a panacea as radium elixirs, but I doubt avoiding it strictly would have much effect as, oh, not living down wind from a metal smelter.

M. Pollan's comment that nutritional science at present is about as accurate as medical knowledge in the 1500s is worthwhile.

Zippylip

HeavyG said:

So, is there really anything to the problems and the cause/effect the author of "Wheat Belly" is touting? Beats me. Could be. The problem with diet/health/nutrition/lifestyle studies is that to do them properly is very time consuming and very expensive which is why few quality studies are really ever done.

indeed, as said above thus far the book is skinny on details & heavy on "a patient told me he exercises an hour a day and eats sensibly but can't figure out why he's 5 foot 8 & weighs 268lbs, must be the wheat".  He recounts many instances of patients losing weight after eliminating wheat and leaps to the conclusion that wheat is special in its ability to cause weight gain.

He does admit being gluten intolerant & recounts a list of horrifying side effects he suffers whenever he eats wheat; I gather he's sour about the whole experience & wants to see things that may not be there, who knows.

As someone that has always and continues to eat wheat multiple times per day without the side effects described I guess I'm no different that him, albeit in the other camp

fishlessman

healthy diet plans do not exist eat the eggs, dont eat the eggs. dont eat the salt, eat the salt. eat the wheat, dont eat the wheat. next thing they will say is to stop adding quinine to my gin

Zippylip

fishlessman said:

healthy diet plans do not exist eat the eggs, dont eat the eggs. dont eat the salt, eat the salt. eat the wheat, dont eat the wheat. next thing they will say is to stop adding quinine to my gin

Fish i agree micromanaging food intake is a worthless endeavor but I've stuck to my nursery school teacher's advice from 45 years ago, if you want to be healthy eat whatever you want in moderation and get plenty of exercise; made sense then, makes sense now

Acn

gdenby said:

The observation that most of the wheat on the market bears little resemblance to what was eaten throughout history seems correct, altho' it may be irrelevant. The notion that the gliadin component can cause many negative side effects appears to be a worthwhile one. That it can cause tissue inflammation would have all sorts of negative effects. When many people report cutting out wheat and feeling better than they have for years makes a lot of sense, because they would be decreasing soreness, and the clumsiness that comes w. swollen joints.



Myself, I think that saying wheat is addictive like other controlled substances is hooey. Remember how addictive tobacco was supposed to be, worse than cocaine I heard it said. Consider how many people stopped smoking. Does anyone really think if 65% of the US population was snorting up every 15 minutes, there would have been a drop off such as has happened? Heroin, any one? Think a loaf of wheat bread a day is anywhere near as addictive as even a dime bag?

While dietary research is valuable, the history of claimed panaceas is extensive. Gluten-free seems to be a current one. Certainly not as poor a panacea as radium elixirs, but I doubt avoiding it strictly would have much effect as, oh, not living down wind from a metal smelter.

M. Pollan's comment that nutritional science at present is about as accurate as medical knowledge in the 1500s is worthwhile.

Pollan also has the best general diet advice ever, "Eat food.  Not too much.  Mostly plants."

Besides, shouldn't sugar become the new vilified food soon?  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/13/well/eat/how-the-sugar-industry-shifted-blame-to-fat.html?_r=0

Zippylip

Acn said:

gdenby said:

The observation that most of the wheat on the market bears little resemblance to what was eaten throughout history seems correct, altho' it may be irrelevant. The notion that the gliadin component can cause many negative side effects appears to be a worthwhile one. That it can cause tissue inflammation would have all sorts of negative effects. When many people report cutting out wheat and feeling better than they have for years makes a lot of sense, because they would be decreasing soreness, and the clumsiness that comes w. swollen joints.



Myself, I think that saying wheat is addictive like other controlled substances is hooey. Remember how addictive tobacco was supposed to be, worse than cocaine I heard it said. Consider how many people stopped smoking. Does anyone really think if 65% of the US population was snorting up every 15 minutes, there would have been a drop off such as has happened? Heroin, any one? Think a loaf of wheat bread a day is anywhere near as addictive as even a dime bag?

While dietary research is valuable, the history of claimed panaceas is extensive. Gluten-free seems to be a current one. Certainly not as poor a panacea as radium elixirs, but I doubt avoiding it strictly would have much effect as, oh, not living down wind from a metal smelter.

M. Pollan's comment that nutritional science at present is about as accurate as medical knowledge in the 1500s is worthwhile.

