Wheat Belly

I. Introduction

In 2011, cardiologist William Davis challenged readers around the world to “lose the wheat” in his #1 New York Times bestseller, Wheat Belly. Davis believes that wheat is the predominant driver behind the country’s obesity epidemic and that giving it up will not only lead to dramatic weight loss but also to “optimal health.”

Davis’ book is informed by direct professional experience with thousands of patients—but also by personal experience. One day, he saw a photo of himself from vacation and realized he was roughly 30 pounds overweight. He had also unknowingly developed high cholesterol and diabetic blood-sugar levels. He decided to commit to a wheat-free lifestyle and encouraged his overweight patients to do the same. Davis quickly noticed he had more energy after eating a breakfast of eggs rather than toast or bagels, and he felt more focused and rested. Both he and many of his patients lost significant amounts of weight, and his blood sugar and cholesterol levels dropped as well.

In Wheat Belly, Davis explains how modern wheat is produced, its harmful takeover of our food culture and health, the benefits readers can expect from a life without wheat and how to go about successfully quitting that most harmful of grains.

II. How We Got Here

III. Wheat Drives the Obesity Epidemic

IV. Wheat Causes Other Ill Health Effects

V. How to Lose the Wheat

VI. Quitting Ain’t Easy

VII. Wheat Is Step One