Thanks so much for this. I'm a T2 diabetic controlling my blood sugar with a low carb diet. The only thing in my recent lab work that my GP is unhappy with is an elevated vitamin D level. A few years ago, a friend gave me a copy of The China Study (along with Fuhrman's Eat to Live, because they had "changed [her] life" and she hoped they would change my life as well. Based on my experience and reading about blood sugar regulation and insulin levels, what both had to say just felt wrong to me, over and beyond the simplification one might expect in a mass-audience book. So, I was skeptical about their broader health-related claims, though I wasn't concerned enough to investigate further (and have actually considered the ethics of regifting books that I think make dangerous recommendations). Because of this, it's quite gratifying to find my initial suspicions confirmed by detailed analysis.

When I looked up The China Study on Amazon, I found this statistical analysis of the China Study dataset under the comment section.  This is simply amazing and backs up pretty much everything you've said in your blog.  I hope someone can do an analysis to confirm this analysis.

http://www.amazon.com/Analyzing-the-China-Study-Dataset/forum/Fx1YJPR95OHW08P/TxY4S5EZD8Y2XE/1/ref=cm_cd_dp_ef_tft_tp?_encoding=UTF8&s=books&asin=1932100660&store=books

Very glad to see this analysis featured here, too.  I groan every time someone recommends The China Study to me as a great authoritative book, so Minger's detailed review was most welcome.

We must keep in mind however, Minger's review and different conclusions not withstanding, that The China Study is epidemiological data and it can only show association, not causation.   It still doesn't prove in any way that consuming wheat is harmful to health.  Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of wheat anymore and no longer consume it myself or serve it to my family.  But it *is* fuel for the argument that considerably more study is needed before the government and health agencies continue to push wheat consumption on the public as matter of policy.

Perhaps the most astonishing thing about this analysis is that is is done by an "amateur" without any axes to grind.  It is a telling comment on the dihonesty and/or stupidity of most government and industry funded research.

Campbell doesn't deny that processed refined wheat flour (which is what they eat in china) is unhealthy.  He advocates eating whole plant foods.

Whole wheat, brown rice, beans, and steel-cut oats all seem to raise my blood sugar about the same amount, which is quite a lot depending on how much I eat.  Are they equally problematic?

happy to see denise mingers study featured here.

    wheat asides, milk pasteurised or uht causes a pretty massive immune system flare up for me.

How do we explain the positive correlation between plant protein and cancer?  I'm not ready to give up my kale and chard just yet!

Denise's astute analysis gives rise to the importance "digging a little deeper". I have always thought the benefit of eggs was contrary to the "official" line of thought. Little did I know the controversial aspects of wheat until stumbling along Dr. Davis' musings.

Sorry to come off topic here but i dont have the program in my  computer to email you. Dr. what do you think of this http://www.westonaprice.org/blogs/are-some-people-pushing-their-vitamin-d-levels-too-high.html

ramon25-

Very interesting study.  I would love to hear a reply as well.

Here is the T Colin Campbell's response to Denise's debunking of the China Study:

http://tynan.net/chinastudyresponse

Some commenters have wondered whether the wheat flour assessed in the study was refined wheat.  Chinese today eat mostly refined wheat products, but in the 70s, rural Chinese on collectives might have eaten differently, so I emailed a few Chinese professors of nutrition to ask.  It's morning now in China, and I got one response from Dr. Duo Li of Zhejiang University.  He told me in a brief reply that rural Chinese ate whole wheat products and the refined wheat was rare.

Denise's analysis of The China Study is heavily flawed and therefore invalid.  Debunked by a cancer epidemiologist...

Here it is...
http://www.30bananasaday.com/group/debunkingthechinastudycritics/forum/topics/a-cancer-epidemiologist

The proper testing procedure as stated by an expert on analysing stats...
http://www.30bananasaday.com/group/debunkingthechinastudycritics/forum/topics/my-response-to-denises

Campbells response to Denise..
http://www.30bananasaday.com/group/debunkingthechinastudycritics/forum/topics/campbells-response-to-denises

Campbell, in his response, thinks Minger is probably an undercover agent in a larger conspiracy.  The  debunking epidemiologist, in his, points out that correlation and association aren't the same, which will probably not come as news to Minger.  Could be Minger has kicked the hornets' nest.

What I'd like to know is how correlations > 1 and < -1 are being generated, since that's impossible.

Thanks for sharing the research point of view,yes with the obesity that is hitting America it is necessary to learn that the cause of obesity is eating more of high protein diets and fats over vegetables and fruits.

Gary Taubes says Campbell's co-worker on the original study, Oxford professor of epidemiology and statistics Richard Peto also thought the data did not support Campbell's hypotheses.

Dr. Davis

The way wheat is consumed  in the west is very different from the way it is consumed in the east(fermenting/sprouting/sourdough etc.).

This post might be helpful to 300 million americans but mislead 4 billion asians.

With due respect I'd suggest you consider the above before going all guns blazing against global wheat consumption.

But Pallav, how can the Chinese be mislead when it's the Chinese's own wheat consumption that is being looked at in The China Study?

In reality, that study can only generate ideas, it can't test them. So even if it generates the idea that wheat is bad for humans, we must test that idea before it becomes the truth. As far as I know, Dr Davis did test this idea and came with the conclusion that it was the type of wheat that made the difference. Maybe the Chinese ate the bad wheat and that's why it shows up that way?

Anonymous wrote: "What I'd like to know is how correlations > 1 and < -1 are being generated, since that's impossible."

