The Dark Side of "Healthy" Wheat

[Clandestine]

The Dark Side of "Healthy" Wheat

Take everything you've heard about whole wheat and throw it out the window. It's not a health food, it's making you fat, and your digestive tract hates you for eating it, according to the author of the New York Times best-selling book, Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health (Rodale, 2011).

So how—and when—did this ancient grain become such a serious health threat? Author and preventive cardiologist William Davis, MD, says it's when big agriculture stepped in decades ago to develop a higher-yielding crop. Today's "wheat," he says, isn't even wheat, thanks to some of the most intense crossbreeding efforts ever seen. "The wheat products sold to you today are nothing like the wheat products of our grandmother's age, very different from the wheat of the early 20th Century, and completely transformed from the wheat of the Bible and earlier," he says.

Plant breeders changed wheat in dramatic ways. Once more than four feet tall, modern wheat—the type grown in 99 percent of wheat fields around the world—is now a stocky two-foot-tall plant with an unusually large seed head. Dr. Davis says accomplishing this involved crossing wheat with non-wheat grasses to introduce altogether new genes, using techniques like irradiation of wheat seeds and embryos with chemicals, gamma rays, and high-dose X-rays to induce mutations.

Clearfield Wheat, grown on nearly 1 million acres in the Pacific Northwest and sold by BASF Corporation—the world's largest chemical manufacturer—was created in a geneticist's lab by exposing wheat seeds and embryos to the mutation-inducing industrial toxin sodium azide, a substance poisonous to humans and known for exploding when mishandled, says Dr. Davis. This hybridized wheat doesn't survive in the wild, and most farmers rely on toxic chemical fertilizers and pesticides to keep the crops alive. (It's important to note, however, that the intensive breeding efforts that have so dramatically transformed wheat should not to be confused with genetic engineering of food, or GMOs. This type of technology has its own set of problems, though.)

 

[mike2810]

From an organic support site.

Here is a clue, when calories taken in is greater than calories expended, you can get fat.

While organic may be better, the key is get off your butt and exercise. I am not buying the "wheat' other than organic is bad.
Growing up I did ranch and farm work as a teenager during the summers. Worked wildfires for a carreer. Worked hard. Ate fried eggs, chicken, mash potatoes, brown/cream gravey, whole milk, steaks, whole wheat toast, etc. I am in my 60's and my arteries and heart are good. Sitting on ones but all day and night is not good, no matter what you eat.

 

[ChuckBerry]

Every food you can buy in a store has been vilified or vaunted at one time or another. I for one am finished with it all.

Make up your ****ing minds.

 

[Clandestine]

From an organic support site.

Here is a clue, when calories taken in is greater than calories expended, you can get fat.

While organic may be better, the key is get off your butt and exercise. I am not buying the "wheat' other than organic is bad.
Growing up I did ranch and farm work as a teenager during the summers. Worked wildfires for a carreer. Worked hard. Ate fried eggs, chicken, mash potatoes, brown/cream gravey, whole milk, steaks, whole wheat toast, etc. I am in my 60's and my arteries and heart are good. Sitting on ones but all day and night is not good, no matter what you eat.

I agree with you, but make up of this wheat isnt causing the usual diabetes and obesity, but inflammatory syndromes, like irritable bowel syndrome, Crohns disease, ulcers, ..etc.

You could be active and still be vulnerable to such effects, thinking you're eating a moderate amount of a "healthy" wheat.

In all honesty, I'll probably do more research on the scientific effects on this specific wheat this biotech company is doing. I think it's good to be aware.. All nonorganic wheat aren't the same.

 

[Enola]

Gluten. BAD.

Nuff said.

 

[mike2810]

Gluten. BAD.

Nuff said.

that seems to be the trend today.
yet it was not that long ago egs were bad, wait now they are ok
coffe/caffine was bad, wait not its good
alcohol/wine bad, wait red wine is good.

It seems the more we learn about the human body, the more we don't know for certain.
Everything in moderation is the key, imo.

