Is Wheat Bad for You–Or Is Wheat Healthy?

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field of wheat

When we told friends and family that we were cutting out wheat from our diet, one of the more common reactions we got was,

“That’s crazy. I mean, if you have celiac disease or something, alright, but wheat is natural. It’s what we were made to eat.”

Yes, wheat is a staple of the American diet. It takes up a fair share of the food pyramid. It is the primary ingredient in breads, pastas, cookies, cake, and is in many sauces, soups, spice mixes, and more. It’s hard to imagine life without wheat.

But what if this staple of life is really an agent of death?

Thanks to modern breeding practices, today’s wheat is unlike its ancient ancestor: wheat seeds have been exposed to high doses of gamma and microwave radiation and grown with harmful pesticides.

In fact, modern wheat has been so transformed that it can’t even grow in the wild anymore (so much for being “natural”).

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Is Wheat Bad for You or Is Wheat Healthy?

Here are 4 things to consider when evaluating whether you should have wheat in your diet or not.

1. Wheat Might Cause Leaky Gut

Although Leaky Gut Syndrome isn’t something that is recognized as a medical diagnosis, it is known that leaky gut exists.

Gluten, one of the proteins in wheat, causes zonulin to be released in your body. Zonulin regulates how permeable our intestines are—how much liquid or gas can pass through it. Too much of this is called “leaky gut.”

The more gluten you eat, the more zonulin you have. The leakier your gut becomes.

The leakier your gut becomes, the more undigested food in your intestine (i.e. poop) can enter your bloodstream. Ick. (source)

In case it isn’t obvious, your body probably doesn’t like it when poop enters the bloodstream.

It’s thought by some practitioners that our immune system mounts up for an attack when this occurs, and over time, that this can lead to multiple autoimmune diseases (like celiac disease, arthritis, thyroid disorders, and others).

2. Wheat Might Cause Weight Gain

When you eat wheat, it is broken down into sugar in your body, causing your pancreas to secrete insulin. This is known as an insulin spike.

After this comes the blood sugar “crash,” bringing back hunger cravings with a vengeance. Furthermore, when your insulin levels are continually high, you store fat rather than burn it.

Added to this are the lectins in wheat. Lectins are in a lot of different foods, but wheat is one of the biggest offenders in the standard American diet.

Lectins don’t break down in your gut but bind to receptors in your intestinal wall. More lectins in your system causes you to become resistant to the hormone leptin.

Leptin regulates hunger cravings, and when you become resistant to leptin, this can lead to weight gain, sleep disturbances, and nutritional deficiencies.

Note that soaking grains greatly reduces lectins, so that is one way to approach this issue.

3. Wheat Can Cause Inflammation

Inflammation is your body’s natural defense against invaders. If, for instance, you have a wheat allergy, the proteins from wheat are seen by your body as invaders.

Even if you don’t have a wheat allergy, wheat can still cause leaky gut (see above), and leaky gut puts digested bits of food (i.e. poop) in your blood. All of this leads to inflammation, which can lead to all kinds of issues.

The best way to fight potential (or actual) illness is to cut out all inflammatory food like wheat and sugar.

4. Wheat Could Be Affecting Your Brain

After gluten (one of the proteins in wheat) crosses the blood-brain barrier, it can attack the central nervous system. Researches have started noticing a connection between wheat consumption and schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety, depression, and ADD, especially in children.

In addition, when some people eat gluten, the opiate receptors in their brains react the same way they might react to heroine. Some researchers think this actually causes a “wheat addiction” and even binge eating disorders.

What Do You Think?

What do you think? Do you think that wheat could be causing issues for you or is it truly a healthy food?

Check out this post on Gluten–No Big Deal or Silent Killer for more of my thoughts.  

Did YOU know all of these things about wheat?

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55 Comments

  1. Aha!!! Hope this is it!’

    Hi, my question is not just about wheat. Although I avoided wheat for a number of years due to a mis-diagnosis. Still keeping it to a minimum. Went vegan and the last few years have had to re think some things due to Dr.Gundry ads . So am hoping to find some people who have avoided rice (????? ), legumes, cashews, etc. The slick ads are everywhere , showing images of avocados while asking what they are doing to your body?? If you can help me be sensible about lectins and whatever else he advocates we avoid, I would appreciate it. ?

    1. You got it in the right place :).

      I looked into this awhile ago when I was still sick (SO nice saying “was” in that sentence :).

      First of all that avocado “ad” is click bait. And I’m confused about what he says about avocados. I found one article on his site saying to eat as many as you like–I think it said “you can’t eat too many avocados” and then in another place it says just one per day.

      The click bait part is that he likes them but is giving you the impression that he doesn’t.

      About the lectins, I’m trying to remember exactly what my concern was. I had a few but the main one, I think, was that, if I’m not mistaken, he’s fine with eating low lectin foods, correct?
      But he’s a “NO” for beans and grains, correct?

