Deliciously Organic

Organic, Grain Free, Gluten Free, Paleo Recipes and Thyroid Health

Baby Greens with Avocado, Oranges, and Red Onion and a Review of “Wheat Belly”

Filled with good vegetables, a touch of fruit and some healthy fats, this salad makes a nice compliment to fish or chicken, or in a large portion, a full meal.

“Did you know that eating two slices of whole wheat bread can increase blood sugar more than 2 tablespoons of pure sugar can?” How could this phrase not make you think twice? It caught my attention and I spent the weekend reading the new, fascinating book Wheat Belly. William Davis, the author, is a cardiologist who’s found a link between wheat and many diseases. But what about “healthy whole grains”? I know, I had the same question.

According to Davis, the first wheat grown thousands of years ago was einkorn. This wheat contained only 14 chromosomes. As the years went on, cultivation continued and then later hybridization. The wheat we eat today has been bred to grow faster, yield higher, and resist things like disease and drought – and also now contains 42 chromosomes. Davis says that “wheat has been modified by humans to such a degree that modern strains are unable to survive in the wild without human support such as nitrate fertilization and pest control.”

Filled with good vegetables, a touch of fruit and some healthy fats, this salad makes a nice compliment to fish or chicken, or in a large portion, a full meal.

I’ve read Michael Pollan’s books and I support of many of his ideas. He says that we should only eat what our ancestors ate. The problem is, the wheat we have today isn’t the wheat our ancestors ate. Neither are many of our other crops that have been genetically modified such as corn, canola and soy. So how can we follow this basic principle?

Back when wheat was just beginning to be modified, Davis says there was no animal or human testing conducted. Ancient wheat had a higher protein count and lower gluten count. Today’s wheat increases blood sugar more than kidney beans, potato chips or even sucrose. The problem with this is that the higher the blood sugar count – the more insulin is produced – causing fat to be stored in the body (especially the belly).

Davis continues to assert that wheat is a major contributor to celiac disease, heart disease, obesity, IBS, ulcers, psoriasis, acne, balding. . .the list goes on. He writes with lots of humor, gives solid sources to back-up his claims, and is easy to understand.

Filled with good vegetables, a touch of fruit and some healthy fats, this salad makes a nice compliment to fish or chicken, or in a large portion, a full meal.

After reading this book, I don’t want to touch wheat with a 10 foot pole. I’m not sure what I’m going to do, but it seriously has me thinking about giving up wheat for good. I wasn’t sent this book by the publisher or asked to talk about it – I simply think it’s a topic we should be familiar with. If you’re suffering from disease, celiac, food allergies, or autoimmune disorders I highly recommend buying this book or picking it up at the library.

If you’ve read Wheat Belly, what are your thoughts? Were you as challenged as me?

In keeping with the “wheat free” theme, I have a light and refreshing salad. Filled with good vegetables, a touch of fruit and some healthy fats, it makes a nice compliment to fish or chicken, or in a large portion, a full meal.

Serves 4-6

Baby Greens with Avocado, Oranges, and Red Onion

Adapted from Food Network

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Ingredients

  • 1 small red onion, sliced thin
    • For the dressing:
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons honey (I used clover)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
    • For the salad:
  • 5 ounces baby greens
  • 2 avocados, sliced thin
  • 2 segmented oranges
  • 1/4 cup chopped crispy almonds (I used this method to dehydrate my almonds )

Instructions

  1. Place onions in a small bowl and cover with cold water, about 10 minutes. Whisk orange juice, lime juice, honey, dijon and salt in a small mixing bowl. Whisk in olive oil.
  2. Drain onions. Place baby greens, avocado, oranges and onions in a large salad bowl. Pour dressing over and toss salad to coat leaves. Sprinkle with almonds. Serve immediately.
7.8.1.2
3453
https://deliciouslyorganic.net/baby-greens-with-avocado-oranges-and-red-onion-wheat-belly/

 

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74 Comments

  2. alison

    September 6, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    I had a salad with many of these same ingredients for lunch today. There is something so flavorful about the combination of avocado, onion and almonds. I love the idea of adding in oranges too!

