Two slices of whole wheat bread, for instance, raise blood sugar higher than six teaspoons of table sugar or a Snickers Bar
And,
Among the most important changes introduced into modern high-yield semi-dwarf wheat is the protein gliadin unique to wheat. The gliadin created by geneticists is a potent appetite-stimulant: You eat more. On average, modern wheat increases consumption by 400 calories per day.
And most interestingly,
Beyond the accusation that multiple deficiencies will develop with elimination of wheat, which, of course, is absolute nonsense, defenders of wheat point to the numerous clinical studies that document that, when white processed flour products are replaced with whole grains, there are health benefits. This is true and indisputable. The conclusion is that we should therefore eat plenty of “healthy whole grains.”
But this sequence of logic is flawed. If we replace something bad—white flour—with something less bad—whole grains—and there is an apparent health benefit, the common conclusion is that a whole bunch of the less bad thing is good for us. But the next logical step should have been to ask “What is the effect of no grains?”
Let’s apply the same sequence of logic to another situation: cigarettes. If we eliminate something bad—unfiltered Tareytons—with something less bad—filtered Salems—and there is an apparent benefit … then smoking a lot of Salems must be good for you. Obviously, this is ridiculous—but this is the same kind of flawed logic used to justify the “healthy whole grain” message.
This was an interesting read. I personally haven’t read the book (and I don’t think I will), but here are my two cents.
I cut out wheat from my diet. No bread, no pasta, no processed things, for the most part. I didn’t do as a conscious purge or anything - I just knew that I felt better if I didn’t eat those things. My diet is still 40% carbs (somehow?), but I don’t feel the sluggishness and the icky fullness that eating processed wheat products causes. And I haven’t craved bread or pasta at all. And I feel good.
(Sidenote: I did this cutting-out in spring of last year. Certain stress issues and emotional issues, as well as being home for the holidays, did result in me having total moments of relapse … but it wasn’t due to the fact that I cut out wheat. It was mostly because I wasn’t able to deal with stress at school and such. And boy, did it not feel good to binge on wheat products after cutting them out …)
(Sidenote #2: I exclude any fuel I eat during my long runs from the wheat-free rule).
Anyways, just my experience.
