My letter to the Wall Street Journal: It's NOT just about gluten

8. February 2012 William Davis (7)
The Wall Street Journal carried this report of a new proposed classification of the various forms of gluten sensitivity: New Guide to Who Really Shouldn't Eat Gluten

This represents progress. Progress in understanding of wheat-related illnesses, as well as progress in spreading the word that there is a lot more to wheat-intolerance than celiac disease. But, as I mention in the letter, it falls desperately short on several crucial issues.

Ms. Beck--

Thank you for writing the wonderful article on gluten sensitivity.

I'd like to bring several issues to your attention, as they are often neglected
in discussions of "gluten sensitivity":

1) The gliadin protein of wheat has been modified by geneticists through their
work to increase yield. This work, performed mostly in the 1970s, yielded a form
of gliadin that is several amino acids different, but increased the
appetite-stimulating properties of wheat. Modern wheat, a high-yield, semi-dwarf
strain (not the 4 1/2-foot tall "amber waves of grain" everyone thinks of) is
now, in effect, an appetite-stimulant that increases calorie intake 400 calories
per day. This form of gliadin is also the likely explanation for the surge in
behavioral struggles in children with autism and ADHD.
2) The amylopectin A of wheat is the underlying explanation for why two slices
of whole wheat bread raise blood sugar higher than 6 teaspoons of table sugar or
many candy bars. It is unique and highly digestible by the enzyme amylase.
Incredibly, the high glycemic index of whole wheat is simply ignored, despite
being listed at the top of all tables of glycemic index.
3) The lectins of wheat may underlie the increase in multiple autoimmune and
inflammatory diseases in Americans, especially rheumatoid arthritis and
inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's).

In other words, if someone is not gluten-sensitive, they may still remain
sensitive to the many non-gluten aspects of modern high-yield semi-dwarf wheat,
such as appetite-stimulation and mental "fog," joint pains in the hands, leg
edema, or the many rashes and skin disorders. This represents one of the most
important examples of the widespread unintended effects of modern agricultural
genetics and agribusiness.

William Davis, MD
Author: Wheat Belly: Lose the wheat, lose the weight and find your path back to health
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Comments (7) -

  • HS4

    2/7/2012 11:08:16 PM |

    Fantastic, Dr Davis!  I read the article earlier today and was thinking of sending in my own response but yours is ever so much better and comes with greater credibility which is important.   I hope they publish your letter.

  • Dr. William Davis

    2/8/2012 3:02:38 AM |

    Thanks, HS4!

    But don''t hesitate to add your voice. The more they hear this message, the more likely others hear it, too.

  • Scott Hamilton

    2/10/2012 4:01:24 PM |

    There were some comments in past postings regarding ancient vartieties of wheat, such as Emmer and Einkorn. Although these types still pose problems from a total health perspective I was thinking perhaps an original form of barley might also provide better health benefits with less metabolic damage than the newer varieties.

    There are recipes where the addition of grains in relatively small amounts can improve texture and flavor and I have used barley for this purpose extensively in the past.


    Are ther sources of information or supply of older or alternative forms of barley?

  • Ronnie

    2/11/2012 6:53:52 PM |

    Go Doc!

  • farida

    8/7/2012 7:23:42 PM |

    I would like to know if Dr Davis would be interested in doing a 30 min tele lunch and learn workshop, we own a wellness company with 000's  of users on our health portal.  It would be a great way to promote his books/blogs.

  • Magnesium citrate versus glycinate

    8/15/2012 8:12:45 PM |

    [...] wheat from your diet. Give it a try for 2 or 3 weeks and see how you feel.    Here's why:  My letter to the Wall Street Journal: It’s NOT just about gluten | Track Your Plaque Blog  "1) The gliadin protein of wheat has been modified by geneticists through their work to [...]

  • Help/recommendations w/andropause symptoms

    12/13/2012 5:29:40 PM |

    [...] I'm suggesting.   What about WHEAT?  Wheat has been a Frankenfood for the last 40 years, bcfromfl:  My letter to the Wall Street Journal: It’s NOT just about gluten | Track Your Plaque Blog  "1) The gliadin protein of wheat has been modified by geneticists through their work to [...]

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"Heart Healthy" and other lies

"Heart Healthy" and other lies

23. January 2008 William Davis (7)
"Bankers believe liquidation has run its course and advise purchases."

New York Times headline, Oct 30, 1929, at the start of the Great Depression.






