Wheat Belly: Davis

Dr. William Davis, MD, is a cardiologist that has been advising his patients for several years to try a gluten elimination diet for 30 days to see if that might have a beneficial effect on their symptoms. In the introduction to his book, he remarks that if we look through old photo albums of our grandparents, we rarely see instances of obesity. Women "in the old days," didn't exercise -- it wasn't considered "lady-like!" So how did they stay so thin when that is the exception today.

As we know, obesity has become an epidemic. Although there are many approaches to addressing this issue, most of them are short-lived and prone to long-term failure. Like Dr. David Perlmutter in Grain Brain, Dr. Davis believes it is largely due to our over-reliance on wheat in our modern Western diets, and that today's wheat is not the same wheat as that of our grandparents.

Wheat Belly provides an abundance of medical evidence for his premise. Rather than repeat that here since it is very consistent with that presented by Dr. Perlmutter in Grain Brain, I will instead refer you to a review of Grain Brain. Grain Brain provides valuable insights into how Dr. Perlmutter arrived at his conclusion on the negative impact that all grains have on our brain.

Medical Information
There are a many sources of medical information. Western medicine is highly successful at treating acute injuries and acute illnesses because it's fairly straight-forward to detect the results of a theory: the patient either improves in a relatively short period of time or they do not.

Chronic illnesses and the modern conditions that are the major cause of death in Western countries are much more difficult to treat because the damage done by chronic conditions often builds slowly over many years until the problem becomes irreversible. Auto-immune conditions associated with chronic inflammation are currently believed to be the major cause of most chronic diseases such as coronary artery disease, stroke, and neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimers -- today's leading causes of death. Our success at treating acute illness and injury has greatly extended our life expectancy; emerging knowledge of the cause of chronic illnesses is likely to play an even more significant role in extending our productive lives even further.

When you are exposed to medical advice, whenever possible, you should consider the source of the advice -- especially when it is for chronic conditions. How does the presenter "know" that the advice is sound. Four popular methods for establishing medical advice are:

• Theories. Theories are the least mature of the methods. Theories from a knowledgeable medical authority often eventually result in new knowledge, but theories are just that: unproven hypotheses. As we have seen in dietary advice over the past fifty years, they are often completely incorrect and actually damaging to our health. 
• Population Studies. Populations studies seek to understand the differences between populations that have escaped particular maladies and populations that have not, generally relying on statistical evidence to support their conclusions. Unfortunately, population studies cannot establish anything other than a loose connection; i.e. can not establish a cause and effect, nor do they uncover the metabolic mechanisms that might be the underlying cause of the issue. A number of notable population studies, such as the China Study, have come under scrutiny, years after having established nutritional dogma, due to misinterpretation of aspects of the original results. Ancel Keys' Seven Countries study cherry-picked the countries he used to prove his misguided association between cholesterol and coronary artery disease that has had a profound impact on dietary guidelines for over fifty years. 
• Clinical Trials. Clinical trials are beginning to get into the area of "true science." Using a number of proven scientific techniques (such as double-blind studies), clinicians attempt to establish some aspect of a medical condition through studies on animals or humans. Some of the difficulties in reaching definitive conclusions with clinical trials include the complexity of our metabolism -- which varies considerably between individuals -- and the number of uncontrollable variables in the subjects' underlying DNA, environment, personal habits, etc. Animal studies -- especially the infamous "rat studies" -- meant to provide insights into human metabolism are often inappropriately related to results in humans and in the past have often used dosages well beyond reasonable ingest rates -- often orders-of-magnitude beyond!
• Practitioners. As a layman, I've actively studied the health landscape for several decades and personally believe that the most effective source of good medical advice comes from dedicated medical practitioners and the knowledge they gain from "practicing" their theories on their patients. That information is effectively communicated by the publication of their case studies.