Denise says right in the post that she gave the numbers in percentage rather than decimals to make it easier to read. I.E. +33 = 33% = .33

Martin,
The way Dr. Davis tested einkorn and wheat currently generally available in usa (http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/in-search-of-wheat-einkorn-and-blood.html) is probably is what brings real value to this blog.
The subhead Europe:Sourdough bread http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2010/06/fermented-grain-recipes-from-around.html is very close to how wheat is consumed in India. This process very likely breaksdown a large part of the offending ingredients such as gluten and phytic acid from a cursory search i did on google scholar.
I would trust a test on this process by Dr. Davis than on statistics, which as you rightly said generate ideas but need testing.
However, when Dr Davis goes on to implicate wheat in general for all sorts of diseases like in this blogpost, that applies to americans (the specific way of consuming wheat) and not necessarily to those who process grain differently like in asia.
That is the point where things get icky and can be misleading for those consuming wheat in asia and reading such posts.
Perhaps we can all come to a better way of processing grains than cutting them out from the diet altogether?

"a diet high in animal protein, especially casein"

Quickly, briefly, because my story is only tangentially related to this post by means of Dr Davis's almost stray remark I quote above...

I am ~5 weeks into my wheat free diet -- to zero success. I do not measure myself daily in any way, but the obvious one: do I lose weight? Yes, but only ~5lbs, which represents 2% of my total body weight. I should have lost that amount easily within 1 week, if I were proceeding on this diet correctly.

And then the other stray remarks began to pile up:
1) The 20 year old girl with celiac disease who dropped wheat AND 20lbs in 2 months. (What about me?!)
2) The dinner at PF Changs. I ordered the chicken lettuce wraps and skip the rice noodle thingees. Good job, I thought. Then I lingered over the menu, saw the restaurant offers an entire page of gluten free items, and the dish I just ordered was not one of them. I called for the waiter. He explained the sauce...
3) I drink protein shakes. A lot. As fate would have it, I migrated to casein protein because it broke down more slowly thus causing satiety to last longer. Until I read this post from Dr Davis with his stray remark, did my homework, and discovered to my chagrin that on a cellular level casein protein is so similar to gluten that it might as well be the same. (In essence.)

Okay, lesson learned. This gluten free, wheat free, grain free, carb free diet is not as easy as it looks at first glance. There is way more to it than skipping bread, and pasta, etc. But now I think I have it. So Sunday is Day 1. Shame I lost those first 4 or 5 weeks, but this time...

It may be true that wheat is a major cause of heart disease, but I'm not sure the high correspondence between wheat and cvd in this study makes that case.  Richard Peto, the Oxford professor of epidemiology who was part of the original study said what the data showed was that in places where people started adopting more of a western diet their health deteriorated.  I doubt the study spells out which parts of the western diet did the harm, wheat might be a marker for western diet.

People feel threatened when facts are released that go against the standard, cultural beliefs. We are raised as children to eat animals and animal secretions and so it is understandable why so many people feel threatened when they find out that the food mama gave them is helping to promote heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, autoimmune diseases, digestive disorders, etc. The China Study is the longest, most unbiased studies ever conducted and show statistically significant results, worldwide, that ingesting animal foods create chronic ill heath in humans. I have helped 400 people in the last 4 years to eat a healthy, low fat, plant based diet and they have all rid themselves of the diseases listed above. Now, I have also some Kaiser doctors who, instead of handing pills or surgery, are handing out this book and getting the same results. Thank you Dr. T. Colin Campbell for your 35 year long work. And, I know that you went into this study trying to prove the opposite results!
When people hear that their upbringing needs to be challenge, they lash out with untruths….just as yound, 23 yr old Mindy has done.

People feel threatened when facts are released that go against the standard, cultural beliefs. We are raised as children to eat animals and animal secretions and so it is understandable why so many people feel threatened when they find out that the food mama gave them is helping to promote heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, autoimmune diseases, digestive disorders, etc. The China Study is the longest, most unbiased studies ever conducted and show statistically significant results, worldwide, that ingesting animal foods create chronic ill heath in humans. I have helped 400 people in the last 4 years to eat a healthy, low fat, plant based diet and they have all rid themselves of the diseases listed above. Now, I have also some Kaiser doctors who, instead of handing pills or surgery, are handing out this book and getting the same results. Thank you Dr. T. Colin Campbell for your 35 year long work. And, I know that you went into this study trying to prove the opposite results!
When people hear that their upbringing needs to be challenge, they lash out with untruths….just as yound, 23 yr old Mindy has done.

To David M Gordon - how much of the lettuce wraps did you eat. PF Changs has nutritional info on the website and says this dish has 4 servings of 5oz. Each serving is 11 carbs so if you ate the whole thing yourself, that was 44 carbs.

It is very easy to underestimate carb counts. I have found a scale can be very useful. Mine measures carbs and other stuff.

That little dish is 4 servings?  C'mon! You bet, I bet I ate the whole thing, Anne.

What is in it that weighs so much? Some iceberg lettuce leaves, chicken, the rice noodle thingees I did without, and the sauce -- which is NOT gluten free, but I changed to a gluten free sauce. I bet that swap changes the calorie count etc. (Hey, I can hope!

Sure I want to lose weight -- okay, I must lose weight -- but my issue is visceral fat and its resulting potential problems: diabetes and heart issues (inflammation).

Thank you for your comments.