"I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms Lewinsky."

Former President Bill Clinton at a Washington Press Conference, 1998.






"The third quarter is going to be great."

Enron CEO, Ken Lay, just before the company reported a $638 million third-quarter loss, triggering the company's collapse.




Should we add the following to the list?


Heart Healthy Bisquick





















Heart Healthy snacks according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute:

Animal crackers, devil's food cookies, fig and other fruit bars, ginger snaps, graham crackers, vanilla or lemon wafers

Angel food cake or other lowfat cakes

Low fat frozen yogurt, ice milk, fruit ices, sorbet, sherbet

Pudding (make it with fat free or 1% milk), gelatin desserts

Popcorn without butter or oil; pretzels, baked tortilla chips






67% digestible carbohydrates/sugars from corn syrup, sugar, raisins, and honey. Oh, yes . . . and it contains plant sterols.





"Heartzels are a healthy snack alternative for anyone wanting to control fat intake and add fiber to their diet," said Tracy LaRosiliere, a Frito-Lay vice president of marketing. "What better time for Frito-Lay to launch its first heart-healthy snack than during American Heart Month and just in time for Valentine's Day."

The relationship with the American Heart Association and the launch of Rold Gold Heartzels Pretzels is the latest move by Frito-Lay to continue its commitment to offering a wide variety of low-fat and better-for-you snacks nationally, which like the company's assortment of regular chips can be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
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Comments (7) -

  • Cindy Moore

    1/24/2008 3:02:00 AM |

    Sad....but not surprising.

    I'm on a diet web site that offers recipes. Many are labeled "healthy" or "heart healthy" because they contain less oil, no egg yolks, etc....but they are still using white flour, sugar (sometimes raw! lol)....and offer little more than carbohydrates with a tiny bit of protein and/or fat(often less than 10% total!). But they're "healthy" because they have little or no fat!

    And oh man the commercials about "healthy" whole grains!

  • Red Sphynx

    1/24/2008 4:30:00 PM |

    "Heartzels are a healthy snack alternative for anyone wanting to control fat intake and add fiber to their diet,".  

    Right.  Fiber knocks down total cholesterol.  What effect does it have on dense / fluffy / oxidized subtypes?

  • Anonymous

    1/24/2008 7:36:00 PM |

    Oh man, that would be a dream if Bisquick, with a little maple syrup poured on top, was heart healthy.  If true I'd have the healthiest cardiovascular system in America.

  • Anonymous

    1/25/2008 4:32:00 AM |

    Hi Dr Davis,
    Thought to pass on a cute story  for a chuckle.  Talking about how science can evolve and how all low fat foods were once considered heart healthy but today we are learning that is not the case - this morning my mother received a call from a friend saying that her doctor suggested she begin taking fish oil.  Knowing that my mom is following a heart healthy program, the friend called to ask which fish oil capsules to buy and if there is anything else worth taking.  Mom gave her suggestions of what to purchase and thought that was the end of the conversation.  A few hours later the friend called back to say her husband, an intelligent man as he is a retired University professor but also very much a grizzled guy, said she should not take that "crap" as probably in 5 years from now it will be found to cause prostate cancer.  The friend called to say she bought the suggested items, she was willing to take the risk.

  • wccaguy

    1/26/2008 1:54:00 PM |

    In George Orwell's, 1984,

    "The three slogans of the Party, on display everywhere, are

        * WAR IS PEACE
        * FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
        * IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH"

    Could "Heart Healthy" be added to the list?

    In keeping with times, evidently, the recently appointed Attorney General of the United States hangs a portrait of George Orwell in his office.  Honest.

    http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/
    idUSN2536540620080125

    (paste two lines of link together)

  • Anonymous

    1/27/2008 12:09:00 AM |

    Great article in the New York Times:  http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/opinion/27taubes.html?_r=1&ex=1359090000&en=83d7fc4ab59036ac&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

    Shows that the word is getting out.

  • Dr. Davis

    1/27/2008 2:15:00 AM |

    As always, Gary Taubes cuts to the bone and makes clear, concise, no nonsense, and persuasive arguments.

    From this heated discussion, I predict that the number of small LDL particles as measured by NMR will emerge as the explanation behind the lukewarm value of Friedewald (calculated) LDL cholesterol.

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