Wheat Belly

YES! Love the book.

I have been wanting to read it, just havent had the chance yet. I am dairy free because of an allergy and I am also trying to go gluten free because a gluten intolerance often goes with a casein allergy. Only been about a week now that I have been trying it but I have noticed that I feel better in some ways. I am not as cranky and I am sleeping better.

I decided to go wheat-free as part of my low-carb diet.

I used to have a rash all over my arms. It was there for about 30 years and I had been to several doctors with zero results. After being wheat-free since Christmas 2011, it is now almost completely gone.

Coincidence? Maybe.

Related to weight loss rather than wheat? Maybe.

But I don't miss wheat, so I'm staying wheat-free.

I have had a rash for almost a year. Since cutting ot dairy it has started going away but I still had flare ups. Since cutting out wheat it has almost completely healed in the last week. I will have permanent scars on my hands from it but as long as it is gone I am happy.

I am with you, there is a chance cutting those foods is what made it stop ad i aam not willing to go back.

Bump. I just started reading this book and am curious to hear what others think or how it's worked for them.

I decided to go wheat-free as part of my low-carb diet.

I used to have a rash all over my arms. It was there for about 30 years and I had been to several doctors with zero results. After being wheat-free since Christmas 2011, it is now almost completely gone.

Coincidence? Maybe.

Related to weight loss rather than wheat? Maybe.

But I don't miss wheat, so I'm staying wheat-free.

I could have written this. I have had horrible eczema on my arms and hands since high school. I was recently diagnosed with intolerances to wheat, corn and soy. Since eliminating these and other grains (the others due to diabetes), the rash is g-o-n-e and so are many of my digestive issues.

I've not read it, but have read up on it, and i have been following a strictly protein/veggie diet since Sept. 4th and have had amazing results. Even sleeping better
Here are my thoughts on it
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/jenn1270/view/wheat-belly-432091

It's not a fad diet for some. I know a lot of people whose lives have reclaimed their lives because they gave up wheat (and other gluten grains). There are people out there who try it for diet reasons, but generally, if you look through these posts you'll see a series of medical issues like...

Migraines
Gerd/IBS
Rashes/eczema
Diabetes
Bloating (like enough to add 4-8 inches) caused by digestion issues on gluten

As for giving up all non-gluten grains, for some people with these sort of issues, it's not necessarily a bad starting point. I think a lot of people will start re-adding certain things to discover what affects them in particular. If a person has Celiac's, they actually need time to heal so this sort of diet would be useful for them. I have a girlfriend who is diabetic and I've seen what the doctors want and I can tell you - the first thing that was limited - the wheat. It's horrible for her. She eats mainly proteins and vegetables with a small amount of fruits.

Now, if the person has no medical issues and none of the above symptoms (among many others) than they are embarking on a diet that's insanely expensive. It's not cheap to eat gluten free. At that point, I'd say reconsider, but if there's a medical issue - can't hurt to try this for a short while.

Has anybody else read the book "Wheat Belly" by Dr. Davis?
Did you practice what he preached?
Did you at least try the challenge?
What were your end results?

I scanned through the website and I can say I'm not totally doing what he advocates. I do eat rice, corn, tapioca starch, buckwheat and several other non-gluten grains/plants. But, I do watch the calorie counts on those products because the wheat free stuff can be super high in calories. Unfortunately, they aren't very good when it comes to fiber so I have to find other sources. So, no, I don't follow everything per what his website says. But, I did go entirely wheat free and the results for me have been amazing in how my body reacted to finally being free of it. Granted, I'm allergic - just never thought it might be impacting me in more ways than a rash. Now I know that it's affect on my body overall was very negative. I plan on being wheat free for life due to my allergies. The only part about being gluten free is learning how to eat right. You have to make sure you take supplements too. Wheat grains usually are supplemented with certain vitamins and the gluten free stuff isn't so I make up for that with supplements and healthy eating.

^^ This. I just found out I'm Gluten Intolerant and this week, I've finally discovered what it feels like to not be bloated or feel lethargic and fatigued. I've lost 5 lbs which may or may not be from going Gluten free, low carb but I find it a bit of coincidence that since I started this lifestyle change, the weight has been coming off slowly, steadily and in a healthy way. I decided to invest in this book to see his thoughts and I think it's important, as with any medical doctor giving his two cents, to take it as a tool in your arsenal but not as complete truth. Only your own experience can do that for you. I happen to really agree with most of what he says in the book and think it's a great resource for anyone with a wheat allergy or looking to decrease their wheat intake.

The main reason I disagreed is that he limits your carbs to an extreme degree - some of them are not limited due to gluten - but to the sugar spikes they produce as non-gluten grains. Basically, he wrote the diet for diabetics. Now, if you're diabetic...than it may be a really good diet for you until you get it under control. But, if you're not, than I would say going gluten free, varying your foods by adding fruits/veggies and just eating cleaner will make a big difference. For example, some with Celiac's can't tolerate dairy. I'm lucky - I'm allergic to gluten but not dairy. Do I overdose on it? No. I try to mix up my foods and if I'm low on something on one day - I do more on the next. It's important to find what you can and can't tolerate. I don't think it's necessary to go as drastic as his diet unless you're trying to get diabetes under control.

The book was recommended to me, but I haven't bought or read it yet. I did start my diet this month, and was mainly doing protein/veggies with some fruit. Just trying to avoid bread and pastas for the low carb affect. Weight started falling off me. Edema that I've struggled with for yrs VANISHED over night. I felt alert and was happy to wake up. Lost 3" in girth in 3 weeks!

Then... I got complacent this week and thought a little bread here or there wouldn't hurt if I was under 1200/day. One bun, half a sandwich and a flour tortilla in the same week and my leg edema is back with a vengeance!!! Scales quit moving last Friday. I feel like crap again, and the only noticeable change are the breads.

My dad is so gluten sensitive that he was having mal-absorption issues, and doctors told him he was having an auto immune-response to it (Celiacs). He had dropped to 155 and we thought he had cancer. He gave it up and his weight returned to normal ranges for his height, and his health problems went away.

I don't think it's "everyone's problem" but I do think it can be a BIG problem for some people. Unfortunately, I might have to join the club. I love bread, but it's not worth blowing up overnight with water and feeling like I have the flu. :-(