Instead of driving yourself with all these numbers why not just look for visable proof in REAL people.  I decided to try plant based eating and here is what happened:  (the numbers have actually gotten better since this was published last October)  Why I'm a believer in Dr. Campbell's advice:
http://www.drmcdougall.com/stars/mike_teehan.htm

Instead of driving yourself with all these numbers why not just look for visable proof in REAL people.  I decided to try plant based eating and here is what happened:  (the numbers have actually gotten better since this was published last October)  Why I'm a believer in Dr. Campbell's advice:
http://www.drmcdougall.com/stars/mike_teehan.htm

Mike, good for you. See this:
http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/ketones-and-ketosis/low-carb-gaining-a-foothold-with-the-mainstream/

If Campbell is right that a plant-based diet is best for most humans, why did the low carb group do better than the other two groups (Ornish and LEARN diets) in the intervention study above? Not only did the low carb group do better in weight loss, they did better in all things measured.

Denise Minger wrote:

"Here we have evidence that areas in China with the highest rates of Western-type diseases also eat the most processed starch and sugar. Maybe not in the grotesque amounts that Americans eat them, but then again, China’s “affluent disease” rates were also lower than America’s"

This could easily be the headline "Minger accuses Americans of grotesque eating habits"

Debate is good but be healthy, not paranoid
Trevor

How can anyone tell anyone else what to eat?  We all NEED plants to survive.  However, some do better with wheat in their diet and some do better with meat in their diet.  It all depends on the person.  I wouldn't go bashing The China Study until you try the whole foods plant-based diet.  Dr. Campbell also stresses that nutrition is NOT about a single nutrient or food group.  It's all about the synergy of everything working together.  I would love to see Denise's analysis of the aflatoxin rat studies.  Everyone needs to take control of their own health.  No one should rely solely on the china study as what they should do.  I personally believe in what the china study is saying, but it might not work for everyone - especially when people are raised to eat animal protein.  I know I have issues with animal protein, but others might be able to tolerate it.  Don't go bashing Dr. Campbell for trying to help people.

Dr. Bill Misner Ph.D. said:
The BMI body mass index of rural Chinese is 21.0 supported by a daily calorie intake of over 2600k/cal/day from largely plant foods.
Americans on the other hand consume largely animal sourced foods of 1989 calories per day resulting in an obese BMI of over 27.0! All one has to do is compare the source of total calories with resulting BMI.

Eating 2600 calories whole plant foods that contribute to a lean healthy BMI of 21.0 is preferred to eating 1989 calories from largely animal sources resulting in an obese 27.0 BMI.

Elevated Body Mass Index associated with food category choice are also associated with the typical disease patterns in obese persons.  The China Study shows these numerical correlations precisely.

I confirm the report that overweight exists more in cultures consuming largely animal source calories than in those whose diet is primarily whole plant foods.

Interestingly, I have observed all of the above in Americans who change their menu from animal source to whole plant source food protocols.

Warm regards,

Bill Misner Ph.D.

"I would love to see Denise's analysis of the aflatoxin rat studies."

You can read an excellent analysis HERE. In a nutshell, what those rat studies prove is that complete protein provides better nourishment than incomplete protein. Wheat is naturally deficient in lysine, and when lysine was added to the wheat protein diet, it behaved just like the casein.

Cancers are very fast growing cells, so of course they're going to grow a whole lot better if they're better nourished. I'd wager that if the rats had been fed a complete vegetable protein blend, e.g. rice and pea protein in the correct ratio, the tumor growth would have matched both the casein and wheat plus lysine.

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Friends,

  You don’t need to believe Dr. Campbell. Just read The China Study, slowly and completely, and figure out the truth for yourself. Facts speak for themselves.

  I, and a few of my acquaintances, tried a whole-foods plant-based diet (coupled with biweekly exposure to sunlight in noon and some physical activity) for a few months (strict compliance), and it is working wonders for us, so we continue to be on it. Some of my friends failed, because they were mostly eating junk (plant-based) foods.

  The China Study book is not just about Dr. Campbell’s work, but more than that it describes the work and results of numerous other research studies, independent and unbiased, that point to the undeniable benefits of a whole-foods plant-based diet.

  Denise has adopted a detailed but very narrow view that is insufficient to relate to the larger context. This approach will only add to confusion and misleading conclusions.

As a physician with the health of your patients at stake, Would you accept conclusions that were not peer reviewed?

Wonderful post... Very informational and educational as usual!

Acai Berry Optimum

I have great respect for Dr. Davis and I have purchased 3 copies of "Track Your Plaque" (for me, my father, and my uncle who has 4 stents).  I consider Dr. Davis to be very well-informed and cutting-edge, and he does a great job of conveying information in a way that is helpful to healthcare providers and lay people alike.

This being said, I would like to offer a clarification to Dr. Davis' comments about the VAP test providing ApoB.  (Actually, Dr. Davis was just passing along the claims of Atherotech -- the company that performs the VAP test).

The Vertical Auto Profile (VAP) test is a cholesterol test.  It provides an indication of lipoprotein particle size, but it CANNOT determine lipoprotein particle concentration (number).

The only way to measure lipoprotein particle numbers is to measure apolipoproteins (i.e. ApoB and ApoA1) or to use the NMR LipoProfile test (which Dr. Davis correctly considers to be the best test for this purpose).

What the VAP test now reports is a CALCULATED ApoB value - not a measured ApoB.  

This is very ironic, because Atherotech has spent the last 10 years telling physicians that they should not trust calculated LDL-C, but now they claim that physicians should order the VAP test to get calculated ApoB (and now calculated ApoA1 as well).

Unfortunately for Atherotech, their "calculated" ApoB relies almost entirely upon non-HDL-Cholesterol - a value that can be accurately determined by subtracting HDL-Cholesterol from Total Cholesterol on a STANDARD LIPID PANEL (in other words, no need for a fancy, expensive VAP test).

