Science Says...

1. Gluten protein triggers many disease processes.
2. Gliadin protein breaks down to opium like compounds that stimulate hunger and craving.
3. Wheat germ agglutinin contains a lectin that can damage intestines.
4. Amylopectin A is the complex carbohydrate wheat responsible for the very high insulin response.
5. Omega 6 is proportionally high and that promotes inflammation.
6. Consumption of wheat promotes visceral fat that is associated with diabetes, heart disease, and inflammation.  Inflammation is the underlying process to nearly all disease.

"Think, think, think. "  -- Winnie the Pooh

This is a powerfully destructive combination.  Even if you aren’t sensitive to gluten.

What do I do?

What does this mean for me and my family?  We don’t eat wheat or wheat products since August of 2010.  We avoid most grain. Rice is our most common compromise and that is much less than ever before.  We eat some “gluten free” products but we have come to realize that those products are full of carbohydrates we don’t need.  They can make us fat and unhealthy too.  We have gotten much thinner and feel better without dieting or changing our exercise habits.  We didn't feel bad before, we just feel better now.

What do you do? 

That is up to you.  I like to teach, not to preach.

For additional information I recommend Wheat Belly, by William Davis, MD,
The Diabetes Solution by Richard Bernstein, MD and The Perfect Health Diet by
Paul Jaminet, Ph.D.  and Shou-Ching Shih Jaminet, Ph.D.  All have good  bibiliographies for reference to research materials.  I recommend reading the papers, source material, but most people just can’t do that.  The above authors have distilled the science into something more understandable.

--Dave

Photo by Dave Carsten

Wheat Inflammation

Inflammation can be mediated by food.  As I have stated in previous posts, there is a competition between omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, omega 3 being anti-inflammatory and omega 6 being pro-inflammatory. As you might guess, wheat has excessive omega 6. One ounce of wheat germ contains nearly 1500 mg of omega 6 and only 200 mg of omega 3. 

Visceral Fat

Wheat consumption also promotes visceral fat.  That would be fat surrounding the liver, pancreas, kidneys, and so called “love handles” around the abdomen.  This particular fat releases pro-inflammatory compounds.

--Dave

Photo by Dave Carsten

This may seem complicated but let’s try to simplify.
All rancid oils are bad.  If it smells bad , it probably is bad.
Some people are more talented than others at detecting rancidity
but smell is not a guarantee.  Chemicals can be added that deodorize the oil.
Heat makes oils go rancid.  Some oils are more sensitive.

Healthy oils
Flax(unrefined)--high omega 3, quickly goes rancid so keep cold
Hemp--contains GLA(only anti-inflammatory omega 6)
Olive--very low omega 6, high flavanoids, often counterfeit (be careful of source)
Butter(grass fed)--conjugated linoleic acid (good), low omega 6,
                             if clarified it has smoke-point of 500o F
Lard (non-hydrogenated) and Duck fat--moderate mono-unsaturated fat, low omega 6
Avocado--high in omega3 and omega 9
Macadamia--high omega 3 and omega 9 plus unique anti-oxidants
Coconut(unrefined)--high in good saturated fat (lauric acid), low in omega 6
Almond, Peanut, Pecan, Hazelnut (refined), Apricot kernel(refined)--tolerate moderate temperatures, contain mono-unsaturated fats, eat in moderation

Unhealthy oils
Butter--grain fed--high in “bad” saturated fat and omega 6
Canola--may have pesticide traces, high heat processing damages omega 3”s
soybean--high omega 6
corn--high omega 6
Pumpkin seed--high omega 6, goes rancid easily
Walnut--high temperature processing damages omega 3’s
             high in omega 6, goes rancid easily.  eat the whole walnut
Sesame--high omega 6
Grapeseed--high omega 6
palm and palm kernel--high omega 6
Cottonseed--high omega 6, very low omega 3
Margarine, Hydrogenated Coconut, and Shortening--contain trans fats with are very bad

Dave

Photo by Dave Hutt, www.dmddigitalphoto.com