Dr. Davis' Case Studies
Dr. Davis' case studies, spread throughout the book, are a source of inspiration. The theory underlying Wheat Belly is important, but the real proof lies in the amazing benefits realized by everyday people like you and me. Most of the case studies are one or two pages, so I'm just summarizing here. I'm sure you'll find the additional details from the book to be valuable.

• Dr. Davis performed a clinical trial of one on himself! Knowing he has a wheat sensitivity, he wanted to find out if there were a significant difference between ancient wheat and modern wheat. With some effort, he was able to obtain two pounds of einkorn wheat from which he ground the grain into flour. He prepared and ingested four ounces of einkorn one day followed by four ounces of modern organic wheat the next. The results were extremely interesting. From einkorn: no perceptual effects. From modern wheat: nausea (almost losing his lunch) and queasiness for thirty-six hours, accompanied by stomach cramps, fitful sleep, brain fog, and difficulty focusing on the research papers he was reviewing. Blood sugar readings before each test: 84 mg/dl. Blood sugar after einkorn: 110 mg/dl vs. 167 mg/dl for modern wheat. Results: significant difference!
• At sixty-one Celeste's weight had ballooned from 120-135 in her twenties and thirties to 182. Dr. Davis recommended a wheat elimination test to see if that were the cause. After three months, she had lost twenty-one pounds. After fourteen months, she had returned to her "twenties" weight of 127, having lost fifty-five pounds including twelve inches off her waist and fitting into size 6 dresses again.
• At 5 feet 10 and 322 pounds, Geno was diabetic with poor blood readings and at serious risk for heart disease. After six months eliminating "healthy" whole grains, he had lost sixty-four pounds and fourteen inches off his waist. Previously lethargic, he felt he now had the renewed energy of his youth. After another six months, he lost another forty more pounds, a total of 104 in a year.
• Wendy suffered from ulcerative colitis for over ten years, severe enough at times to require blood transfusions. She was on three prescription medications when she met Dr. Davis in preparation for colon removal surgery, replacing it with a permanent ileostomy bag worn around her waste for solid waste removal. Although he offered no assurances, Dr. Davis suggested she try gluten elimination for four weeks as a last ditch effort to save her colon. Three months later: no ileostomy bag, thirty-eight pounds of weight loss, and an almost complete elimination of symptoms. After a year off gluten -- totally cured. Although Wendy had tested negative for celiac antibodies over the years, it would appear that she was gluten sensitive, as many of Dr. Davis' patients have repeatedly demonstrated.
• Jason is a twenty-six year old that came to Dr. Davis in preparation for a possible heart-replacement surgery. "Everything hurts. All my joints. I can barely walk. At time I can barely get out of bed." Jason had been treated by three rheumatologists to no avail. Dr. Davis suggested wheat elimination for four weeks. Jason reported that after five days the pain was completely eliminated. He tested by eating a sandwich and within five minutes, 80% of the pain returned. After three months, Jason showed no signs of heart failure. He was now able to jog short distances and play light games of basketball -- activities not possible for several years.

This is just a brief summary of case studies to whet your appetite! You will be rewarded by many that I have omitted in order to get your attention. Dr. Davis' unique approach to supplying the scientific evidence is also worthy of mention and provides some of the important new healthy-diet information that has recently started to be uncovered. If you're now intrigued by the science behind Wheat Belly, read the review on Grain Brain, in which I've focused more on the science in the book rather than the case studies.

Dr. Terry Wahls, M.D.

I first saw Dr. Terry Wahls, M.D., on a Bulletproofexec event and was amazed at her brilliance and
her story. Dr. Wahls was a former national Tae Kwon Do champion that contracted multiple sclerosis (MS) in later life. Her illness progressed over several years to the point where she was confined to a reclined, motorized wheelchair and her condition was degenerating.

She began a series of self-experimentations to see what she could do to slow the progression of her condition and along the way, found a cure! [Well, technically, not a cure, but effectively so!] She shares her story through the foundation she established, The Wahls Foundation, in order to help others.