VAP's ApoB "calculation" does incorporate LDL particle size data, but the inclusion of this data only improved the non-HDL-C correlation with ApoB by 0.5% (ZERO point five percent), so, as I stated, VAP's calculated ApoB relies almost entirely upon non-HDL-C which can be obtained from a standard lipid panel.

Running a laboratory measurement through an equation in order to express it as a different laboratory measurement does not magically improve its predictive value.  Nor does it remove the limitations inherent in the original laboratory value.

Correlations exist among all sorts of different laboratory measurements, but we usually MEASURE (not calculate) them individually because we get better predictive value when we look at things directly.

Atherotech knows that science is leading us away from cholesterol and toward lipoprotein particle numbers.  They are trying to make their VAP Cholesterol test relevant by "calculating" lipoprotein data, but science doesn't work that way.

After more than a decade on the market, no VAP values (calculated OR measured) have been demonstrated in any clinical outcome study to predict cardiovascular disease risk better than a standard lipid panel.

I will gladly supply additional information upon request.

Best Regards,

Marc W. Garber
marcwgarber@comcast.net

Direct, or measured, LDL is a slight improvement. It removes some of the inaccuracy introduced by the assumptions built into the calculated value.

It is incredible because I didn't know that "Apoprotein B had all those properties, I think it's perfect we receiving this information because we can be aware about it.m10m

I was one of the persons who gained weight.  I had been a veggie for ages due to my family history of heart disease. The medical evidence backed up the claims so I stated eating cold cuts then sausage.  I totally hate the taste and texture of meat so this was about the only way I was going to do this. I gained around 10 lbs.  Then I reminded myself that this was the kind of diet that got my dad and uncles into trouble.

I have minimized wheat in my diet (except the one yummy seitan steak) but have dropped the meat.  I have increased fat my intake from coconut oil and butter rather than sunflower oil. Making wheat free bread is sometimes frustrating but pasta without wheat is dirt simple. I've always used plenty of beans and lentils in my diet and that continues.

Dr D., many thanks for a great information and educational resource

Trevor

First I went gluten free 6 years ago. I lost about 10 lbs. I think that was due to the fact I was not sure what I could eat. As time went on, I gained 5 lbs back. A gluten free/wheat free diet can be filled with high carb junk food. Gluten free grains are high in carbs and calories.

About a year ago I gave up all grains and sugars(except a small square of dark chocolate). That is when I lost about 15 lbs with no effort at all. I have not had any trouble maintaining this weight loss by sticking with a whole foods diet.

Just fyi, I answered the poll as 'did not lose weight' because I had already lost the ten pounds I needed to lose prior to giving up wheat.  I am at my correct weight, so I don't consider my 'vote' as an indication of lack of success.  I gave up wheat for the health benefits and to avoid gluten.

I went "paleo" in 2007, eliminating all grains.  I am 5'11".  In six months I dropped from 155 to 140 lbs, but regained 5 and have settled in at a very stable 145 for the last year, BMI= 20.2.

wheat free, no change in weight, but my acne cleared up.

It has taken me 10 months to lose 54 pounds.  I am wheat free as well as all grain free, no legumes, limited fresh berries of all types, Limited green vegetables and olive oil, no other type of fruit, no legumes what so ever, a hand full of nuts daily.  I also eat lots of meat (fried in coconut oil)of all types and cuts along with chicken.  I am waiting for the results of an Omega 3 to 6 ratio test that I recently took.  I supplement with 6000 IU vitamin D3, high dose wild Alaskan sockeye salmon oil, super K2, and 325 mg kelp caps.  The evolutionary life style change system I am on and keep refining, is the most positive thing I have done in fifty years of chasing every failing diet I could find.

I haven't noticed any big differences since quitting wheat. The only wheat I ate was whole wheat bread and whole wheat pasta, so quitting wasn't difficult. I replaced my morning toast with an oat and nut muesli. I am planning to take a VAP cholesterol test and see if eliminating wheat has helped my numbers.

I voted "Lost no weight", which is still more or less true. My waist has narrowed a bit though and I'm down a belt notch since knocking out ALL significant carb sources (not just wheat).

Body temp in the AM averages 96.6 degrees, so I suspect hypothyroidism. I am trying to convince my local physician to proscribe desiccated thyroid but he's waiting until the TSH/T4/T3 labs come back.

Is sprouted wheat - or sprouted grains in general - acceptable? I haven't read or heard anything to the contrary. http://brianstpierretraining.com/index.php/the-superiority-of-sprouted-grains/

i've just completed 3 months of this eating plan:

1. elimination of wheat
2. near elimination of all sugars (< 20g / day)
3. concentration on better n-3 / n-6 ratio

in that time, i've dropped from 225 to 195 lbs., and counting. But more important to me are better heart health and regression of a diagnosed fatty liver.

next week, I visit the doc for bloodwork and am hoping for some good results.

the process has been relatively easy for me, especially when compared to prior (misguided) efforts, aka the prudent diet and cardio workouts.

my energy has been good, i no longer get sleepy in the afternoon, my mood has improved, my frequent headaches have nearly disappeared, and i look/feel healthier. to me, this is not a "diet," but a permanent and positive change in my diet.

Dr. Davis,

I've made some significant changes in my diet based on the info gathered from your blog and some other valuable sources such as Michael Pollan, Gary Taubes, Whole Health Source, Hyperlipid, and the Westin A. Price Foundation.

10 weeks ago, I stopped eating *all* cereal grain based products, all legumes, and all starchy tubers.

