Wheat Belly Cookbook: 150 Recipes to Help You Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health

Dr. Davis has succeeded in drawing attention to the dangers of wheat and the benefits of a low-carb diet beyond what I thought possible. He builds a convincing case against this new plant that he says shouldn't even be called "wheat," and he documents most of his arguments with supportive research. I was already avoiding most grains and decided to eliminate wheat after reading Wheat Belly. I have been following a low-carb lifestyle and writing about it for over 13 years, so it wasn't a radical change for me.I do have a major concern about both of the Wheat Belly books, however. Ten out of the 29 recipes in the original Wheat Belly call for flax, as do most of the recipes in the new cookbook. Flax meal has become a staple food for many who want to avoid wheat. It is used in gluten-free baked goods and as a flour substitute in low-carb foods. It is also used as a replacement for eggs in low-fat and vegan recipes and as a supplement to provide fiber and omega-3 fats. Many people are eating it in great quantities, thinking it is the ultimate superfood or, as one writer said to me, "The most powerful food on the planet."A closer look shows some pretty scary stuff about flax, rancidity, for one. Flax contains very fragile oils that are easily damaged by heat, light, air, and time. It should be stored in the refrigerator and used promptly. Only fresh, ripe, freshly-ground seeds are safe to eat, so obviously, cooking with flax is not a good idea.Flax has a lot in common with soy, once the darling of the healthfood crowd. Both soy and flax contain estrogen mimics. (An extract of soy is used as hormone replacement therapy for treating menopause symptoms.) These plants produce hormones as a way to defend themselves from predators (like us) by disrupting the endocrine system of those who eat them so they can't reproduce. Eating a lot of plant estrogens might not be such a good thing, especially for men.Soy, a byproduct of the vegetable oil industry, has been heavily marketed as a health food since the 1990s. Flax seed comes from the kind of plant used for making linen. Neither were staple foods in any traditional society. A 1998 study from Cornell conducted by vegan advocate and author of The China Study, T. Collin Campbell, reported that the Japanese ate less than 2 teaspoons of soy protein per day. (Celibate monks, who use soy and a vegetarian diet to reduce libido, are an exception.)In addition to soy, which is already ubiquitous in our food supply, pesticides, plastics such as Bisphenol A (BPA), and chemicals like perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA), also contain these hormone-like chemicals and the dose is cumulative. BPA and PFOA, the so-called gender benders, have been linked to breast cancer, fertility problems, and other hormone related illnesses.While both flax and soy contain estrogen mimics, according to Web MD, flax contains 800 times as much of these hormone-like chemicals as soy!! In fact, flax contains more plant estrogens than any other plant food.We are already experiencing an epidemic of infertility along with our other epidemics of obesity, diabetes, autism, auto-immune diseases, explosive rage disorder, and more. You may have heard that American men have one-third the sperm counts of their grandfathers and that by 2050, for the first time in modern history, scientists are predicting that our population will start to go down. Add in all the men who are on statins to reduce cholesterol (testosterone is made out of cholesterol), and it is easy to see why the same companies that sell statins also sell Viagra and Cialis.There is conflicting evidence about phytoestrogens (phyto means plant). Some think they may be helpful, some think they may be harmful, and most of the articles about them end by saying, "more research is necessary." But this much is clear: This is potent medicine and the