Her book, Minding My Mitochondria, is the story of how she defeated MS, accomplished completely through dietary changes based on studying the latest research on improving neurological function -- the seat of her MS problems. Through a series of incremental changes, she ended up at the modern paleo diet: fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, grass-fed meat -- gluten and casein (milk protein) free.

She went from her motorized wheelchair to walking with two canes for short distances. Then to using a single cane. After a few months, she found she could ride her bike around the block at home. She is now participating in 18 mile bicycle races.

This video is a couple of years old so this is not bleeding edge information, but if you're still on the fence about the modern paleo diet and are still confused about the conflicting nutritional information we get from the medical establishment, you really need to watch it! I was so inspired that I just had to share it :-).

Doctor Cures Her Multiple Sclerosis With Diet, Abandons Wheelchair

SALT Your Way to Health: Brownstein

Salt is one of the most misunderstood nutrients. Dr. David Brownstein, M.D. and holistic medicine practitioner, sets the record straight on our need for salt in Salt Your Way to Health.

We have heard from the medical establishment for years that salt is bad for your health and we have been told to eat a low-salt diet. This is not only incorrect information but potentially dangerous.

• Table Salt vs. Unrefined Salt It's critically important to understand the difference between refined table salt and unrefined forms of salt such as sea salt or Himalayan pink salt. Table salt is an industrial compound with little nutritional value beyond the manufactured sodium and chlorine while sea salt has over 80 additional trace minerals that are important to your overall health. Dr. Brownstein recommends that you avoid table salt and provide your body the salt it needs with 1/2 to 1 tsp per day of unrefined salt.
• Dietary pH It is also important to understand the importance of the aggregate pH of the foods that you eat and their effect on your body. The body requires a pH of 7.2 and the body organs will insure that no matter what you eat, it will maintain your blood plasma at a pH of 7.2, virtually at all costs. Junk foods in general have an acidic impact and must be offset by alkaline foods that are high in mineral content. Our "natural" (or paleo) diet consists of whole foods that include meats, which are somewhat acidic, balanced by the alkalinity of healthy fruits and vegetables. 
• Table Salt is Acidic A simple experiment shows that a teaspoon of Celtic sea salt raises the pH of 1/2 cup of filtered water by 0.4 (makes it more alkaline) while refined salt lowers it by 0.4 (makes it more acidic).
• The SAD is Acidic The Standard American Diet (SAD) -- high in processed foods, sugars, and refined salt -- is highly acidic. The body needs minerals to offset this acidity, often leaching calcium from bones -- a common cause of osteopenia and osteoporosis in older men and women.
• Sea Salt Production Process Production of sea salt is an ancient process that involves drying sea water in the sun to produce brine -- a process that retains the dozens of minerals inherent in sea water. Magnesium and potassium, two minerals crucial to our health, are included in significant quantity in sea salt. 75% of Dr. Brownstein's patients are deficient in magnesium and most Americans are potassium deficient, so sea salt is beneficial to your health.
• Sea Salt is Heart Friendly A quoted study showed that participants with the lowest salt intake had over four times the incidence of heart attacks as those on the highest salt intake. So more salt rather than less salt is good for your heart!
• Minerals are Important Studies have shown that deficiencies in minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium are directly related to the development of hypertension and heart disease.
• Cellular Electrolyte Balance The sodium in salt is a critical part of electrolyte balance in and around our cells. Sodium outside of the cells is balanced against potassium inside of the cells and various metabolic processes move ions through the cell walls. Calcium and magnesium also play a role. Insufficient sodium in the extracellular space causes dehydration and acidosis on the inside of the cells -- even if water consumption is at adequate or high levels. The kidneys will work extra hard to try to hold onto the salt available -- over time, causing kidney problems. 
• Adrenal Impact of Refined Salt Chronic use of refined salt will impact the adrenal glands because it is lacking in the needed support minerals.Unrefined salt solves these problems.

So how did we get to where we are today: saltophobia? 

