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Historical references, sourced arguments, recipes and shopping list ideas are also included in this incredibly informative guide to cutting wheat (and all grains) from your daily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

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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

Gluten-Free Food List

Fruits and vegetables are gluten-free. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

Wheat is a wonderfully nutritious whole grain. But, if you have Celiac disease or a sensitivity to gluten, eating certain grains -- including wheat -- can make you extremely sick. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and triticale. Some oats are also tainted with gluten, because oats are often processed in the same facilities at other glutinous grains.

When I learned I had a sensitivity to gluten, I immediately thought of all the things I couldn't eat. Pancakes, bread, salad dressing, ice cream... the list never ended. But, switching to a whole foods diet and eating very little processed foods made it so much easier to be aware of gluten-tainted foods.

If your doctor has recommended a gluten-free diet, here is a list of naturally gluten-free foods to add to your shopping list. And by the way, you can have Celiac disease and eat your cake too. Just make it with rice flour! :)

Gluten-Free Food List:

• fresh fruits
• fresh vegetables
• nuts
• meat (not covered in breading or sauces)
• lentils
• beans (navy, kidney, pinto, black...all of them!)
• minimally processed milk and cheese
• eggs
• corn and hominy
• peanuts
• potatoes
• seeds
• rice (jasmine, brown, white...all of them!)
• olive oil
• apple cider vinegar
• agave syrup

See, there really are many, many foods you can still enjoy. This list is not exhaustive, and just what I could think of off the top of my head. Speak with your doctor about any specific food concerns you have while eating gluten-free.

Here are some gluten-free ideas for Easter brunch, or a special weekend dessert!
5 Naturally Gluten-Free Desserts
Gluten-Free Easter Brunch Ideas

Do you have a favorite gluten-free snack? I'm always looking for new healthy afternoon snacks to munch on while I write. Please share your snack ideas in the comments below!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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The Perfect Wheat Flour

I love to bake. With the holiday season around the corner, I'm itching to try a few new recipes. When the weather turned cool for a few brief days, I broke in my pie pans with homemade apple and pumpkin pies. Part of my excitement for the baking season is my new found love: Wheat Montana Flour. (And, no I'm not being paid to say that.)

Cookies can be made from wheat flour.
Photo by Snowbear, Morguefile.

I've searched for the past few months for a perfect baking flour. My criteria is strict: it can't be bleached or bromated, it must be grown in the United States and minimal processing is a bonus. I've tried organic rice flour, too many wheat flours to count and garbanzo bean flour (don't laugh).

Rice flour made my cookies too crumbly. One whole wheat flour made my rolls into hockey pucks. And flour made from beans, well, tasted like beans. I love beans, but not bean-flavored bread. It was just plain weird.

Over the past several months I've given the Wheat Montana Hard White Spring a good work out. Pie crusts. Oatmeal molasses cookies. Chocolate chip cookies. Chocolate birthday cake. Lemon bars. Honey wheat rolls.

I did mention I love to bake, right?

Every recipe made with this flour turned out great. Here are a few details straight from the company's website:

• Wheat Montana is family owned and operated.
• The flour is Certified Chemical Free and Certified Organic.
• The flour is milled at a low 94 degrees to maintain the nutrient value of the wheat.

Do you have a flour or baking ingredient that you can't live without? Tell me about it. I'm always up for trying a new product. It gives me an excuse to spend a little more time in the kitchen!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy,
Angela

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