I DO eat meat (grass fed or pastured if possible), oily fish, pasture raised eggs, more good fats, fermented dairy products, non-starchy vegetables, *some* nuts (mostly walnuts, almonds, pecans), *some* seeds (pumpkin, flax, hemp), and a little fruit (as berries).

I am very mindful of my ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 intake.

I supplement with:

D3 5000 IU
K2 as menaquinone-4 5mg
Lugols solution %5 1 drop
2-3 grams omega-3 from fish oil (in triglyceride form. 50/50 DHA/EPA).

I often supplement with curcumin and R-Alpa Lipoic Acid as well.

Additional fats in my diet come from extra virgin olive oil, raw coconut oil, and grass fed butter.

The first 5 days of going NO wheat , NO high glycemic load carbs were the hardest: I felt gnawing "hunger" even after I had eaten to fullness.  It was very strange sensation, but it really wasn't so hard for me to get past.  I was fortunate to be raised to have an aversion to sweets and have no great love for bread or pasta.
Though... I miss beer and pretzels.

Beyond feeling a little physical discomfort from carb withdrawal, I recall that was a bit of a jerk that week.  Had quite a temper.

...days pass...

In the meanwhile, I would check to see if I was producing ketones (mostly curious, I suppose).  I would really only produce a significant amount of ketones after a period of exceptionally strenuous exercise, such as mountain biking for a few hours; otherwise, I generally produce small readings, if at all.

...I began feeling better and better, so I exercised much more intensely and then came across this training approach called "crossfit", which became my new mode of exercise.  Curiously enough, crossfit advocates a paleo-like diet.  Ah-hah!

...weeks pass...

I feel incredible now, as if I'm 10 years younger, at least!  I'm much leaner, stronger, more flexible, have much more energy.  

I've changed so many variables so I'm giving you quite a loaded anecdote, I realize... but hey, I feel great!

Unfortunately, I have little in the way of numbers to share with you besides my change weight and blood pressure.

I'm 40 years old, male, 6'3" tall.

Beginning weight: 212 lbs

Current at 192 lbs, approx 10% body fat

Beginning SYS/DIA  130/84

Current SYS/DIA 109/70


Kind Regards,

Van Rensselaer

I missed the poll.  You can put me down as; "lost more than 20 lbs".

I lost 25 lbs. (went from 192 to 167) in six months, and it was all fat loss.  As a 5'9" male, my waist size went from 33" to 29".  I'm holding steady at 163 lbs. after 14 months of being grain, sugar, and starch free.

Although, I didn't eat much wheat and other grains to begin with.  The biggest elimination for me was sugar like from candy, soft drinks, chocolate, etc.  

The funny thing was though is that I didn't have any of the strong, drug like withdraws and cravings so many others experience with complete elimination... just lucky I guess.

I had no problems giving up wheat, as I noticed it was giving me lower GI symptoms too, I didn't lose much weight, only a little, but I think my body is happier.
I also got rid of some recalient eczema, which I think is another benefit.
Jeanne

I'm one who lost no weight after going gluten-free.  I did so due to discovering a genetic gluten-intolerance.  I also went off a few other foods that I discovered intolerances to.  I was pregnant at the time, so I didn't expect weight loss.  When that pregnancy ended prematurely, I still didn't lose weight.  My appetite dropped considerably, even while still pregnant, as my gut began to heal and I began to actually digest my food.  I theorize that the reason I haven't lost weight is because I'm digesting my food properly- instead of speeding through my inflamed gut, it's slowly digesting, including all the calories.  And, I haven't really tried.  I admittedly still eat too many sweet things.

All that to say- I think for some people, proper digestion means they're getting MORE out of their food than they used to, which can cause weight gain or no weight loss.

Thanks, all, for the great stories, positive or otherwise.

Bekki raises an interesting point: If digestive improves substantially with wheat elimination, is calorie absorption more efficient?

How many didn't lose weight because they traded fat for muscle?

Hello Dr. Davis.

I started my diet last Monday (July 27) and have so far lost 2-3kg (6.6 lb) and 3-4 cm (1.6 inches) around my waist. I feel great even though I do have some cravings for some bread and pasta as it used to be in my daily diet, but I am fighting it.

My exercise have been 60 minute walks a few times over the past week.

This week I will try to work out more days, but still only 60 minutes at a time.

I will keep you updated as I did this last year before my wedding, so I KNOW IT WORKS!!!

No one answered my question (about sprouted wheat).

Put me in the didn't lose weight camp. I don't think I could lose weight if I starved myself for2 weeks. I am on Synthroid and my TSH is normal but my T3 is showing out of range (low) but I can't get a doctor to address that.

Fourteen of us started low carbing age range 18 to 70 and all have lost weight over the last 7 months average around 21lbs,though some have lost more inches than weight cutting out wheat,pasta rice and upping the good fats,butter extra virgin olive oil but coconut oil (Mct's?) seems to be the best oil for losing weight.
Some have otimised Vitamin D and Omega 3 others have not.
Some are still losing weight whilst others seem to vary + or - three or four pounds around their newly found "ideal weight!.".
More energy,great muscle tone fewer aches less hunger less bloating and mood swings seems to be the benefits and an increasead body temperature.
a good tip if you are not getting enough protien or are a vegetarian is to use a low carb Whey Protien bodybuilding supplement.

Excellent point, Fox.

I didn't lose weight. OK - maybe I lost 2 or 3 lbs.  I don't even own a scale.  I don't have a goal of losing weight - I only weigh 105 lbs.  My goals are about heart health, not weight loss.

Bonnie

I marked that I'm still losing weight.