• Animal Studies The first reported relationship between salt and high blood pressure came from a study in 1904. For the next 50 years a series of (flawed) animal studies seemed to confirm these early reports. The animal studies predominantly used massive dosages of refined salt -- 10-20 times recommended dosages. When the salt was eliminated from the diet, the lowering of blood pressure was considered the proof that salt was bad. See my blog on the Intersalt Study for a detailed case study. 
• Human Studies Clinical trials on human subjects studying the relationship between salt intake and blood pressure shared two obvious and common flaws: (1) always used refined salt; and (2) did not consider the logical effect of the minuscule differences observed. In studies involving Caucasian subjects, the lowering of pressure averaged 1.27 mm Hg systolic and 0.57 mm Hg diastolic -- insignificant in patients with dangerous BP's in the 200 mm range. In one study involving African Americans, the results were 6.44/1.98. As a layman aware of these "findings" years ago and the imperceptible affect of alpha and beta blockers on my own blood pressure, I discontinued use of pharmaceuticals on my own.

A number of interesting case studies of Dr. Brownstein's patients illustrate the importance of understanding how low-salt diets cause dramatic problems that are easily corrected. These "snapshots" are but a sampling and abbreviated to give you a quick overview. The actual case studies provide additional, important details that you'll get from reading the book!

• Sue, 61, had food allergies so severe that she reacted to virtually everything she ate including vitamins. Upon testing, it was determined that the pH of her urine was very acidic and that refined salt made it more acidic. When she replaced refined salt with Celtic Sea Salt, her pH significantly increased (became less acidic) and her food allergies went away.
• Jack, 63, was treated for hypertension for seven years with a diuretic and beta blocker and felt terrible: low energy, low initiative, and severe brain fog. Since his other doctors told him to lower his salt intake, he had completely stopped using salt. Jack tested low on sodium, so Dr. Brownstein added minerals and unrefined salt to his diet. Within one week his head began to clear and after two months he dropped one blood pressure medication and reduced the dosage of the other by half.
• Barbara, 53, was shocked when her doctor told her that her blood pressure was 160/100 and was told she would have to take antihypertensive drugs for the rest of her life. Barbara avoided "salt at all costs because I thought it caused hypertension." Barbara tested low for sodium and was put on vitamin and mineral supplements and told to add 1/2 tsp of unrefined salt per day. Within two weeks her blood pressure had declined and within two months it was at 110/70. She is not on medication, sleeps better (and less per night) and feels much better.

Dr. Brownstein proves to my satisfaction the importance of adequate unrefined salt to our diets. If you are still skeptical because of our saltophobic brainwashing over the decades, please pick up a copy of his book so that you can examine the evidence in greater detail.

Iodine, Why You Need It: Brownstein

Dr. David Brownstein, M.D., is a Board-Certified family practitioner who approaches medicine from a holistic perspective. I've been following Dr. Brownstein's blogs for several years and very much like his preference to treat the cause of dysfunction rather than the symptoms. 

Iodine: Why You Need It: Why You Can't Live Without It provides important information to help resolve the common misconceptions around this important micro-nutrient. Dr. Brownstein and his mentor, Dr. Guy Abraham, have been singular voices for several decades on the heath impacts of iodine deficiency. This book provides the medical evidence for their findings and a straight-forward program for resolving the issue.

Importance of Iodine
Why is iodine important?