      But soaking greatly reduces lectins so why isn’t it ok to eat them if they are soaked?

      I asked another blogger that on her site–she was, I think, a Gundry / No Lectin Blogger.

      I believe her answer was, “Oh he’s helped so many people and has done the research.”

      I don’t understand it. If low lectin foods are OK and soaking removes most of the lectins, then why would you avoid a whole food group when you can deal with the problem?

      For that reason, I disagree with him and think there are much better choices. Hope that helps :).

      1. Yes, that does help. It is annoying to have a professional medical person use clickbait and the slick hype. I have to be careful where I use my energy because it can disappear suddenly. I guess part of the rationale is to force people to stay engaged for longer than they wanted . ?

        1. Well, people want to make money and the extent to which they go to do it varies.

          Have you seen my About Page? I just updated it.

          Perhaps I can help. Let me know why you were looking at Gundry’s information and maybe there’s another approach that I have heard about.

  2. For those who have said or are saying or thinking that God made wheat and gave it to us, and therefore it must still be good…
    Isn’t it like Satan to corrupt the things that God has given in order that they are no longer good/useful? Remember, he hates us.

  3. My husband went through this, modern wheat is nothing like it was decades ago. My husband developed adult onset asthma out of the blue, and we found out it was a reaction he developed to gluten. No more gluten, no more asthma. What a blessing to have found this out as his specialist said his asthma was so severe they wanted him to partake in a study, and laughed at him when he asked if it could be linked to his diet.

    1. That happens sometimes, doesn’t it? I had an expert tell me something just this week that I told him was wrong and it was proven that I was right on a subsequent test. I’ll be writing about it soon :).

  4. Sorry, I don’t but into this logic. This info is okay for people who have an allergy to wheat but the fact is that the vast majority of people do not. Wheat was created by God and has been a staple in people’s diets for thousands of years AND it is NOT put down in the bible. Your article tries to scare everyone in thinking it’s bad for everyone. Why don’t you just come out and say God made a mistake and that you know better than he does.

    1. Hi Gene. I am sure Trisha will be by later to respond but I know she has a really busy week so I am going to chime in for now. First of all, the wheat of today is very different from the wheat of Bible times. There has been a lot going on that has been done by man and there is a lot more gluten in it now. There are folks who can eat the wheat in Europe but not in the US so that is evidence that something is going on here.

      Secondly, it is possible that the wheat of today is bad for everyone, but that most have no idea what it is doing to them. Maybe not everyone, but I suspect that there are many many more people who are affected by wheat issues than any of us know.

      I think your last sentence is rather brash. God doesn’t make mistakes, but man has done things to our food supply and our environments that has cost us dearly. The effect on humans even in the way of epigenetics is something we need to recognize and not ignore.

      I hope you will open your mind to realize that this isn’t scare tactics but truth. Trisha worked very hard to make her book something that was based on a lot of facts and she is right on. My husband had a ferritin level of about 3 and it was only by taking gluten out of his diet that we were finally able to bring it back up to almost normal.

      Please feel free to respond but I would appreciate your being a little more kind in your comments -thanks in advance :).

    2. Hi Gene,

      I think Adrienne pretty much addressed the points I would address. If you’d like more reading on this we also have a couple of posts on our site about this. My husband wrote these 2 posts:
      5 Ways Modern Wheat is Different than Biblical Wheat: https://www.intoxicatedonlife.com/2013/11/07/5-ways-modern-wheat-different-biblical-wheat/
      Is Gluten-Free Biblical? Wheat and Bread in the Bible: https://www.intoxicatedonlife.com/2013/11/07/5-ways-modern-wheat-different-biblical-wheat/

      I hope you’ll take the time to read through these posts. My husband took a lot of time to flesh out some of these questions and issues you have. But when it comes down to it, we do not say that God made a mistake. We don’t say that eating wheat is sinful. But for many, and I’d argue most, abstaining from the wheat grown today is likely the most healthful option.

  5. This is an issue that I am interested in and was happy to find it here. I started grinding my own wheat a few years ago based on the Bread Beckers info and some other research I did. Only after we invested in an expensive kitchen appliance, the grinder, did I find any of the info on soaking and sprouting, etc. Bummer!!
    On a separate note, I find it sad that some of the dialog? In the comments is so snarky by those claiming to be representatives of Christ.

  6. When I tap on the Kindle link to purchase the ebook, I get the Amazon site, bit the Kindle is $9.95 instead of $1.99. Has that offer expired?

  7. learn to spell or use Spellcheck the opiate Heroin is not spelled like the female hero heroine , adds a bit of credibility to articles

    1. Hi Dan,

      Thanks for pointing out the editing error. We actually noticed the spelling error shortly after getting it up for sale and edited it appropriately. Unfortunately, sometimes these things happen. You must have received the book when it very first came out before we were able to upload the edited version. Shoot me an email and I’d be happy to get you the corrected version!