dosage is very important!How much is a dose? Even the sites that recommend flax as a supplement tell you to consult your doctor to determine how much to take. The USDA says that 3 tablespoons of flax a day is a safe level. Some of the recipes in the Wheat Belly Cookbook contain more than that in a single serving.Below is a sample of warnings about flax from various organizations:~from MayoClinic.com: [...]"Taking flaxseed or flaxseed oil by mouth may cause a person with bipolar disorder to experience mania or hypomania....Raw flaxseed or flaxseed plant may increase blood levels of cyanide, a toxic chemical....Flaxseed may cause low blood pressure. Caution is advised in patients with blood pressure disorders and those taking drugs, herbs, or supplements that affect blood pressure....Based on the available evidence, flaxseed, which contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), should be avoided in patients with prostate cancer or those at risk for prostate cancer....Use flaxseed and flaxseed oil cautiously in patients with elevated triglycerides, as these agents may raise or lower triglyceride levels."~From DietaryFoodFiber.com: [...]"One study reports that the menstrual period may be altered in women who take flaxseed powder by mouth daily. Due to the possible estrogen-like effects of flaxseed (not flaxseed oil), it should be used cautiously in women with hormone sensitive conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, uterine fibroids, or cancer of the breast, uterus, or ovary. Some natural medicine textbooks advise caution in patients with hypothyroidism, although little scientific information is available in this area....Raw flaxseed or flaxseed plant may increase blood levels of cyanide, a toxic chemical (this effect has not been reported when flaxseed supplements are taken at recommended doses.)" (Are they talking about a few spoonfuls of seeds or a little capsule of oil? We don't know. JBB)~From Livestrong.com: [...]"A study on the Effect of Flax Seed Ingestion on the Menstrual Cycle, published in a 1993 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, found that a woman's menstrual period might be altered if she consumes flaxseed products daily....Because flaxseed has estrogen-like effects, it may result in a worsening of conditions such as uterine, ovarian and breast cancers; uterine fibroids; polycystic ovary syndrome; and endometriosis, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database of the National Institutes of Health. Women who have hormone-sensitive conditions should probably avoid using large amounts of flaxseed. It can also alter the effects of oral contraception."Please do your own research and decide for yourself whether you want flax in your diet and if so, how much is too much.I had hoped to find a replacement that worked as well as flax in these recipes before I posted this review so I could suggest an easy fix. Chia seeds are the best candidate I have found so far, but the recipes still need some tweaking. I made a good loaf of Basic Bread by substituting one-half the amount of chia for the flax, but my chia version of the Flaxseed Wraps needed a complete overhaul. (Chia seeds contain the same fragile oils found in flax, but chia also contains large amounts of natural antioxidants to keep it fresh, even after it is ground. Chia has no phytoestrgens or toxins and unlike flaxseed, chia can be kept for long periods without becoming rancid.)The Wheat Belly Cookbook also does an excellent job of explaining why we need to ditch wheat and other high-carb foods and makes the case that modern wheat was not adequately tested for human consumption. But flax hasn't stood the test of time either. Is flax as risky as wheat? Perhaps not, but if you eat too much of it, you may just be replacing one untested food with another. Women and girls may be at risk for hormone imbalances and the guys may be trading a wheat belly for flax boobs and Viagra. Still not a pretty picture.

