Controversial Topic: The Dangers of Wheat
Several days ago I happened upon a disconcerting video about wheat. The audio-based video consisted of a one-hour interview with Dr. William Davis, author of the book Wheat Belly and a renown cardiologist who claims that the habitual consumption of wheat-based products is unhealthy.
In the video, Dr. William asserts that the consumption of breads can drastically increase blood sugar levels and claims that gliadin, a protein in (genetically modified) wheat flour, is an opiate that stimulates appetite, which may lead to undesirable weight gain. In addition to that, he makes statements with implications that symptoms of asthma and fatigue can be triggered or caused by bread consumption.
Other topics broached by Dr. William includes ancient grains such as emmer and spelt, gluten-free products, and sprouted grains. However, unless I'm mistaken, he doesn't mention sourdough or its effects on human health.
You can view and listen to the described video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWtsHTNhPa4 [1]
Community of TFL, what are your thoughts and opinions on this topic? As a passionate baker, I may be biased (evidenced by my conflicting feelings on the subject) but wish to learn about any potential health hazards associated with grains, flours or breads.
Zita