  8. My family and I stopped wheat completely about 3 or more years ago….haven’t eaten hardly anything wheat related since then. I bought wheat berries and ground them in my home mill and baked my own bread….until we were shown how the bread was causing my son to have seizures. He would eat some and before long was in the floor having a seizure. So we stopped….I have come to realize that it probably wasn’t the wheat, but the fact that it turned into a starch/sugar once it was digested and his body could not handle the sugar.
    I have been researching lately, though, about sprouted sourdough bread. I understand the sprouting makes the grain turn into a vegetable during digestion by the body….and the gluten is transformed is what I am reading.
    I was just wondering what thoughts Trisha has on this subject….I’m still doing my research, so I haven’t taken any steps on baking with wheat again….just checking it out…

    1. Hi Melody,

      When you prepare wheat traditionally, it certainly does negate some of the negative aspects of wheat. It decreases the phytates, lectins, and gluten content (though you can’t be sure that it is eliminated – I’d NEVER suggest a person with celiac disease eat sourdough bread, though some do).

      There is more wrong with the wheat in just the preparation methods though. The way the wheat has been hybridized is a big problem. From my research, I actually believe it’s a problem that is as large, if not larger than the genetic modification of other foods. Wheat is not genetically modified, but has been transgenically hyrbidized. There are regulations on genetic modification of foods, but there are NO regulations (that I know of) on transgenic hybrization. That’s kinda scary to me.

      I do believe that purchasing your own wheat (preferably an ancient variety of wheat) and traditionally preparing it, is a huge step in the right direction for many people. But, I believe most people are better off just cutting it from their diets. Of course, everyone really needs to do their research and determine what is best for their situation.

      Have you cut all sugars and starches from your sons diet? With your son, even if you do sprout the bread it is still a starch. All starches turn to sugar in the body. I’ve heard of some remarkable recoveries children have had with seizure disorders when cutting all sugar and starches from their diet and going on a ketogenic diet. I’ve not done super in depth research on this, but think it’s fascinating!

  9. This seems like a lot of food for thought. Probably all you write is a bit exaggerated though or made to scare us all because really, people have eaten wheat for ages. I think that the secret to all lies in moderation. I recently learned about a man who drank 38 litres of carrot juice for a week because he was convinced it would make him healthier but he died of vitamin A overdose and a subsequent liver failure. Food can heal but it can also destroy.

    1. Hi Kanelstrand,

      I certainly don’t believe I am exaggerating… I wouldn’t knowingly exaggerate. But, there is much much more science to this and certainly this does not happen to EVERY person that eats wheat. I do believe because of the transgenic hybridization of wheat, the pesticides that are placed on wheat, and some other modern practices that this is becoming much more common with individuals who eat wheat. Yes, people have eaten wheat for ages… but, one of the things we address in our book is the fact that wheat is quite different and has changed a LOT in the last 100 years. You’re not eating the same wheat your great grandparents ate.

      1. Dear Trisha, I am sure you wouldn’t knowingly exaggerate, I hope I haven’t offended you. You are right, present-day wheat is not what our grandparents ate! Isn’t it ironic how after so much technical progress we now willingly strive to go back to a smaller, simpler and slower life… I wish food was the medicine we need. And it still is, only if we ourselves grow it. But can we grow everything ourselves? Tough questions. Thanks for making a ripple in the minds of people.

        1. Oh no, you have not offended at all. I do realize there is MUCH more to this issue than what I wrote above (that’s why I wrote a whole book on it!). This post is meant to bring up some of the more salient problems many people may be experiencing due to (at least in part) wheat consumption. I say it in my book, and on my website, and I’ll say it here… wheat is NOT the only problem. But, it is one of the bigger problems.

          Yes, it is very interesting how with all of the progress we’re finding it important to go back to a more simple way to do things. My family who lives in a subdivision with a small yard, certainly can’t grow all of our own foods and raise all of our own animals. But, through the power of the internet I’ve been able to source them from local people that have good farming practices and raise pastured animals. So, I guess not all of the progress is so bad 🙂

  10. I gave up wheat and other gluten grains long ago with no regrets. It was only the beginning of my journey to find health and well being. Thank you for providing lots of good information. Happy New Year!

  11. I have not read this post fully, but I want to say after reading the comments that I’m with Ann and Mary. Our family tried to cut grains out…mostly wheat. We. Felt. Like. Crap. And honestly, I never felt right about it. I always had a nagging voice in the back of my head telling me something just wasn’t right. Why would our Lord call himself THE BREAD OF LIFE if wheat was so terrible for us? He sure didn’t call himself the Almond of Life. 🙂 Ha, ha! I crack myself up!
    I realize not everyone can eat it – I have friends who cannot eat it…but for those of us who can, and can mill our own wheat, it’s so healthy. We try to eat grains at every meal and our health has only improved.
    I believe 100% in the power of fresh milled grains because I have seen the amazing effect it has had on our family and our health. There is no denying it for us.