I Don't Usually Buy Cookbooks. Usually, I Just Read the Recipes on the Web or Read a Kindle Book and I'm Developed Hundreds of My Own Gluten Free Recipes and Converted Recipes to Gluten Free. The Only Reason I Purchased This Book Was Because of All The Hype I'd Heard About the Author and His Books. I Pretty Much Thought I Was an Authority on Gluten, Celiac Disease and the Problems with Wheat and Grains in the Diets of People, Even Those Without Allergies and Intolerances. There Couldn't Possibly Be Anything I'd Learn in This Book.The Author Proved Me Wrong. Nearly 3 1/2 Years Ago, When I Went Totally Wheat Free and Lost 102 Pounds (I Also Cut Out Processed Foods and Ate No More Than 3 to 4 Ounces of Meat a Day) I Was Able To Go Off Narcotic Pain Meds, Cut Diabetic Medication over 80%, Arthritis Medication, 1600 mg Neurontin Daily and Medication for GERD . I Was Taking So Much Medication, I Had to Wean Off It and Still Had Withdrawal Side Effects That Were Terrible. I Still Have Allergies, Because I'm Allergic to So Many Foods & Substances. But, Going Wheat Free and Cutting Out Corn and Most Grains Helped All My Other Problems Tremendously and Even Improved Most of My Allergies and COPD. At the Time I Went Wheat Free, Doctors had me on 27 Meds. I'm Now on 6 and That's Mainly for Allergies & Asthma and Blood Pressure (the Allergy Meds Kick That Up) Some Days My Blood Sugar is So Low, I Have to Go Without Any Medication. DIET IS MEDICINE.When I Read This Book, There Were a Lot of Things I Learned that I Didn't Know and So Many Good Recipes, I've Dog Eared About a Quarter of the Book. I Come Back to it Again & Again. Of All the Great Recipes, Probably My Favorite is the TURKEY SAUSAGE Recipe. You Make it With Ground Turkey and It's Fantastic. That One Recipe is Worth the Price of the Book. I Make It Almost Weekly and When My Store Has a Manger's Special on Ground Turkey Cheap, I Make Up a Bunch Of The Patties and Freeze Them. Then, I Like To Crumble One Up Sometimes in a Few Egg Whites with a Little Nutritional Yeast. It's Much Better Than It Sounds. Of Course, You Could Use Cheddar Cheese, Instead of The Nutritional Yeast or Omit it Entirely. I've Even Played Around With the Ingredients and Made a Version of Italian Sausage Out of that I Love on My Cauliflower/Zucchini Pizza Crust.. The Book is Full of Recipes You'll Go Back To Again and Again.Several Years Ago, I Thought I Had No Problems With Wheat. My Grandmother Had Celiac Disease, But I'd Been Tested For "Wheat" as Part of My Allergy Testing and it was Negative. It Wasn't Until a Few Years Later That an Immunologist Told Me That You Can STILL Be Allergic, Because You're Only Tested For 3 Allergens and There are 27 Allergens in Modern Wheat. You Only Get Tested For the Three. So, Do Not Assume that Because Your Allergy Tests Showed You Weren't Allergic That You're Free and Clear. I Thought it Was Odd That I Was allergic to Just About Every Kind of Tree, Every Kind of Grass, Corn, Every Other Kind of Grain I Was Tested For, But Not Wheat. Once I Abstained From Wheat, My Entire System Changed.Plus, this Author Has Included Helpful Sections That Are REALLY Helpful. He Even Included a Section on Where to Go on the Internet to Find Out if Your Meds Have Wheat In Them and I Found Out TWO Of Mine Had Wheat And One Had Guar Gum In It as a Binder That I'm Extremely Allergic To. I've Asked My Pharmacist Over And Over and Was Told There Was No Way Of Knowing the ADDED ingredients in the Medications (Binders, Etc.) But Apparently There Is. If You Buy and Read Just ONE BOOK on Celiac Disease or Wheat Sensitivity, This Should Be It. ★Thank You For Reading My Review.

