A. Thanks for asking this question!
In our groups in last few days at least 100 members have shared a forwarded message which vehemently advocates avoidance of wheat in meals.
The post also provides information about various diseases that got cured by stopping wheat in diet besides loss of some 20 to 30 pounds of body weight
Let us go to the basic information. This post has origin in the books “Wheat Belly” by Dr.William Davis and “Grain Brain” by Dr.David Perlmutter. These books in a way try to support Atkins Diet by Dr.Atkins who advises to eat only meat, fish, eggs etc. That means reduce carbohydrates and increase proteins and fats.

What is the truth?

1) In a book titled “Doves, diplomats and diabetes” researcher Professor Milind Watve from Pune provides evidence to prove that in world there are examples of tribes taking over 85% carbohydrates, 70% animal fats or almost 100% dependence on meat and fish without any significant increase in risk of getting obesity or type 2 diabetes!
Actually type 2 diabetes is more common in India and USA where people eat more or less a “balanced” diet!!

So one can not blame any particular food item for sure.

2) Is the wheat of today too different than before?
Dr.Davis says it is genetically modified and so much so that he compares the change with “conversion from Chimpanzee to human”! The truth is far away. Genetic modifications in wheat has resulted in increased crop yield but has not affected the basic biochemical composition of wheat. It still has the same 11 to 12gm of proteins and 71gm of carbohydrates per 100gm. And it’s proteins have the same gluten and gliadin.

Davis is absolutely wrong here.

3) What is the truth about glycemic index of wheat? The post that became viral states that two slices of wheat bread cause spikes of glucose in your blood more than eating a snickers bar! Glycemic index tells us about the speed with which glucose shall appear in blood after consuming a particular item. In this context all standard textbooks put wheat, rice and jowar (whole Grain) in the same category of foods with low glycemic index of less than 55.
Basmati rice and brown rice has glycemic index of 56 to 69 and corn flakes, baked potato, some varieties of rice, white bread, candy bar and syrupy foods have high glycemic index of 70 or more.
Here is the trick! If you use whole wheat flour it’s GI will be low but if you eat white bread prepared from refined wheat flour it’s GI will be high..

In US and Europe people eat white bread but in India we eat chappati or roti made from traditionally whole wheat flour.
Hence on this front of producing spikes of sugar in blood Dr.Davis is factually incorrect.
Also our meal has a mix of different food items from salads, sprouts, fruits, grains and vegetables….Hence the GI of such mixture is not affected much whether you eat white bread instead of chappati or rice!

4) What about diseases caused by wheat and the miraculous cure by stopping wheat?

Dr.Davis has himself conducted no research on this aspect. His claims are based on what he has experienced himself or observed in some of his patients. This is pseudoscience at the best.
As of now wheat is known to cause one type of rare diarrhoeal disease (Celiac disease) of which the prevalence in India is definitely very low (0.3 to 0.5%). No other disease is proven to be caused by wheat.
Hence claims of Dr.Davis are not acceptable.

5) What if you stop eating wheat?
In India there are people from South who eat rice and rarely eat wheat and people from North who mostly eat wheat. Ironically there is no significant difference in the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in these populations!

6) Final verdict:

There is no truth in the claims of wheat belly post.

Eating whole wheat flour is definitely better that eating refined white bread.
You can’t expect any miraculous change in your weight or diabetic status by stopping wheat.

Dear members, in our diet plan we have allowed you to eat everything and anything twice a day that will cause weight loss and prevention of diabetes

You got a chance to experiment on yourself….

Stop eating wheat for 3 months and see what happens to your weight, HbA1C and fasting insulin.
Then start eating wheat again for 3 months and see the change again.
My learned guess tells me that you won’t find any difference whether you eat wheat or stop eating wheat till you follow our diet plan sincerely

I hope I have clarified all doubts in your minds…