    1. Hi Stacy,

      I’m glad your family feels better. Grains prepared freshly and in a more traditional manner are certainly much better for you than other alternatives (this is a point we make in our book).

      Two brief thoughts:

      1. How we feel and what is going on biologically are often two very different things. In this post, my wife says very little about how wheat makes you “feel” and focuses almost exclusively on what wheat does to your body. I’m sure there are many people who will happily eat wheat until the day they die and experience no measurable ill effects on their body (as far as they can tell, anyway).

      2. As far as the biblical information goes, I agree that the Bible speaks positively of wheat (also a topic we spend many chapters on in our book). The key questions one has to ask are: (1) Do the positive statements about wheat speak to its nutritional value or something else? (2) Can one not eat wheat for health reasons and still positively regard it in the way the Bible speaks? (3) Do statements about God providing wheat obligate the Christian to eat it? (4) Do modern transgenic breeding practices reduce the value of wheat as God designed it? These are some of the questions our book addresses at length.

  12. I’ve been leaving out the wheat lately too cuz I’ve been going into like a food coma after I eat lately & trying to figure out what is causing it. I’m on a vegan diet also.

    1. I hope that you are able to find some relief by eliminating the wheat. It can take up to a couple of months of strict adherence to determine if it’s making a difference. It can take that long for all of the gluten to be eliminated from your system!

      1. Ouch I didn’t know that. My hubby will hate me if I’m grouchy now watch out lol. The hardest part for me is recipes right now because I’ve never had luck in the past with gluten free baking.

        1. Jen.
          Elana at Elana’s Pantry has a lot of GF baking recipes. Her books are awesome also. I checked them out from my local library before buying to make sure there would be recipes I like. 🙂 All her recipes are GF on her blog as they are a Celiac family. Happy recipe hunting!

  13. I was on the Atkins diet for a year I lost a lot of weight not sure I would say I felt great though. I stayed cold all the time and didn’t have energy and my b.ms was almost nothing. I started grinding my own wheat berries the last six months. I grind hard red wheat, soft white and spelt. My entire families health has improved drastically. We all go the the restroom 2-3 times a day and are feeling great. I make everything from my own pancakes to bread, egg noodles, cakes and cookies. I dare not buy that dead flor from the store anymore and really try to stay away from premade bread, cake type things. Fresh ground wheat has so many nutritional values. I’d suggest anyone considering dropping dead flour bought from the store, do it in a heartbeat, but highly consider looking into grinding your own flour and going homemade. Research what the flour companies took out of flour years ago to make it able to sit on the shelf longer. I think that’s what’s made us sick! Before you rid yourself of wheat, I’d say do your research and look into fresh milled grains and their benefits! God bless

    1. I am interested to hear what Trisha thinks about this. But I am totally convinced about gluten’s effects on the immune system, particularly the thyroid.

      1. I believed I replied to Trisha but either I did something wrong entirely possible) or it was removed.

        She did not answer my question “did you read the link or are you just trying to sell me a book?” Perhaps you know the answer?

        Have a blessed New Year !!!

        1. Hi Mary. I moderate all comments. I don’t know if Trisha is able to see them right away or not b/c we are just starting to have other authors on as contributing writers so the function of this all is new to me right now. I replied and I am sure she will be back too. 🙂

    2. I’ve not read Wheat Belly in its entirety… in fact, I’ve only skimmed through a few sections of it as it’s not a book I own, so I can’t really speak to whether what Wheat Belly says is true or not.

      Our book has a pretty comprehensive section on Wheat and the Bible. Dr. Davis may not approach this from a Christian view-point, but I can assure you my husband and I do.

      I think one thing to remember is that the Bible is not primarily a book on nutrition. And a second thing to remember, is the wheat we eat today is very very different than the wheat in Biblical times. The wheat seeds go through what is called transgenic hybridization (that is hybridization that changes the genetic structure of the wheat via irradiation and harsh chemicals). We write more about this topic on our blog: 5 Ways Modern Wheat is Different Than Biblical Wheat (https://intoxicatedonlife.com/2013/11/07/5-ways-modern-wheat-different-biblical-wheat/)

      Also, you can grab our book for just $1.99 and we talk very extensively about the wheat/Bible issue.

