Dr. Joel Kahn, renown cardiologist, wrote and article, for MIND Body Green. In the article he talked about the benefits of grains. William Davis, author of Wheat Belly, criticized Joel with the same old pseudoscience BS. I had to respond: Sir, I think you should actually read the science before accusing Dr. Joel Kahn with lack of understanding. Your pseudoscience, completely unproven, discussion of gluten causing autoimmune disease and changes in bowel flora shows a vast and serious misunderstanding. As a physician and researcher I find the attack on gluten completely odd, especially since gluten sensitivity shows no clinical signs of any inflammation. Likely, the symptoms people associate with gluten sensitivity are actually sensitivity to FODMAPS that is due to the fact that we greatly alter our bowel bacteria with our heavy meat diet, as shown in Nature (David, L. A., et al. (2013). Diet rapidly and reproducibly alters the human gut microbiome. Nature.). In fact, most telling was this study (Biesiekierski, J. R., et al. (2013). No effects of gluten in patients with self-reported non-celiac gluten sensitivity after dietary reduction of fermentable, poorly absorbed, short-chain carbohydrates. Gastroenterology 145(2): 320-328.e321-323.) which basically showed that people who say they have gluten sensitivity c/o of symptoms when given gluten free food. Modern pseudo experts attacking gluten seem to miss the fact that we have thrived on gluten for thousands of years. In fact, the Mediterranean diet is being highly touted but people seem to miss the fact that the Mediterranean diet is loaded with wheat and grains (Gil, A., et al. (2011). Wholegrain cereals and bread: a duet of the Mediterranean diet for the prevention of chronic diseases. Public Health Nutr 14(12A): 2316-2322.) Tunisia provides an interesting case example. Their diet was very high in wheat and they lived a life free of cardiac disease, obesity, and diabetes. Recent financial success has brought substantial westernization and 30% more meat and a drop in grain. Now diabetes, obesity and heart disease are on the rise. Meanwhile, the non urbanized population, like the Bedoin, subsist on wheat and do not have these issues at all. Saidi, O., et al. (2013). Analyzing recent coronary heart disease mortality trends in Tunisia between 1997 and 2009. PLoS One 8(5): e63202. There are MANY, MANY studies showing grain consumption is associated with less weight, less inflammation, and less diabetes. The lectin argument is just silly as legumes have continuously proven to be part of healthy diets and are associated with less diabetes, heart disease and obesity. I will list just a few very telling articles that include meta-analysis, epidemiology, and randomized control trials. Mellen, P. B., et al. (2008). Whole grain intake and cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 18(4): 283-290. - This study looked at 7 prospective cohorts and found such strong benefit to grains that they felt policy makers should be notified. Slavin, J. (2003). Why whole grains are protective: biological mechanisms. Proc Nutr Soc 62(1): 129-134.- Great review of the science behind how grains protect against inflammation and cancer and heart disease. Ye, E. Q., et al. (2012). Greater whole-grain intake is associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and weight gain. J Nutr 142(7): 1304-1313. Excellent longitudinal study showing increased grain associated with decreased diabetes. This was a Cochrane analysis which is know for its lack of bias and reliable scientific data. Bautista-Castaño, I. and L. Serra-Majem (2012). Relationship between bread consumption, body weight, and abdominal fat distribution: evidence from epidemiological studies. Nutr Rev 70(4): 218-233.- large review showing whole wheat bread is good for weight loss. Koh-Banerjee, P., et al. (2004). Changes in whole-grain, bran, and cereal fiber consumption in relation to 8-y weight gain among men. Am J Clin Nutr 80(5): 1237-1245. Increased grains associated with better weight loss Liu, S., et al. (1999). Whole-grain consumption and risk of coronary heart disease: results from the Nurses Health Study. Am J Clin Nutr 70(3): 412-419. This is Nurses Health Study Showing grains associated with less heart disease. From Harvard Montonen, J., et al. (2013). Consumption of red meat and whole-grain bread in relation to biomarkers of obesity, inflammation, glucose metabolism and oxidative stress. Eur J Nutr 52(1): 337-345. Whole grains associated with less inflammation. Wheat has absolutely nothing to do with our health issues. In fact, our fear of wheat and carbs may be part of the reason we are so sick. I have treated thousands of patients very successfully by placing them on plant based high carb, high grain diets. That is the only thing that has worked through the ages
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 00:47:45 +0000
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