This cook book gives a summary of the wheat belly book. It has recipes for all meals of the day and testimonies of people who have lost weight and a fast variety of health issues. I found them very encouraging especially in the beginning when I did not have much energy, to keep going.It is American and some recipe names, utenils and ingredients I have had to google as I did not know what they were. I purchased some meassuring cups as the recipes are all done in cups. This was new to me but I now find it much easier than using scales in fact my scales are collecting dust in a cupboard. I am not sure if this book is good for a complete novice but having said that the recipes are very easy to follow and am using recipes and adapting them easily and successfully. I found it tricky to get my head round using alternatives to wheat flower but once you start it is far less complicated than when you first read the recipe. There are some pictures in the book but if you are looking for a glossy cookery book this is not for you. If however you want to loose weight, have health isues and or have food intollerances in your family this is a great book!I lost 12 kg in under a month and still loosing between 1-3 kg per week. ( I did not start out to loose weight but it was a very welcome bonus!) My sweet tooth has disappeared which makes it the easiest diet to stick to as I have never been able to stick to diets thinking I had no will power, now I know differently! I gained enough energy and more to match my 3 pre-schoolers and many other health and life styleimprovements. In fact last week when I took my brood to the park they asked me if we could go home yet! Cannot recommend this book enough!

My quest to find a cure for my acid reflux, many nights spent in desperate Google-ing finally led me to the Wheat Belly cookbook. I just had an instinct that I should try this after many years of feeling depressed about my weight gain which was increasing the older I got.After a couple of weeks of following the rules, I began to feel the wheat belly was diminishing. I am about six weeks in and have lost about 6 lbs which compared to some may seem quite a small amount, but it is a relief to feel lighter.My observances are that as yet I still need my medication for the reflux. After so many years of having it I suppose its not going to disappear overnight. I shall keep hoping that one day my digestion is healed.The thing I have noticed is I have a lot more energy. I don't seem to have that afternoon dip where I could just fall asleep. The other wonderful thing is that I seem to have stopped snoring. My sinuses have cleared tremendously and I am sleeping through instead of snorting myself awake.My joints feel more oiled if that makes sense. I am going to keep this up and I will report back. I intend to follow wheat belly for a year as I feel that gives it a fair chance.Sorry if you don't feel this is an actual review of the book but so many before me have given excellent opinions and descriptions of the contents. I just wanted to share that it does work and encourage you to give it a go.

This book isn't "ground breaking" - there are many books on the market about this. What I believes sets this book apart from all other books is the way the author acknowledges how tough it is to cut wheat out of the diet. I found this a 'phew' moment. It doesn't dictate how life should be, it does give information on the why. I found information regarding other grains very interesting. I will say this, the author is right, cutting wheat out of my diet is tough on two levels: one - wheat is practically in everything; two- I am finding it much harder to feel full. I eat so much more green stuff (salads) and various proteins, but not having any wheat / grains means I'm constantly hungry. I'm trying to manage this but it does take enormous Will power. I was such a pasta lover!!! Can't stress that enough. But I've let that go. I want to retrain my body on how to absorb carbs from different (non wheat /grains) foods. This will take a while. I do recommend this book. There's not too much to argue about it in this book. It's well written and does forewarn on the difficulties. It is worth it. I have noticed changes digestion and fat loss. Which is very pleasantly surprising. I used to be a macrobite ( macrobiotics) and it's fascinating to me that I've had a complete change of mind about macrobiotics after reading this book-for me- it does make logical sense. It will be a journey one which won't be marked with complete perfection- I anticipate eating a pasta dish once a month after a couple of months of following this. I'm interested to see if in two months time when I cook my favourite pasta dish I'll have the same old love for it or whether my body would have learned a new way to absorb nutrients that it won't respond well to my beloved pasta dish. Who knows?!

My daughter is not gluten intolerant but she definitely has a gluten or wheat sensitivity and has adopted a wheat free diet. Since discovering this, she has gone gluten free. Finding this difficult to cater for, in a family situation, I have been reading everything I can lay my hands on; on the subject, and accompanying menu suggestions.This book is easy to read and sets out the problems regarding wheat very succinctly.I have found the recipes slightly difficult as they are American: in preferences, ingredients and measurements; but with a bit of effort the latter two can be overcome, and as for the first - there is nothing like variety to spice up mealtimes.There are some good ideas for breads, biscuits and cakes where much use is made of ground almonds: unfortunately very expensive in the UK, but hopefully I will find a cheaper online source?I have only tried half a dozen recipes to date. Not 100% sure about the flavours of three of these but there are suggestions for flavour variations.The book has convinced me that modern wheat is bad for us, and it has persuaded me to cut down - but I am not ready to eliminate it totally from my life yet.I can recommend Wheat Belly.Definitely "Food for Thought"!

This is the follow-on book to the original Wheat Belly book which was a direct challange to the "Big Food" manuafacturers who according to William Davis have successfully marketed the "wrong" type of foods for the last fifty years. Unfortunately, instead of the candid and direct style of the original book this is very much in the vogue of so many cookbooks in that the recipes call for a dash of this herb and dash of that flavouring making the recipes very much more complex than the simple and direct message of the original book. I have tried the bread recipe but I found it very messy and I will not try that recipe again. Indeed I will try the non-wheat bread recipe in the Elana Amsterdam book "Gluten-free Almond Flour Cookbook" that seems to be very much simpler. But why all these cookbooks cannot advocate more simple wholesome recipes is a mystery as they seem to assume that the family cook has all day to prepare for lunch and dinner