      1. Did you look at the link I posted or are you just trying to sell your book to me?

        A couple of excerpts from the link (by Sue Becker) are as follows:

        “I have been teaching others about the benefits of healthy eating, particularly freshly milled whole grains, including wheat, …. I have a degree in Food Science and am a Certified Nutrition Counselor. I have continued my independent studies of physiology, biochemistry and anatomy for more than 30 years. I am currently enrolled in the Naturopathy program at Trinity School of Natural Health. ”

        ” I am, however, first and foremost, unashamedly a Bible-believing Christian. God created and gave us food to perfectly nourish our bodies. He knows how our bodies work and what nutrients are needed for good health. He made food to give us those nutrients. When we alter God’s design and plan, we discredit His wisdom and we will suffer the consequences.”

        “I have great concerns when diets eliminate entire food groups, especially ones that God has declared as good for food.
        “But the Holy Spirit declares that in the latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach…who teach people to abstain from certain kinds of foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and have an increasingly clear knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 4:1,3 (AMP version).”

        I believe the Bible has answers for EVERY aspect of our lives. Your response sounds like you may not.

        1. Hi Mary. I am sure Trisha will be back to respond, but I wanted to chime in w/ my thoughts.

          First of all, I don’t think that Trisha is just trying to peddle a book. I know that some bloggers are all “buy buy buy” but I don’t consider her (or myself) to be one of them.

          As for Breadbeckers, they are selling something too. So that need to be taken into consideration.

          Trisha isn’t advocating removing entire food groups (though there are some very intelligent folks who do so). She is just talking about wheat and gluten. She is not going so far as to say to remove all grains. That being said, one can’t really just say that since God gave us food, that by removing foods that we are sensitive to, or that cause us health issues, that “we will suffer the consequences.” With all due respect to Sue for her background, that is a very simplistic view of Scripture.

          I am not a Bible scholar, but I was pre-med and in the top 2% (I think) of a top university in the US and I graduated Phi Beta Kappa from there. My husband was Phi Beta Kappa from a top uni in the US as well and has an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in IL where he got a 4.0 and he has a PhD. So we are not “intellectual slouches.” I don’t think that one’s degrees are necessarily equated w/ being right on an issue, but I think our capabilities square up against Sue’s.

          I have done some graduate work and am enrolled in an Herbal Health for Women’s course that is pretty intensive.

          So – that being said, what Trisha is saying is that first of all, the wheat that we have today is different than the wheat that was around in the Bible times. Also, we are not sure that it was wheat that was being eaten–at least not all the time. Nor as much of it as is being eaten today.

          So how about we concede that we should only eat untainted wheat and not eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Are we OK then?

          Not really. Is it a sin for us to prevent our son, who has life threatening allergies to milk, from eating milk products? or should we just say “Well, God said he sent his people into a land of milk and honey” and then give him milk and watch him die? I think CPS would be putting us in jail pretty quickly.

          Our bodies have sensitivities and more due to the fall and we need to figure those out. I can’t eat honey now due to candida. I hope to be able to someday. But my body is dealing w/ the ravages of antibiotics, stress, and toxins, and lack of being breastfed and I am doing the best I can.

          To simply have an “It is in the Bible so I can do it” or “God made it so I can eat/drink it” is way too simplistic, and –with all due respect to you, b/c I sincerely do love this kind of interaction–it problematic thinking.

          The quote you wrote about “abstaining from foods” and linking that to “giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits” is problematic as well. That verse is referring to this in a religious, not a nutritional context. If we were saying that “you can’t eat wheat b/c it takes you away from God” then that would be a valid argument. However, what we are saying is that the wheat has been corrupted and that our bodies can’t handle it.

          No one is saying that God will punish anyone for eating wheat. Sue should be very careful about what she is writing there. I do know many people respect her but this kind of thinking is misleading at best and dangerous at worst.

          I hope that helps and would love to know what you think.

          Oh- finally, I don’t think that the Bible is the only source of knowledge, if that is what you mean by “has answers to EVERY aspect of our lives.” A simple example would be brain surgery. One needs to look outside of the Bible for many things in life. Take care!

          1. Dear Adrienne,

            Thank you for your reply.

            Thank you for a listing of your (and your husband’s) credentials…again (I have heard you say it before on this website or through emails that were generated by you via subscription to this website).

            I have never thought you were an intellectual slouch (as you put it), in fact, I knew the opposite was true. That being said, I suppose because I had listed Sue Becker’s credentials, you felt it was necessary to list yours as well (that or else it just makes you feel good to list what you have accomplished in your life).

            I listed Sue Becker’s credentials because I did not know if you had heard of her. Since I logged in a reply to a blog on your website and did not question your credentials , to me, it would be reasonable to think that I knew you knew what you were talking about. But, I must admit, that I may be taking too many liberties here and assuming too much. It has happened to me before.