• Goiters A several shortage of iodine causes thyroid problems, resulting in the growth of goiters.
• Mitochondria ATP Iodine is involved in the production of ATP in the mitochondria of every one of our trillion+ cells. An iodine deficiency results in inadequate energy production needed to drive most of our metabolic processes.
• Thyroid Hormones Iodine is critical to proper thyroid functioning. The 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the thyroid hormones, T1, T2, T3, and T4 are -- guess what? -- iodine!
• Thyroid Disorders The rising incidence of the thyroid conditions of Hashimoto's disease and Graves' disease tracks along the same curve as our falling iodine levels. Dr. Brownstein estimates that 15-20% of the population is affected by autoimmune thyroid diseases.
• Bio-Availability To become bio-available, iodine must undergo two processes: oxidation and organification both of which require co-enzymes, particularly adequately levels of vitamins B2 and B3, so proper treatment in some cases requires additional dietary changes or supplementation. 
• Organification Organification of iodine simply means that it is bound to other organic compounds such as cholesterol, lipids and proteins. Organification requires iodine levels at 100 times the RDA levels in order to occur. At 100x RDA levels, iodine forms delta-iodolactone, a key regulator for apoptosis, and is an important anti-thyroid cancer agent. 
• Breast Issues Teenage girls are particularly susceptible to goiters because development of breast tissue puts additional iodine demands on the body which further depletes thyroid iodine levels.
• Low IQ Births It has been known for nearly 100 years that iodine deficiency in pregnant women is associated with low IQ births. Cretinism is the most severe form of iodine deficiency, first discovered in the 18th century.
• ADHD and Autism Dr. Brownstein makes the case for connections between ADHD and autism in children and iodine deficiency. "I do not believe that ADHD is a condition caused by a lack of a mood-altering drug such as Ritalin or Concerta. I believe ADHD is a condition caused in large part from nutritional and hormonal imbalances as well as an increased toxic load." 

Iodine Deficiency: An Epidemic Problem
Dr. Brownstein claims that there is an epidemic iodine deficiency problem. What is the evidence that you are likely to be iodine deficient?

• Dr. Brownstein tests iodine levels in all of his patients -- over 6,000 to date -- and 96% test low, and many below any detectable limit. 
• Hakala Research (referenced in the book) has tested tens of thousands around the world with similar results.
• Elemental iodine exists primarily in the oceans. Iodine enters our food chain through evaporation from the oceans where it is deposited in the nearby soil and absorbed into plant life. Areas of the world that are not near the ocean tend to be iodine deficient. In Dr. Brownstein's locale -- the mid-West -- glaciers removed most of the iodine in the soil and was the "epicenter" of a goiter problem that was identified in the U.S. in the early 1900's. The end result was the addition of iodine to salt ("iodized salt") in Michigan and Ohio, quickly followed by the rest of the country.
• The World Health Organization estimates that one-third of the earth's population live in iodine deficient areas, resulting in mental retardation, goiter, increased child and infant mortality rates, and socioeconomic decline.
• Iodine was added to salt to reduce the goiter problem in the early 1900's, but the misdirected movement to "saltophobia" has resulted in a decline of 50% in the past 40 years per the NHANES studies. Note that iodized salt is an industrial, unhealthy substance and should not be consumed because it is missing the 80 minerals normally found in raw sources such as sea salt.
• Iodine is a part of the chemical family known as the halogens, which occupy Group VIIa in the periodic table of the elements. The metabolic need for iodine is so great that the body will substitute other members of the halogen family if there is an iodine shortage. Flurorine and bromine which are both toxic compounds, replace iodine in deficient individuals, causing metabolic problems. When iodine levels are restored to normal, the body quickly replaces the toxic fluorine and bromine with iodine and excretes them through the urinary tract. Dr. Brownstein provides the medical evidence for this through test results with his patients and through research studies.
• Iodine was added to bakery products in the 1960's to condition bread. This added a significant amount to the average iodine intake as each slice of bread included 150 mcg. Ten years later, due to iodophobia, bromine -- a toxic substance with no biological value -- replaced iodine in bread products further exacerbating the iodine deficiency problem. 

The body needs two forms of iodine: elemental iodine and iodide -- the ionic form of iodine found in salt. The metabolic processes to convert between them are not efficient, so Drs. Brownstein and Abraham have found that supplements including both are needed in order to correct iodine deficiency. Dr. Brownstein also recommends the use of 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of sea salt per day to his patients.

