[kaplods]

Originally Posted by murphmitch

Kaplods, have you read "Wheat Belly" by Dr. William Davis? Might correlate with your wheat experience.

I actually just finished it. It was an interesting read, but unfortunately didn't provide me with any "new" information. I've been studying the association between grains and health issues such as autoimmune disease and other inflammatory diseases for about seven years now (ever since I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, autoimmune disease and other health problems - that seem to be mostly inflammatory).

In my opinion the author grossly oversimplifies the information and doesn't really talk about the research he's basing his conclusions on (which most people probably appreciate, but I actually like to go to the original research to see if I agree with the author's conclusions). To be fair, the annotated references are printed in the back of the book (much of it research I've already read).

I'm not saying it wasn't a good book, I just prefer the books with a more academic emphasis on nutritional anthropology and empirical research.

I did recommend it to my husband, because I think the has some wheat issues himself and because the book is an easy, non-technical read. When I recommended Good Calories, Bad Calories to him, he gave up before the first chapter and said it was "way too boring."

[Mmckellen]

I also read Wheat Belly and felt it was grossly oversimplified and a regurgitation of the basic advice to avoid refined and processed foods. I already knew that most of the "whole wheat" breads you can buy in a supermarket are not really "whole wheat." I am also really not sure I agree with his advice to avoid beans and legumes, which seem to be to be an almost perfect food nutritionally, or other grains like quinoa or farrow. Essentially what he is recommending is a paleolithic diet. I'm starting to be so against any diet that is this extreme. Way too much pressure and sets people up to fail in the long term.

By the way - Kaplods - congrats on the continuing losses!

[murphmitch]

This Dr.'s diet (in the video) is pretty paleo... no dairy, beans or grains suggested. The big message I get from it is that while her diet does seem extreme to most of us, eating the standard American diet is killing us. More diabetes, more heart disease, more chronic disease every year. The forecast for diabetes alone is staggering. I also think a lot of psychiatric disease are tied in with diet. I don't think people realize how much our food affects our physical as well as mental health. I can't wait to read her book, coming out this year. When you do a complete 180, from slowly dying to being vibrant & healthy, that's pretty fantastic!

[Mmckellen]

I totally agree that the standard american diet today is killing us. Also part of that is the amount of "frankenfood" people consume on a daily basis. Years ago, a hamburger at McDonald's was a real hamburger, like the kind you'd cook at home - you know, made with 'real meat.' I understand McDonalds just released a statement that they are no longer putting pink sludge in their burgers. Ok, that's great, but why was it there in the first place???

I think if we all made an effort to avoid processed foods, eat whole carbs moderately and stay away from excess sugar and soda in particular, as well as eat more fruits and vegetables (and enjoy "cheat" foods in moderation), you'd see chronic disease in this country go way, way down. Perhaps for some people a more drastic diet change would help to address rarer conditions; but I think honestly such radical measures are not necessary for the general population to reduce their risk of disease.

[murphmitch]

I think due to her illness, this lady may have required massive amounts of nutrients to overcome it. I can't imagine eating this much. On the other hand, my insurance company had me do an online nutritional assessment and then criticized the fact that I don't eat 7 servings a day of carbs/grains! Really! That's about how many I ate when I was regularly gaining weight from one year to the next. I think that is absurd, yet this is what the USDA is recommending all Americans to eat. Something wrong here. Eat more veggies!

[Mmckellen]

Yes, I think we should all do as Michael Pollan says: "Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly Plants."