            You may be able to read between the lines and discern what Trisha is “really” saying. But, she did a lackluster job in making that clear to me. For whatever reason, she clearly has an “agenda” regarding wheat. Nowhere in the blog did she discuss alternatives or the different varieties of wheat (such as spelt or einkorn). Nor did she discuss the option of using organic varieties of wheat.

            In fact, it was the opposite…she vehemently attacked wheat, eliminate it all from your diet now. And, if you don’t, here is what is going to happen to you. Yes, she does acknowledge the fact that wheat is not poison, seemingly grudgingly, but follows up with the rest article where she makes some very controversial statements such as “wheat puts poop in your blood…wheat makes you hungry and fat…wheat causes heart disease..wheat is scrambling your brain…
            Wow, those are some pretty brazen statements that have been made and her only references (that I can find) are to “various scientific studies”…really? But, you can buy my book for more….really? Really ???

            To me, it appears you are comparing apples to oranges when you use the argument of a “life threatening disease” or other life threatening allergies such as the one your son has (all which are very real and very scary) to what Trisha is saying. Trisha is basically saying that wheat is evil and that you should cut it completely out of your diet whether or not you have health issues with it. In fact, Trisha is not avoiding wheat because she has some “life threatening disease” or allergy associated with it… is she? I looked through her links and couldn’t find any reference to health issues or allergies to wheat.

            That is quite different from what you are talking about with your son. And, to be completely honest with you, you are doing exactly what you “accuse” Sue Becker of doing…”Sue should be very careful about what she is writing there. I do know many people respect her but this kind of thinking is misleading at best and dangerous at worst.” Looks kinda the same to me…

            That being said, in the link Sue did briefly address the health issues of wheat intolerance before reviewing the book. Not once in the blog above did Trisha mention health or allergy issues that were caused by wheat and therefore necessitated the complete avoidance of the product. If she did I certainly missed it.

            Tell me, would you allow your son to drink milk if was able? I am going to hazard a guess that you probably would…it may not be cows milk, it may be goats milk. It may be organic milk or you may even get a cow or goat yourself and produce your own milk. I wonder if your other children drink milk…do you drink milk?

            Now the question I would ask is does milk have the same “negative” side affects that (according to Trisha) wheat does? I am certain there is a study, or two, somewhere…..
            Truth be told, all of man’s food supply has been corrupted in one way or another. So, in my opinion, one does the best they can with what they have….

            I know I have not addressed every point you have made but, I have given enough of my time to this topic and I know now that it was a mistake to even say anything. I should be spending my time with my family celebrating the miracle of the Christmas season and the birth Christ.

            If you would like to know how modern wheat is different than ancient wheat I suggest the following link
            https://intoxicatedonlife.com/2013/11/07/5-ways-modern-wheat-different-biblical-wheat/
            (it was in the above blog). Trisha knows the difference.

            Finally, and most importantly, I feel fairly confident saying that God has a different opinion than you do regarding the statement you made “One needs to look outside of the Bible for many things in life. ” (wow….good luck with that one when you are standing in front of God answering to Him on Judgment Day). But then, I, like you, am not a Bible scholar. I do know, without a doubt, that God knows our heart better than we do…

            You asked me what I think and I will tell you…I think it is best if I take my simplistic thinking and unsubscribe from your blog as your reply has told all I need to know about you and your way of thinking.

            Blessings,
            Mary

            1. Hello Mary. Sorry it took awhile to respond to you. I’ve been busy spending time w/ family and friends and making food for the gatherings. I’m sure you know how busy that can be :).

              Anyhow, really am saddened by the tone of your response and think that you completely misunderstood me. Let me explain if you will bear with me.

              1. I listed my “credentials” (though I don’t know that I think of them as such) only b/c Sue’s were in your comment. I honestly am pretty quiet about them. My husband regularly tells me how smart I am but I think of myself more of a “good test taker”. I don’t know that I really deserved what I was given and I do think that so many people w/ “credentials” really aren’t that bright. It depends on a lot of things. The things that I do think are important is noting that Sue doesn’t have real training in Scriptures which is what she is basing her argument on so I think that my husband is more qualified to talk about such things.

              And honestly, many with MDivs aren’t that sharp either but he took his studies very very seriously. I will say (and I don’t take to bragging on my husband near enough, sadly) that he is one of the sharpest expositors of the Bible that I know of. And he is humble. When he doesn’t know something, he says so. And when he is wrong–he says so. So I go to him w questions like this all the time and we talk a lot about tough issues.

              So–I will say that it certainly doesn’t make me “feel good” to list what we have done but I did think in this case that it was relevant to the conversation.

              2. Trisha or her husband can talk about organic and/or einkorn but in her post she didn’t, of course, go into everything that she goes into in her book. It wouldn’t make sense for her to. She spent hours and hours and hours (and her husband did too) on the book and for the price of $1.99, she really makes very little. Especially if you were to buy through my link. I think she said she makes something like 63 cents. I guarantee if you get the book you will think that her making that small amount of money off of the book is warranted for sure.