Iodine Testing
The most accurate iodine test was developed by Dr. Abraham and test kits are available over the internet. The test is called the iodine elimination test: 50 mg of iodine are ingested and urine is collected over a 24 hour period. If your body has adequate iodine levels, most of the 50 mgs are passed in your urine. A "normal" result is to eliminate 90% or more of the iodine.

I was tested through Hakala Research and tested deficient at 72% (>90% normal). As an interesting sidenote, I believe that I experienced a 36 hour increase in energy levels from the single LugoTab (50 mg of iodine/iodide) taken as part of the test and I have ordered LugoTab supplements! Check back for an update after I've had time to evaluate the results!

Case Studies
This is a small subset of case studies of Dr. Brownstein's patients whose quality of life was dramatically improved through treatment with iodine supplementation. Case studies in the book provide much more detail than presented below, making them much more compelling, so check the book if you'd like to drill down further.

• Kevin, 31-years old and a weight-lifter, became disabled after a flu shot and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Kevin's elimination test showed iodine deficiency at 55% elimination (normal > 90%). After a change in thyroid medication and iodine supplementation, he noticed an immediate improvement.
• Paula, age 42, suffered from severe headaches for over ten years and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Treatment with medications provided some relief. Her iodine loading tested below the detectable limit (0%). 37.mg/day of Iodoral showed improvement in two weeks. After running out of Iodoral in two months, her headaches returned. Re-supplementation again resolved the problem and confirmed that iodine deficiency was the cause of her headaches for all of those years.
• David, age 42, ate a healthy diet, supplemented with vitamins, exercised regularly, and felt reasonably well during his 8-year treatment for hypothyroidism. He was surprised that his iodine loading test was very low at 46%. After three months of supplementation with Iodoral, David's energy levels had increased dramatically and his test results had increased to 87%. David is Dr. David Brownstein!
• Tracy, 40-years old, was treated for Hashimoto's disease for ten years and felt miserable: brain fog, poor memory, extreme fatigue, heart palpitations, irrititability, moodiness, and insufficient energy for working out. Incremental improvements occurred under Dr. Brownstein based on a change in thyroid medications, a gluten-free diet, and vitamin/mineral supplements. But she did not feel completely well until her iodine deficiency was corrected.
• Marlene, a 45-year old advertising executive, was diagnosed with Graves' disease. Her physician wanted to treat her with radioactive iodine, so she sought another opinion. She was tested at 24% excretion for iodine (>90% normal) and found to have nutritional deficiencies. After four weeks on an improved diet, supplementation, and 50 mg/day of Iodoral (iodine/iodide supplementation), she noticed a dramatic improvement in her symptoms and energy levels.
• Joan, a 60-year old teacher was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1989. Using holistic medicine and iodine supplementation and treatment for hypothyroidism, she recovered and continued to teach for 16 years until the tumors metastisized, at which point she became very fatigued. She lost 25 pounds and "I felt like I was dying." Dr. Brownstein increased her iodine supplementation to 50-62.5 mg/day. Her tumors began to disintegrate (PET scan) after 42 days and she was also able to stop the thyroid medication.
• Delores, a 73-year old woman, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She refused chemo and was treated by Dr. Brownstein with 50 mg/day of Iodoral, vitamins, minerals, and hormones as well as Celtic Sea Salt. She felt significant improvement in three months. The breast cancer was significantly reduced after 18 months and after two years, her mammograms and ultrasounds were normal.

Medical Iodine Controversy
The medical establishment does not yet recognize the significance and importance of iodine; in fact, medical schools are still teaching that iodine is toxic despite the fact that this was disproven decades ago. If you plan to discuss this issue with your physician, you might want to read Dr. Brownstein's book to arm yourself ahead of time!

Closing Observations
Iodine, Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It was an eye-opener for me and prompted me to have myself tested. Dr. Brownstein provides a compelling case that many, if not most of us, are iodine deficient, what the impact of that deficiency is, and simple steps in how to treat it. If the above information is relevant to you or someone you know, you can order copies of the book from Amazon and other book outlets.