I gave up wheat, sugar (I may take in less than 10g of carbohydrates in the form of vegetables which I use as a condiment), grains, pulses, and most processed foods.  So I eat a mainly meat and egg diet with the occasional small salad or lacto-fermented veggies. I do eat a lot of fat.

So far, I've lost 46 pounds, and I hope to lose another 29.  

I still have limited amounts of soy in grain-free soy sauce, and I still have cheese and cream and butter as well.  Good stuff!

2002, I was diagnosed with early congestive heart failure; my Cholesterol was 246, and my BP was running about 170/90 or 100.

I didn't specifically go off of wheat, but doing Atkins, I always need to stay within about 10 to 20 carbs a day. In a year I dropped from 250 to 200.  Over the first two years, my cholesterol dropped to 222, 194, and then to 174. My blood pressure dropped to the 114/80 range.  And my knees stopped aching.

The doctors have backed off the CHF diagnosis.

I had Graves Disease in 1986 with a total thyroidectomy, and have been on Levoxyl .175 since then until a month ago when I got my prescription changed to Armour 2 grains.  I think it's going to need to be upped after the blood tests, just based on how I'm feeling. I spent most of my adult life till the Graves on the low side of normal (exact borderline).  Some doctors would prescribe thyroid, others would not.
I'm almost 69, I feel great, and thank you Dr. Davis!!

I fasted before the wheat elimination, a three day water only fast. I dropped 5 pounds or so. Eliminated 95% or more of the wheat, and corn starch. Added more eggs and fresh vegetables to my diet, and I have been down a total of 15 pounds and have no trouble maintaining that weight. My BMI is 21.
Hope to see a lowering in my small particle LDL count in the near future. It has gotten better but is still high.

I'm 52 now, had a heart attack at 48 which is rare for a premenopausal woman. Low cholesterol and low blood pressure looks like its an iflammation/ insulin issue for me. I lost just over 20kg in 5 months after reading your blog nearly a kilo a week. Dr Davis, together with my Dr Tessa Jones who is amazing, thank you, you are a life saver. As well as eliminating grains I take the supplements eg fish oil, turmeric, resveratrol, niacin, Vit D) and bioidentical hormones; I am managing hypothyroidism (8 drops/day Lugol's!). My high fasting insulin (dropped from 136 to 80 - but should be 8) and my triglycerides have also fallen dramatically. Breakfast is a whey brewers yeast, egg, nuts berries smoothie. Lunch and dinner is salads and meat/fish. Dark chocolate when I'm craving carbs. But I stopped losing in Jan not sure why and have put on 6kg since then, am very worried. I got a CRP reading of 10.7 My doctor was horrified, gave me a mercury challenge which was so high it poisoned me; she has me taking Far infrared saunas to reduce heavy metals. But still no more weight loss (keeping it just steady) am v obese at 103kg at 5 feet tall. Any advice welcome.

I didn't purposely go wheat free, but I dropped pretty much all wheat from my diet in favor of potatoes for a couple years.  I gained about 10 pounds in that time and was on a continuing upward trend.  Note that I was not overweight to start with.

I then went paleo, dropping the potatoes and strictly removing the wheat.  I lost all the weight I'd gained.

I suspect some of the gainers replaced the wheat with potatoes or other starchy foods.

I'd like to hear your personal stories of wheat elimination--the ups and downs, your success or failure, how you felt during the process, how easy or difficult, your eventual results. Just post them as a response to this blog post.

Interesting, that when facts don't quite fit with your theories your immediate response is to assume that the inconvenient facts are the fault of the unfortunate provider.  That is, when someone says either, I didn't lose any weight on your hobby-horse diet, or even gained weight on it, you immediately pronounce that it must have been that person's fault, he MUST have been doing something very bad.  Well, for what it's worth, I've gone wheat-free, processed-food-free, limit my carbs to leafy greens (no starches) and small quantities of fruit, supplement with fish oils, D3 and iodine.  I drink no juices, eat no nuts or seeds, exercise, in short, do all the "thou shalts" and have omitted just about all the "thou shalt nots" you would seem to insist upon.  I have not quite managed to eliminate dairy, but my intake is minimal.  I don't snack, and my meals are 3/day and small.  My fasting glucose readings are still > 100, and I have not lost a single pound.  I am quite capable of adopting a tough regimen and sticking to it; this is nothing compared to some I've tried.  But it still does nothing, so, thanks for that nothing, I guess.

Oh yes, and several months now after starting this process I find I experience none of the magic benefits you keep extolling: no great GI changes for the better, no skin improvements, no "gee, how swell I feel" moments -- in fact, I feel just about as crap as I did before dcing grains and sugars.  So, falsio in unius ...

Interesting blog.  I have a question: would you be able to offer some comments on Dr. Ornish reversal programme and low fat vegan diets (in reversing CHD), based on your professional experience?

We are having a little discussion about various pros and cons of various therapies and dietary approaches on the Web MD forum:

http://boards.webmd.com/webx?14@1016.MAjDbu7Matv.0@.5987f44c

We would really welcome you and would greatly appreciate some professional comments.  Sincerely,
Stan Bleszynski (Heretic)

Super low-fat diets, while an improvement over a conventional modern American diet of high saturated fat and processed foods, seriously exagerrate the small LDL particle pattern that is among the most powerful causes known of heart disease. It also reduces HDL and raises triglycerides, sometimes substantially. Dr. Ornish would argue that these are inconsequential changes, since his patients regress. Unfortunately, the methods he uses to gauge regression of atherosclerotic plague are flawed: angiography and nuclear imaging. Both can be envisioned as measures of flow, not of atherosclerotic plaque. Only CT heart scans or intracoronary ultrasound actually measure artery plaque. I tell my patients that, if you want heart disease, follow the American Heart Association diet. If you want heart disease and diabetes, follow Dr. Ornish's diet.