              She and her husband have seen the ravages of wheat and you will see (if you buy it) that many others mentioned in her book have as well. Of course, not all people (I think) have these issues, but from what I am seeing, more and more are. And many more will. I personally think that many are doing damage to themselves and don’t know it. I am one of those. I had no issues for a long time. Ground my own organic and/or CCF (certified chemical free) wheat for years and felt fine. After many years, however, things changed and now it appears that totally GF is the only way to go. I suspect I may have done serious damage to my gut and possibly to my thyroid from eating gluten. I wish I had stopped sooner.

              So I don’t really think that Trisha is trying to do fear mongering in order to make a buck.

              To the contrary–I think she has seen what wheat can do and is trying to sound the alarm to spare others the horror that she has seen.

              3. You mentioned her saying “buy the book for more.” Again, I referenced the small amount of money that she is making so I think I have addressed that already.

              4. I don’t think it is apples and oranges as far as what I brought up. I was saying that Sue is referencing Scripture saying that we shouldn’t abstain from foods and she appears to be tying that to demonic / antiChristian practices. I pointed out that the Scripture reference isn’t talking about health issues and that we are dealing w/ totally different things here.

              And I addressed earlier that I think that much of wheat’s damage can be silent for awhile. You can do the damage and not know until later.

              What I was saying is that what Trisha (and I also) are saying is that we are talking about removing wheat/gluten and even sugar from the diet due to health issues. I brought up the life threatening food allergies b/c my husband pointed that out as an analogy that is appropriate. If it makes the point better, then we can leave it w/ other health issues. Did you know that many many more people in mental institutions have celiac than in the general population? The same goes for those w/ schizophrenia. In any case, what I meant is that Sue is trying to say that it is wrong to tell folks to remove food groups from their diet. But we are doing it not for spiritual reasons, but for health and so her “argument” falls apart there.

              She is interpreting Scripture in the wrong way.

              5. I don’t understand why you think what I am saying is dangerous but if you could clarify I can try to respond. Thanks.

              6. Trisha was talking in this post about certain reasons to avoid wheat. In the book she talks about more. The post wasn’t mean to be exhaustive. As a blog writer – it is hard to write about everything. One just can’t. She is trying to make folks aware and generate interest in her book. And really, it’s a good one. I have read many many ebooks and I am super picky. This one is really good. Many are simply not worth the money.

              7. I’m not sure why you are asking about my son drinking milk but…if he could, we would likely get raw milk. We recently started having raw goat’s kefir in our home but stopped. It is very expensive. I was trying it for some health issues but now I am off dairy and the person whom I was buying it from had an injury and it’s harder to meet. For years and years we had no dairy in the house b/c of my son’s allergies but now per doctor’s advice, we can now.

              I am honestly on the fence about milk in the diet. I have mixed thoughts about it. We do have raw and goat cheese in the home now and that’s about it. Some pastured cheese as well but I am not eating it now.

              8. There is, as you say, loads of info about milk being a problem. you can google it and see.

              9. I don’t think you wasted your time at all. It’s good to dialogue about such things and I am glad you brought Sue’s words to my attention. Just the other week another blogger brought her up to me so I am glad you made me aware more of her writing.

              10. About your comment about Judgement Day – well, I don’t know what else to say. Would you say the same thing to your auto mechanic or the guy who fixes your house? Or to Sue who is taking courses? She is clearly getting knowledge from outside of the Bible. Maybe you aren’t understanding what I am saying. I have no problem standing before God and making that statement. I believe in the full inerrancy of Scripture and what I am referring to is Common Grace. The knowledge that God gives apart from the special revelation of Scripture.

              11. I hope you didn’t unsubscribe. I was talking about Sue’s thinking as being simplistic and problematic and I would be happy to talk w/ her about it. If you feel you can’t read a blog of someone w/ whom you might disagree, then that is your business but I can’t change what I know and think (though I am willing to if I am wrong) simply to keep subscribers.

              I so hope that this has helped. I’m going back to watching football (something I know nothing about) with my friends now. Happy New Year!

            2. Hi Mary,

              I know Adrienne has responded to you and you didn’t respond specifically to me, but I did want to touch on a few things. SI know you don’t want to engage in this conversation anymore, but I’ll write here for the benefit of others who are reading. I’ll reply to your comments specifically about me (even though they weren’t written to me)…

              1. Why I don’t speak about wheat varieties — In the blogging world, this post is called a “teaser.” It is meant to be quick, provocative, and inspire discussion (which it clearly has done). I don’t make distinctions because space does not permit when you’re trying to be brief
              and address a specific issue.

