Week 4 - 8.27.2012

"Don't be misled by other health claims attached to a wheat product.  It may be "vitamin-enriched" with synthetic B vitamins, but it's still wheat.  It could be organic stone-ground, whole grain bread with added omega-3 from flax oil, but it's still wheat.  It could help you have regular bowel movements and emerge from the ladies' room with a satisfied smile, but it's still wheat.  It could be taken as the sacrament and blessed by the pope, but - holy or not - it's still wheat.

I think you're probably getting the idea.  I hammer this point home because it exposes a common ploy used by the food industry: Add "heart healthy" ingredient(s) to a food and call it a "heart healthy" muffin, cracker, or bread.  Fiber, for instance, does indeed have modest health benefits.  So does the linolenic acid of flaxseed and flaxseed oil.  But no "heart healthy" ingredient will erase the adverse health effects of the wheat.  "Heart healthy" bread packed with fiber and omega-3 fats will still trigger high blood sugar, glycation, visceral fat disposition, small LDL particles, exorphin release, and inflammatory responses." (Davis, pg. 158-159)

This is the last week of the trial period and I'll stick with it after.  I still have some progress to make in eating better, but I'm happy to have been successful overall with my "wheatectomy".  I've really noticed the last couple of nights that I am really sleeping better.  I'm not waking at all during the night and feeling more rested in the morning.  It's been a very busy couple of weeks, so I am still tired, but I'm happy with any progress.  I've found that I crave sweets more, but I am not craving wheat products.  I really don't miss bread at all.  The only times I have found myself missing it is when I've been at a restaurant and they bring it out right in front of you.  Ruby Tuesday's has these really good garlic cheese biscuit things....I smelled them, but I did not eat them.  That was tough.  But being at home, I don't wish I could make a sandwich or some toast.  And toast was one of my munchie hungry go-to things, so I think this is a big step.  Although I haven't been as zealous as I had originally hoped, I feel like I've made good progress nonetheless and feel like I can continue to improve my health being wheatless.