I know several people who have gone for a "routine" check with a cardiologist, sent for an angio, and ended up with at least 1 stent. (NO symptoms prompted these visits, just "high cholesterol".

I also know a couple of people that have 9, 10, or more stents!

Is giving up wheat best cold-turkey? I think there is something to this theory and why my LDL, Trig have stayed high and my HDL low.
I find the more wheat I hvae the more I want and that it sets off cravings for it. Even the ww pasta and whole grain, high fiber bread seem to be a problem for me.
I imagine I could find support on your web-site. I would like to know how others did it. I think it is a key in my heart health journey. It also would probably help me get rid of my new belly, on the small side but still I never had it before!
Greg

Yes, a "cold-turkey" approach is generally best. The cravings are most likely to dissipate the quickest this way. You will be amazed at how much more control you will gain over appetite, however.

I don't much care for his books and don't follow his plan, but IMO, this is one of the most useful contributions Atkins made to low-carb: the idea of "induction" in which one goes very, very low-carb for a week.  A lot of us find it much easier to cut it out entirely than to cut back.  

To me, cutting out carbs feels like withdrawal and I know I'll feel poorly for a few days before I bounce back.

Once the ickiness goes away, add more carbs in a bit at a time, starting with nonstarchy vegetables, then low-sugar fruits, then whole grains  up to whatever your own carb tolerance is for whatever your goals are (mine is bg control).

IMO, the most important bit isn't the macronutrient content of the diet, but that the "base" of my own personal food pyramid is vegetables.  Eat enough veggies and you just don't have enough room for much bad stuff in your diet.

Interesting observations.

The "induction phase" process can yield some interesting lessons in the truly carbohydrate-addicted, a phenomenon I am absolutely convinced is genuine.

Increased Levels of 25 Hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D After Rosuvastatin Treatment: A Novel Pleiotropic Effect of Statins?
So statins work their magic (in some way not yet identified)by  increasing vitamin d status and thus obtaining Vitamin D3's important pleiotropic effects that lead to reduced coronary artery disease mortality.

So is this an excuse to make everyone take a statin (that inevitably will have some side effects)to achieve higher vitamin d status or is there a simpler way of increasing vitamin d3 status that doesn't have (at the normal amounts people reading this forum can be expected to require)any nasty side effects?

I think we just need to Follow the Money, to see how this piece of research will be interpreted.

So tell us. How much is too much?

This is an excellent post.

But Doctor Dean Ornish points out that the same argument is made about mono-unsaturated fats being better than saturated fats, and people therefore eat lots of mono-unsaturated fats. He claims that logic is also badly flawed.

I used to be a big fan of Ornish, and I still am, but I do try to eat lots of mono-unsaturated fats from avocados, pecans, and walnuts.

One web doctor says eat no meat. Another, no fruit. Yet another, no dairy. Still another, no grains. So much disagreement tells me that dietary results are anecdotal. Simply opinions.

Some.

No wheat is necessary for a long diabetes-free, heart disease-free life.  Also, there appears to be very little real benefit to consuming wheat, so "some" is too much.

Now that the data which establishes the protective nature of many saturated fats (including animal fats and tropical oils), and the beneficial nature of fats in general, I think that we're on the cusp of discarding Ancel Keys's bizarrely misguided leadership on fats.  Next we need to decide as a country that the FDA (Department of Agriculture) probably isn't the right place to seek dietary advice.

As for Ornish, well, I simply say that he and I start from different premises.

Anonymous,

You are correct about one thing...if you spend enough time on the web you can find a physician or nutrition 'expert' that will support any diet you want to follow.  However, find me another physician that has tested the lipid profiles of thousands of patients, both during a grain based diet and following the elimination of grains, and still tells you to eat them.  

I can save you the time and aggravation, you're not going to find it.  The unfortunate truth is that most physicians you speak to know no more about nutrition than you do.

I followed the low fat high carbohydrate diet recommended by the medical establishment for 50 years.  I put on 80 pounds, developed diabetes type 2 which led me to chronic kidney disease stage 3 along with many other ailments too numerous to mention.  10 months ago I went on an evolutionary diet, high saturated fat and low carb supplementing with high dose vitamin D3, Omega 3 wild fish oil, vitamin K2 and kelp. I have lost 54 pounds, diabetes type 2 cured, my Trig/HDL ratio is now 2.53.  

This is not an opinion it's a fact.

Courageous doctors who are not afraid of ridicule are leading the way to a medical revolution and I am sorry to say that DR. Ornish is not one of them.

It's amazing that for fifty years I was in decline and now I am reversing my health issues.

This health revolution could could cut the cost of health insurance in half if only it would become the national recommendation.  WAKE UP AMERICA!!

Hi, Ted--

Excellent point.

It's as if every aspect of health can be best served by a drug, particularly statin drugs.

While statins like rosuvastatin may increase vitamin D in its various forms by a modest quantity, it is far better to simply supplement vitamin D.

Anon-

So should we just toss up our hands and give up?

Well, that's certainly what Big Food would like us to do--succumb to the tides of marketing and eat what tastes good.

I'll stay out of that line. I'd choose instead to pick the food philosophy that makes most sense. Humans did not evolve to consume pretzels, high-fructose corn syrup, and Cheerios.