              Second, as you pointed out, I do “know the difference” in different kinds of wheat by virtue of the link I posted in my comment. You seem to think I’m trying to be sneaky, I think, but this
              is
              the EXACT SAME link I posted at the very top of the article. It is, in fact, the ONLY link I post to preface my list of 4 reasons. I don’t get what the problem is.

              2. Why I make controversial statements — If you have a specific reason to doubt my claims (other than calling them controversial, which they clearly are), then I’m all ears. Otherwise, merely calling them “controversial” gets us nowhere.

              3. Why I leave out my references — My references are (you guessed it) in my book
              (there are also a number of them referenced on the many posts on my blog about wheat)
              , but I’ll be happy to post specific references if you want to know about any of my claims.

              4. Why I am wheat-free — No, I have not posted anything on my blog about “life-threatening” illnesses that face my family. I see no need to post these personal details . What strikes me as odd is that you think someone can’t use a diet as a preventative measure. Do you prefer my family to eat wheat and just wait and see if we develop an auto-immune disease?

              5. Why Adrienne is right about using the Bible AND other sources of knowledge — You seem to think that even mentioning such a thing is blasphemous, but you’re quite mistaken. If you, in fact, believed that you wouldn’t quote Sue Becker and her credentials. You obviously have learned a lot from Becker, and I don’t think you’re claiming she’s divinely inspired.

              6. Why I sell my book – Of course I’m trying to sell my book because I believe it has valuable information that can help many people. There is nothing sinful about being compensated for my time and I won’t apologize for running a business.

              I would have liked to have heard back from you on some of the questions and points I made above. I’d really like to understand your reasoning.

              I hope you have a Happy New Year.

            3. Mary,

              I, for one, appreciate your comments and the accompanying dialog.

              Trying to understand good health practices is difficult and with all the personal opinions, individual agendas, and misinformation out there, educated and well researched findings, advice, comments, and suggestions are hard to find. Trisha’s blog/website has been valuable to me; not just her writings (which I find very informative), but, perhaps more importantly, the comments and discussions that ensue (yours very much included).

              I hope you won’t stop participating in this discussion.

              Dave

              1. Adrienne,

                In my reply to Mary a couple minutes ago, I mistakenly referred to Trisha’s blog/website when I meant to cite yours. Please feel free to make that correction.

                Thanks,
                Dave

            4. Not sure why you personally feel so attacked by this information, but I know first-hand from my own medical history and several of my immediate family members ( who are all in Christ) that today’s wheat is making me and my family very very sick. It is exasperating my daughter’s and my auto immune responses and we have had medical doctors and specialists agree finally on what is making us so sick. My great great aunt was celiac and required a colostomy bag. She was a devout Christian, but eating wheat killed her…..
              I wonder if we still have hope that God will forgive us for not eating wheat?

        2. Hi Mary,
          Yes, I have previously read that article in its entirety a while back, but skimmed through it again yesterday when you posted it.

          No, I am not simply trying to sell my book, but I can’t possibly respond to the issues in a very comprehensive way in a comment. It seems rather silly to try when my husband and I spent many hours of research writing a whole book on the matter (and have made it VERY affordable for this sale so that individuals can purchase it for less than they’d spend on a latte- we really are not here trying to make it rich on our book, but to get this information out to people). But, if you’d like a bit more info, I’d encourage you to read these posts:
          The Difference Between Modern Wheat and Biblical Wheat: https://intoxicatedonlife.com/2013/11/07/5-ways-modern-wheat-different-biblical-wheat/
          Wheat and Bread in the Bible: https://intoxicatedonlife.com/2013/07/22/bread-in-the-bible/

          In addition to some of the fantastic points that Adrienne made above, I’d also ask you a few questions…

          What about some of the people that God placed in areas where there is no wheat? or even no grains? What about the Inuit’s who lived primarily on animal fat and protein (and were remarkably very healthy until the westernization of their culture)? Is their diet inferior because it’s not the diet of the Jews in the Bible? Nowhere does God say “eat thus and such because this is the most nutrient dense diet.”

          What about wine? Do you believe that everyone must consume wine? This was clearly a very integral part of the diet and culture in Biblical times, but many many people don’t drink wine – is this wrong to abstain from wine?

          I’d also maintain that “food groups” are man-made categories – they are not dictated from God. There is nothing sacred about food groups.

          1. Dear Trisha,

            Thank you for your reply.

            \Please see my response to Adrienne..I have not the time and am signing off.

            Blessings,
            Mary

  14. I love how you give us the straight poop and say wheat puts “poop” in your blood stream. LOL I never thought of it that way. I just thought of it as proteins in the blood steam. But I guess it’s true depending on if the item was in fact digested or not. :0

  15. I’m going without wheat for the first 30 days of 2014 to see if I indeed have a problem when I reintroduce it. I suspect that I do.

    1. Let us know how it goes! Giving it up is really the best way to “test” and see if you have a problem with wheat.