 

[Neomalthusian]

I agree with you, but make up of this wheat isnt causing the usual diabetes and obesity, but inflammatory syndromes, like irritable bowel syndrome, Crohns disease, ulcers, ..etc.

I can't promise this is true, but I am 27 years old and, for an entire year now, I have had the most insane, uncomfortable digestive issues of anyone I've ever known. I have had multiple blood tests, stool samples, a full abdominal CT scan, and full colonoscopy, as well as tried numerous different elimination diets and avoided unhealthy foods throughout. I don't have an inflammatory bowel disorder, cancer, Celiac's, food allergies, lactase deficienecy, etc. None of it. I'm clear. Inconclusive. And I've spent a ****load of my own money trying to diagnose whatever this is, and left with the equivalent of a shrug from multiple doctors. Therefore it's called "Irritable Bowel Syndrome" for lack of any actual diagnosis. I'm 5'11" and 170 lbs. I have good muscle tone and have always been athletic. I have no family history of any diagnosable digestive issues whatsoever.

Can I blame this on GMOs? Not conclusively. Can I write it off as a fluke or some ****? Uh, no.

Something's ****ed up about all this.

 

[Enola]

I can't promise this is true, but I am 27 years old and, for an entire year now, I have had the most insane, uncomfortable digestive issues of anyone I've ever known. I have had multiple blood tests, stool samples, a full abdominal CT scan, and full colonoscopy, as well as tried numerous different elimination diets and avoided unhealthy foods throughout. I don't have an inflammatory bowel disorder, cancer, Celiac's, food allergies, lactase deficienecy, etc. None of it. I'm clear. Inconclusive. And I've spent a ****load of my own money trying to diagnose whatever this is, and left with the equivalent of a shrug from multiple doctors. Therefore it's called "Irritable Bowel Syndrome" for lack of any actual diagnosis. I'm 5'11" and 170 lbs. I have good muscle tone and have always been athletic. I have no family history of any diagnosable digestive issues whatsoever.

Can I blame this on GMOs? Not conclusively. Can I write it off as a fluke or some ****? Uh, no.

Something's ****ed up about all this.

Gluten. I'll keep saying it forever. GLUTEN.
Google it with IBS. Google Leaky Gut Syndrome too.
The wheat from thousands of years ago is not the same wheat today. No food is, what with al the chemicals and preservatives. I, too, spent too much money and suffered too long and never found an answer. Until I stopped eating ANYTHING with gluten in it.

 

[Clandestine]

I can't promise this is true, but I am 27 years old and, for an entire year now, I have had the most insane, uncomfortable digestive issues of anyone I've ever known. I have had multiple blood tests, stool samples, a full abdominal CT scan, and full colonoscopy, as well as tried numerous different elimination diets and avoided unhealthy foods throughout. I don't have an inflammatory bowel disorder, cancer, Celiac's, food allergies, lactase deficienecy, etc. None of it. I'm clear. Inconclusive. And I've spent a ****load of my own money trying to diagnose whatever this is, and left with the equivalent of a shrug from multiple doctors. Therefore it's called "Irritable Bowel Syndrome" for lack of any actual diagnosis. I'm 5'11" and 170 lbs. I have good muscle tone and have always been athletic. I have no family history of any diagnosable digestive issues whatsoever.

Can I blame this on GMOs? Not conclusively. Can I write it off as a fluke or some ****? Uh, no.

Something's ****ed up about all this.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome only has a little research. Immunology is still a new field. Not to mention, how individuastic each immune system is and complex.

Btw. I empathize, I'm in the same situation. I got food poisoning, and supposedly I have IBS, too. It's not saying that all cases of IBS are from this wheat, but it could facilitating it.

 

[Neomalthusian]

Gluten. I'll keep saying it forever. GLUTEN.
Google it with IBS. Google Leaky Gut Syndrome too.
The wheat from thousands of years ago is not the same wheat today. No food is, what with al the chemicals and preservatives. I, too, spent too much money and suffered too long and never found an answer. Until I stopped eating ANYTHING with gluten in it.

I went gluten free (in the absolute sense) for 3.5 weeks and experienced no relief.