This is the best blog ever for cardiovascular, thyroid, and other medical information!  Thank you Dr. Davis!  I respectfully disagree with the idea that complete elimination of whole grains is the BEST or ONLY way to bring about the beneficial health changes (weight loss, drastic improvement in lipid profile, blood sugar, blood pressure, etc).

"Too many whole grains are bad for your health.  Therefore, you must completely elimate whole grains from your diet."...seems like a faulty logic sequence to me.

How about just consuming reasonable portion sizes within the context of a truly balanced diet?  I would bet that few people you see in your clinic actually do this.  Therefore, how would you know if it worked just as well (or even better) than completely eliminating them?  It is certainly one way, but I don't believe it is the only way, and I do not know if it is the best, because I do not understand what exactly you replace the whole grains with.  I am wondering what the "ideal" day looks like as far as macronutrient breakdown and the actual foods eaten.  Would love to see a post about this!

I just received my latest blood test results and was delighted but not surprised to find my triglycerides down from 115 mg/dl to 66 mg/dl, because of your recommendation to supplement with high dose vitamin D3 and high dose omega 3 fish oil.  However, my other numbers have yet to improve very much. In a previous post August 9, 2007 you recommended oat bran to lower LDL to the 60 mg/dl range.  The problem is that I am hung up on the fact that oat bran is a grain product, and because I am totally wheat and grain free I hesitate to eat this.  Am I making a mountain out of a mole hill?  Also my HDL is stagnant at 42 mg/dl and will not budge.

Because of following your dietary recommendations my health has improved immensely.  Diabetes type 2 now cured and a 54 pound weight loss so far.  I will not give up until I get my HDL and LDL to mirror my excellent triglyceride numbers.

Thanks for your wonderful recommendations.  Keep up the good fight.

Dear Dr Davis,

Re the current questionnaire you have about going wheat free and what amount of weight a person lost, I  think you need another option for people who did not need to lose weight but still went wheat free. The questionnaire implies that people go wheat free to lose weight...not everyone does as not everyone is overweight to begin with.

Anne

Dr. Davis

Would you consider dedicating a post to your weekly diet (or even just a couple days)?  I hear the no grains, more mono fats, veggies and fruits thing but I have no idea how to put them together to make a meal since I'm so used to eating wheat products.  For instance, all I can think of for breakfast is eggs, eggs, and more eggs.  What other options are there?  Is dairy bad too?  Thanks!

Billye--

I ran the wheat-free poll as a reason to talk about why people fail to lose weight with wheat elimination, and a reason to talk about what grains fit well into a healthy diet. Coming soon.

DJ

I had diabetes type 2 for most of my adult life. Because of this, according to my Nephrologist, I became a chronic kidney disease stage 3 patient.  Dr. T.  "www.nephropal.com" also told me that millions of us are walking around with kidney disease and don't even know it.  He also said that if I had this program before I contracted CKD I probably would have avoided it. Ten months ago he put me on a wheat and grain free regimen and completely turned my life around.  I don't think that he would mind if I told you that he reads Dr. Davis religiously and believes they are simpatico. Because of this his practice is now based on nutrition coupled with a reduction or elimination of prescription medications including Staten's.  His plan is to be Wheat and grain free, low carb high saturated fat, supplementing with high dose vitamin D3, high dose fish oil, Super K2 and kelp caps.  These two
brave doctors along with many others who came before, are changing the face of how medicine is practiced today.  Yes, the primary offender is wheat.  Before this plan I could never report to you A1c numbers of 4.7, 4.8 and 5.0 over the last 6 months. I know no one who's life style allows them to lose weight permanently without any hunger what so ever.  The freedom of having complete control is overwhelming.  It took me fifty years to finally get it, I hope you don't waste as much time chasing fruitless diets that make you sicker and sicker. Please take advantage of the advise these great doctors provide and talk to your own physician about this plan.  By the way my kidney disease is not only under control, some of the markers are also reversing, miracle of all miracles. MY wish for you is only Good luck and great health.

I'm a zero carber and it's no big deal. You just eat meat and some eggs, maybe some cheese. Don't have to worry about anything else.

I eat about 1200 cals a day, I'm not hungry and I have no cravings. My lipids when doing low-carb were the envy of people half my age.

And I'm not going to stand around waiting for everyone to reach a consensus on what and how to eat. I've tried them all and this is what works for me. I listen to MY body. It tells me when I'm hungry and when to eat.

Dr. Davis, once again - I love your blog! I am a bit confused about the wheat and grain part. To lower cholesterol are we supposed to eliminate wheat or ALL grains?

I am now on a quest to get my nice belly down to a normal size, and eliminating all grains is on my list, including other actions off course.

Thank you again for a well written blog!

Zing!

Here's yet another take

http://www.paleonu.com/panu-weblog/2009/7/1/where-are-all-the-healthy-whole-grains.html

OK...so I'm new to all of this and have to ask what about those of us who start healthy (all the numbers look good), eat a balanced diet that included a reasonable balance of all sorts of food, and exercise regularly/aren't overweight.  On a very pragmatic level, I agree w/ Anne...suggestions for menus/meals, etc would be helpful...especially for those of us with teenage boys who eat like locusts regardless of what you fill them up with (protein, fat, grains, vegetables, fruit).  My personal opinion is that the #1 reason most folks in the US have a problem is that we simply eat TOO MUCH...there is food all around us.  Just eating less would probably solve a lot of our health problems.

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For better absorption of your body nutrients & better balance of essential nutrients, eat whole plant foods, which will slow digestive processes. This results in better cell growth management, and better maintenance and cell division. In addition, it will cause better regulation of your appetite & of your body's blood sugar levels. Its better to eat regularly scheduled meals instead of infrequent meals.