Pollan also has the best general diet advice ever, "Eat food.  Not too much.  Mostly plants."

Besides, shouldn't sugar become the new vilified food soon?  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/13/well/eat/how-the-sugar-industry-shifted-blame-to-fat.html?_r=0

Pollan makes more sense than anyone I've ever heard.  As for sugar, it's been an on again off again villain for decades, that's a pretty savvy industry in its ability to deflect criticism.  Still believe it's fine just like bacon so long as you're not pouring family-size pixie stix down your hole every day

fletcherfam

If you have a chance, and have Amazon Prime Movies, watch the documentary on Sugar. My wife and I watched it and it explains the wheat/sugar connection. (Synopsis: one guy goes for 60 days (normally ate no refined sugar before), eating the average amount of sugar consumption in Australia. Average amount is 40 teaspoons a day. He does not eat "junk" food, only what would be considered "healthy" food, keeps his exercise regimin, etc.) 

Fascinating show, really well done.

Gulfcoastguy

Don't forget when soft drinks (and everything else) switched to high fructose corn syrup from regular sugar. The date roughly corresponds with the beginning of the type II diabetes epidemic.

nolaegghead

I seem to remember reading fructose is a worse choice than sucrose.

chadpsualum

fishlessman said:

healthy diet plans do not exist eat the eggs, dont eat the eggs. dont eat the salt, eat the salt. eat the wheat, dont eat the wheat. next thing they will say is to stop adding quinine to my gin

They will never take away my quinine from my Gin.  Never I say!

HeavyG

chadpsualum said:

fishlessman said:

healthy diet plans do not exist eat the eggs, dont eat the eggs. dont eat the salt, eat the salt. eat the wheat, dont eat the wheat. next thing they will say is to stop adding quinine to my gin

They will never take away my quinine from my Gin.  Never I say!

Agreed! Gin & tonic - my favorite zero carb beverage. 

Zippylip

fletcherfam said:

If you have a chance, and have Amazon Prime Movies, watch the documentary on Sugar. My wife and I watched it and it explains the wheat/sugar connection. (Synopsis: one guy goes for 60 days (normally ate no refined sugar before), eating the average amount of sugar consumption in Australia. Average amount is 40 teaspoons a day. He does not eat "junk" food, only what would be considered "healthy" food, keeps his exercise regimin, etc.) 

Fascinating show, really well done.

this one was interesting, Sugar Coated, saw it on Netflix

http://sugarcoateddoc.com/trailer/

nolaegghead

Wheat belly is to blue grass as Lead belly is to blues?

Eggcelsior

nolaegghead said:

I seem to remember reading fructose is a worse choice than sucrose.

Yep. The human body absorbs it incredibly easily, similar to eggs vs other forms of protein.

Acn

nolaegghead said:

Wheat belly is to blue grass as Lead belly is to blues?

Nirvana's cover of Where Did You Sleep Last Night is one of the great cover songs of all time.
https://youtu.be/mcXYz0gtJeM

nolaegghead

@Acn I agree.  I'm a fan of both. 

I researched that song before for its history.  It's author is unknown.   In the pines.

Little Steven

Zippylip said:

Darby_Crenshaw said:

The real surprise here is that you can read. 

Thank you for your as always insightful comment

Aren't you late for yoga hippie?

Zippylip

Little Steven said:

Zippylip said:

Darby_Crenshaw said:

The real surprise here is that you can read. 

Thank you for your as always insightful comment

Aren't you late for yoga hippie?

Yoga, on a Tuesday?  It's like you don't even know me.  Tuesdays I host my essential oil squeezing & Reiki bonding poetry circle of love

Darby_Crenshaw

Little Steven said:

Zippylip said:

Darby_Crenshaw said:

The real surprise here is that you can read. 

Thank you for your as always insightful comment

Aren't you late for yoga hippie?

Thank you for sticking up for me. Zippy presents himself as a peaceful gentle soul but he is seething with rage. 

Also, eff rodney

gdenby

Completely off topic. Didn't even know Nirvana had covered Leadbelly. I was playing the Leadbelly version, one of my favorites of all time, and my older son, who currently lives in Portlandia,  came up to me and bowed.

And even farther off, I was listening while at work to a tape I'd made, and one of the profs came by and complimented my choice. Then he sparked great envy. Said he'd gotten to hear Huddy once, in the flesh. Said it was the most remarkable voice he'd ever heard. Operatic. Could be heard from 1/4 mile away.

GATraveller

Today's youth........