  3. Doreen

    September 6, 2011 at 1:31 pm

    I haven't read the book, but I am curious. Does soaking wheat ( I mill my own wheat) help any? I always believed organic, whole grains (and again milling your own) was healthy for you! I love my breads!

    • Deliciously Organic

      September 6, 2011 at 2:20 pm

      Davis says that it doesn't matter if the wheat is soaked, sprouted, fermented, etc. So opposite of what I've read in the past! I wrote him to see if he can explain why this is. If I hear back, I'll let you know!

      • Marcy

        September 6, 2011 at 6:20 pm

        I'm curious about that as well. I've read most of the "to soak or not to soak" series on Kitchen Stewardship, where it seems that sourdough is 100% effective in eliminating phytates, but that soaking and sprouting are less effective -- soaking for normal lengths of time (overnight, for example) barely puts a dent in at all.I'm guessing he's going to say that it doesn't matter because the raw material -- modern wheat -- is inadequate in itself, no matter what you do to it. Still... I want to think that soaking, sprouting, fermenting, sourdough, etc make it at least significantly better...

        • Fern

          September 7, 2011 at 4:57 am

          Soaking can't change the chromosomes, which is part of the reason that Davis says modern wheat causes autoimmune disease. He suggests using einkorn for occasional bread, which has the ancient chromosomes and does not spike blood sugar as much. He also says that we need to remember that because it was so difficult to grow and harvest and process grains, our ancestors would not have been able to eat much bread, so we should think of a slice of einkorn bread as an occasional treat.

  5. Lucy Lean

    September 6, 2011 at 1:43 pm

    I just read the first chapter of this book and am feeling as conflicted as you - hot buttered toast is crying out to me!!! It's definitely given me lots to think about and I'm only a few pages in... where does he come down on spelt?

    • Deliciously Organic

      September 6, 2011 at 3:01 pm

      He recommends that if you are struggling with health issues to give up all grains, but after you are better he says you can add some of the other wheat back, such as spelt, kamut, etc.

  6. Michelle

    September 6, 2011 at 1:57 pm

    You know, I'm not really sure what to think. Yes, we need to eat traditional foods that humans have eaten for centuries. However, where and how do you draw the line? If we have to start analyzing our food at the chromosomal level, what will be left to eat?Our fruits and vegetables have all been altered through simple gardening techniques. That's nothing new. I'm sure we all remember creating Punnett squares when learning about genetics in biology class. How could we ever say that everything we eat is the "true" version of the food?I also wonder if soaking grains is addressed or the practice of eating a good fat with wheat in order to control the blood sugar spike (as detailed in Nourishing Traditions).

    • Deliciously Organic

      September 6, 2011 at 2:25 pm

      I agree. Where do we draw the line? I don't really have an answer for this, but this book really got me thinking. He says in his book that it doesn't matter if the wheat is sprouted, soaked, etc. I'd like to write him and ask him for more details on that one, just so I understand his perspective.I personally think if someone is struggling with disease, cutting out wheat (he even recommends cutting all grains) for a few weeks and seeing what happens is definitely worth a try.

      • Michelle

        September 6, 2011 at 3:26 pm

        I do agree that it's worth a try if you're suffering from health issues. If I were in that situation, I would certainly want to try lifestyle changes first before escalating to medication.It's definitely something to ponder over.

    • Deliciously Organic

      September 6, 2011 at 3:09 pm

      I hope you know the point of this post wasn't to frustrate. I thought the book and topic were interesting and wanted to write about what I learned and then also see what everyone else thinks. I think that each body reacts differently and we all have to choose what works best for each of us. I've struggled with Hashimoto's disease (https://deliciouslyorganic.net/a-whole-foods-thanksgiving-pumpkin-banana-tart/) and have had success reversing it. I had to give up gluten and then eventually all grains for a very long time and saw positive results from it. If someone is struggling with health issues I think cutting out wheat/grains for a while is worth looking into, especially if it helps reverse symptoms without medication.