 

[Clandestine]

I don't know if this is beneficial, but lime is a really good anti-inflammatory. Freshly squeezed lime in water can offer instant relief for hours.

 

[Enola]

I went gluten free (in the absolute sense) for 3.5 weeks and experienced no relief.

Not long enough. Took me a few months to get relief.

Seriously...google Leaky Gut Syndrome. Makes sense to me, the info from the websites I visited and the studies.

You are what you eat. Your insides don't like something. Clean yourself out. I drank organic Apple Cider Vinegar (from the health food store, unfiltered, with the "mother lode" in it because store bought stuff at the market doesn't have that "film" that does the cleansing) in hot tea for weeks. ACV has multiple uses. I also use it as a hair conditioner now. And I dilute it with water and scrub my face. My skin is clear and smooth.

I love this website: Folk Remedies from Earth Clinic

This is where I learned about gluten and how damaging it is and people continue to eat it anyway. All I can do is say it worked for me. Might for others. And you might want to check with your pharmacist if you are on meds before trying anything. I was at the point that I didn't give a damn. So I cleaned my system out, then went gluten free. The RA doctor said I should be bedridden by now since I refused his poison. I'm not bedridden. yet.

 

[Neomalthusian]

I am on no meds. So I don't care what I try. I am grateful for your post because, whether it works or not (and let's admit it might not), it offers some hope. And hope is a big deal.

I'll dig into your stuff. Eating like "normal people" is clearly not working for me, whether I exercise or not. I can eat red meat sandwiches and beer or I can eat veggie smoothies from my Vitamix and, guess what, I've still got the same digestive issues. And I'm already really healthy in the BMI sense.

 

[Enola]

I'm sorry you are suffering, Neo. The only thing I can tell you is to listen to your gut (pun not intended).
I don't eat red meat any more either. Just ground turkey. I like burnt hot dogs, though. And they are gluten free (certain brands).

You know, I used to take the purple pill, was told I had GERD, then went on the generic brand..then found out it makes your bones brittle if you keep using it. My RA doctor wanted me to take his poison that can cause blindness, cancer, MS, and a multitude of other problems along with possible death and I refused. I've taken suppliments, I've tried everything under the sun from endoscopies, gall bladder removal, hysterectomy, barium tests, blah blah blah. Nothing worked. Nothing solved. Same problem. So I started googling and teaching myself what could be the problem? WHAT Is doing this? The only thing that could. What I choose to put in my mouth and swallow. And my insides don't like what I was putting in there and balked. For years, I drove around knowing where every bathroom is. I didn't leave the house and STILL don't due to be afraid of that gas pain that might hit me in the middle of a store and not being able to control what would follow. It's a horrible way to live. So I became a hermit. Then I got suicidal. Then I got fed up. Then I got PISSED OFF. So I went on the ACV, stoppede all the meds, ate organic, quit sugar and went to honey instead, no gluten products and now 6 months later...I don't have a spare pair of pants in my car, nor a bucket "just in case" I can't find a bathroom. I don't have heartburn so bad I think it's a heart attack. My gut still gurgles now and then because sometimes I don't check well enough an ingredient or eat something I know I shouldn't have and wind up paying for. But I listened to my gut. And now it's happier. I take my blood pressure pills, I take my advils in the morning for pain and stiffness, and I take my half a vicodin at night and half a xanax to help me relax and I sleep like a baby.

I learned a lot. But it took a long time. Food with no salt sucks. But I also learned lemon pepper gives a better kick to taste in foods than salt does. There are tricks. But it takes time to learn them and you have to use your body for experimental purposes. Believe me..it will tell you what you are doing wrong. But when you finally get it right....what a relief even though it isn't perfect and life isn't supposed to be.

I hope you find solutions and answers. My prayers are with you.

 

[Enola]

btw..I was on fruit smoothies for some time. Loved them.But I noticed after about 2 weeks my GERD came back. Heartburn really bad. IBS kicked in again. So I stopped. Haven't had a problem since. Funny, and not Ha Ha funny that just a damn smoothie would be a no no to my insides. But they (my innards) rule, so I obey.