Book Review: Wheat Belly Total Health

William Davis, MD is back with another delicious serving of grain-free advice in his latest book, Wheat Belly Total Health (2014).

Whether you follow a wheat-free diet or simply want to understand nutrition and how wheat affects the body, Davis is ready to help!

In his fourth Wheat Belly book, Davis makes it very clear that going wheat-free isn't enough. Now it's time to consider trying a grain-free lifestyle. Why? In Wheat Belly Total Health he explains the history of grains and how the body digests these foods.

In a nutshell, grains were initially mass produced to feed livestock, not humans. Animals process foods differently than we do, and we simply aren't designed to get much good from these foods. Davis even points out ailments he feels are caused by and aggravated when modern-day genetically-modified grains are consumed.

Davis goes on to outline how to transition into a grain-free lifestyle including recommendations for what should stay on your menu, including a variety of lean meats, beans, nuts, full-fat dairy products, oils and fresh produce.

Finally, after making the transition, Davis explains that several health concerns, including blood sugar spikes, inflammation and thyroid issues can be calmed with a grain-free diet. As a happy side effect, many people lose excess weight, feel an increase in energy and experience greater mental clarity on a grain-free diet.

Historical references, sourced arguments, recipes and shopping list ideas are also included in this incredibly informative guide to cutting wheat (and all grains) from your daily diet.

Have you adopted a grain-free or wheat-free lifestyle? Tell me how it's working for you in the comments below!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

Disclosure: The book, Wheat Belly Total Health, mentioned in this blog post was provided free of charge for review purposes. No monetary compensation was sought or awarded in exchange for this post or the upcoming book review. All thoughts expressed on Whole Foods Living are solely my own. ~Angela

###

Are You a Wheat Belly Fan?

The last few years, discussions about wheat, grains and gluten have dominated everything from social media news feeds, to health programs on television.

You can barely go a day without hearing something about going gluten-free, avoiding wheat or living a grain-free lifestyle.

Perhaps one of the best known proponents of a grain-free lifestyle is cardiologist Dr. William Davis, author of the famed Wheat Belly series of books.

In September, his latest book, Wheat Belly Total Health, hit bookstore shelves. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a review copy and have the opportunity to ask him a few questions.

So, I'd like to turn it over to you, my faithful readers.

If you could ask Dr. William Davis a question about nutrition, going wheat-free, starting a grain-free diet or anything health-related, what would you ask?

Tell me your questions in the comments below and I'll share what he has to say in an upcoming blog post!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

Disclosure: The book, Wheat Belly Total Health, mentioned in this blog post was provided free of charge for review purposes. No monetary compensation was sought or awarded in exchange for this post or the upcoming book review. All thoughts expressed on Whole Foods Living are solely my own. ~Angela

Going Paleo? Diet Tips and Paleo Effect Cookbook Review

Today you're in for a treat. Recently a copy of The Paleo Effect by Meghan Little and Angel Ayala Torres crossed my countertop and I've been giving it a good read and test run.

Yes, I read cookbooks front to back.

First of all, what is paleo, or a paleo diet (actually it's a lifestyle!) and how does it fit into a whole foods living frame of mind?

All About Paleo
In a nutshell a paleo, or paleolithic, diet focuses on natural, unprocessed foods. A paleo diet is naturally gluten free. Paleo diet followers don't eat dairy, grains, legumes, beans, processed sugars or processed fats.

Why? The health benefits are too good to dismiss. The authors of the book, Meghan and Angel, claim that within a month of going paleo they slimmed down, said goodbye to migraines, no longer experience insomnia and got rid of annoying joint pain. Sounds pretty good doesn't it?

So, what do paleo people eat?

• unprocessed meats and fish 
• fresh fruits and vegetables 
• herbs and seasonings 
• nuts, roots, oils
• animal products including eggs and honey

I know you're wondering about dessert. Yes, this cookbook also tempts your sweet tooth with recipes for everything from chocolate chip cookies and banana bread, to apple pie and maple-glazed pear cheesecake.

Is Paleo Food Any Good?
So, how does this style of cooking/eating/living taste? Pretty darn good! Here's a recap of a few of the recipes I've tried. (Note that since I'm a vegetarian, I didn't venture into any of the meaty offerings. But I will let bacon lovers out there know that yes, bacon is included in a paleo lifestyle!)

Lemon Garlic Asparagus (pg. 115): As a kid I never liked asparagus. As an adult, I'm trying to enjoy it more. So, when I saw a new simple recipe to "spice" up this green veggie, I was ready to try it. The combination of baking asparagus in olive oil with garlic, cayenne and lemon juice is simply perfect.

Blackened Salmon (pg. 161): The hubby made this recipe all by himself to try salmon for the first time. He did swap out a few of the suggested seasonings to fit his palette, but the cooking instructions worked perfectly for his first-time fish cooking experience. He loved it and has asked for salmon to frequent the grocery shopping list!

You can find out more about following a paleo diet on Megan and Angel's website, Paleo Effect. Or, pick up the book The Paleo Effect and study the first 12 pages of the book which guide you through the dos and don't of going paleo. Then dive into the recipes!

So, have you tried the paleo lifestyle? What do you think? Tell me in the comments below or give me a shout on Facebook!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

Disclosure: The Paleo Effect by Meghan Little and Angel Ayala Torres mentioned in this blog post was provided free of charge from Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. for review purposes. No monetary compensation was sought or awarded in exchange for the review. All thoughts expressed on Whole Foods Living are solely my own. ~Angela