      • Renee

        September 7, 2011 at 11:16 am

        Oh no, I know you're not meaning to frustrate people. It's just that we make good changes and every time I turn around something else I thought was good is bad for you. I definitely appreciate all the "heads up" you give us! Thankfully, we don't have any health issues going on. Does his book say eating wheat will cause health problems? Or does it just aggravate the issues you may already have? I definitely go the route of elimination over medication, so I get that. I have some unique challenges in feeding my family and I'm not sure we could totally get rid of grains, sigh.

        • Deliciously Organic

          September 7, 2011 at 4:36 pm

          His stance is that it can cause health problems as well as aggravate the issues you may already have. Bummer, right? :) It was huge news to me as I thought as long as it was whole wheat then it was good for you. Fortunately there are hundreds of other foods out there to take the place of wheat (if one chooses to eliminate it) and also so many wonderful gluten free recipes, books, blogs, etc. to use!

  9. Alice

    September 6, 2011 at 4:16 pm

    Aah goodness it is so hard to discern what to do! For me as a Christian I believe that bread and grains are good and I wouldn't feel comfortable excluding them all but I thought my sourdough was ok. Thanks for the post though, it's always good to hear an alternate viewpoint :)

  11. Christy Henry

    September 6, 2011 at 4:28 pm

    I read a long review of this book on fathead and it made me want to read it! I have been thinking of cutting out either wheat or all grains for myself for a while because I'm having a terrible time losing weight after my last baby and am full of aches and pains. I've also been thinking of switching my kids to spelt or kamut since I make our bread anyway. I'd love to hear more about it if the author writes you back. You may have to put out a wheat-free version of your meal plans :)

  12. Brooke @ Food Woolf

    September 6, 2011 at 4:34 pm

    What good facts to think on. Suddenly making me re-think that toast for breakfast thing I've been doing lately. Yikes. thank you for the tap on the shoulder, as it were.

  14. Debbie J S.

    September 6, 2011 at 5:51 pm

    Wow, so much information. While I've made many changes, I do hope and pray you find out a way for us to be able to keep some grains in our diet. Thankfully, outside of having stage 1A melanoma in December 2009 (got it ALL then), I'm pretty healthy, so wonder how we need to adjust? I'm with most everybody here - where to draw the line and what still might be acceptable...As always, THANK YOU for giving us facts and things to ponder. God put it in my heart to trust everything you right, and trust me, I do! ;-)

  15. Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen

    September 6, 2011 at 5:58 pm

    Thank you for sharing this book, I was not familiar with it but I have been hearing a lot of the controversy surrouding grains lately and am very interested in learning more. Does he cover sprouting grains and how that affects their nutritional profile? I too have spent many years eating lots of whole wheat bread thinking it was a better choice than sugar. It's just astounding how little we still know about how the foods we eat affect us in the long term. There is always more to learn.

  17. Sharon

    September 6, 2011 at 7:05 pm

    I have been reading Dr. Davis' blog for a couple of months now. I went to a doctor that actually addressed a thyroid/adrenal problem that I had. One of the first things he told me is that I needed to get off all grains (even rice and corn) In six months I was off the blood sugar meds and blood pressure meds. I have lost weight too --- 40 pounds. It has not been easy but worth it. There is a lot of truth in what Dr. Davis has to say.

    • Deliciously Organic

      September 6, 2011 at 7:20 pm

      Wow! Thanks for sharing. I'm so glad you've found an answer and have had such great results!

      • Sharon

        September 7, 2011 at 6:48 am

        The doctor that I went to gave a diagnosis of Hashimotos and the recommendations of getting off all grains to get rid of diabetes and high blood pressure. I have noticed that I feel better and no more joint pain. If I somehow eat out or unknowingly get grain (gluten) I almost immediately experience joint pain and start with fatigue. Very interesting. In the book "Why do I Still have Thyroid Symptoms" (you can read about on www.thyroidbook.com) he explains how the gluten molecule closely resembles the thyroid hormone and the body starts attacking the thyroid. As a result you have an autoimmune disease. Interestingly the doctor that I went to that actually discovered what was going on does not take insurance and gets to the root of the problem. I really have not missed bread but when I want something like crackers I make flax seed crackers or socca bread from bean flour.

        • Deliciously Organic

          September 7, 2011 at 11:25 am

          Thanks for sharing. I'm so glad you found help through a knowledgable doctor and good food! I haven't seen that thyroid book so I'll have to check it out!

  18. Katherine

    September 6, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    I do suffer from Crohn's disease, but wheat is one of the few things that I can still tolerate. I attempted giving it up a few months ago, but there are so many fruits and vegetables that make me ill that it was too difficult to do. I was on a liquid diet for the most part. I would be curious to hear if you hear back from him. I wouldn't rule out trying it again, but I would need hard data to support it.

    • Deliciously Organic

      September 7, 2011 at 6:45 am

      I'm so sorry to hear of your struggle. Hearing you say that you are allergic to fruits and vegetables sounds a lot like the struggle I went through a couple of years ago - https://deliciouslyorganic.net/a-whole-foods-thanksgiving-pumpkin-banana-tart/ I had to give up all grain, dairy and sugar for over a year. It was honestly one of the hardest things I've had to do. From someone who's been there with dozens of food allergies, you can do it! It's not an easy road, but there is a light at the end. :)Dr. Davis wrote me back. The answer is in my reply to Gail.

  19. Gail

    September 6, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    Thanks for sharing this! I share a lot of the same sentiments the others do...where to draw the line and such, but I do feel like it's important to be informed. Thank you for that!! We just recently cut out buying any store-bought bread in an effort to make things more healthy by making my own whole wheat bread. And, while this isn't cutting out bread altogether, I do know that we eat a WHOLE LOT LESS bread when I make my own. There's something about making your own that makes you want to savor it more. Anyway, it's a start!Let us know if you hear anything more from the doc. ;)Thanks! Gail

    • Deliciously Organic

      September 7, 2011 at 6:25 am

      I wrote Dr. Davis to ask about soaking, sprouting, etc., and here was his answer:"Unfortunately, the adverse effects of wheat cannot be disabled by various manipulations such as sprouting, soaking, lactic acid fermentation (i.e., sourdough), etc. It leaves too many components unaffected, such as the amylopectin A that increases blood sugar extravagantly, the gliadin that triggers appetite, the lectins like wheat germ agglutinin that cause abnormal intestinal permeability, not to mention gluten. Soaking might, for instance, reduce lectins, but they are incredibly resistant and still make their way into your intestinal tract to allow abnormal permeability of various antigenic substances.So I know of no manipulation that has served people well and fully disables the negative aspects. That’s what led me to recommend the truly 100% effective solution: Get rid of it."

  20. Diane

    September 6, 2011 at 8:36 pm

    I read "Wheat Belly" and it was an eye opener to me. I might as well be on the cover of the book, that's how much I related to what Dr. Davis had to say. My husband and I felt compelled to give it a try. I can not look at wheat products the same way. In a short period of time, I am sleeping better and my joints feel better. My goal is to lose my "belly", so we will see how it goes.

  21. Kay

    September 6, 2011 at 8:44 pm

    In April I went gluten/dairy free to see if it helped with Hosimoto's & IBS. I decided not to buy processed gluten free food in boxes but to replace all grains with fruits & vegetables, eating the same amount of meat. I'm 45, 5'4 and started at 145 pounds. By the end of July I weighed 120 (I now eat nuts to maintain this weight) without increasing exercise or feeling deprived. My IBS is gone, it's not like the MD's knew what caused my abdominal pain in the first place. I no longer crave any of the food I eat, I simply get hungry and eat. If you're craving wheat, then this book will explain why.

  22. Sabrina

    September 6, 2011 at 10:55 pm

    Wow, thanks for sharing this! I have been thinking about cutting down or giving up wheat, because I am sooooo tired all the time, and wheat is the one thing I always eat. And add to stuff. I have been considering buying brown rice pasta. Would that be a better option? And, is there such a thing as bread made with brown rice? Thanks again for sharing this, I have lots to research before I make my next loaf of bread!

    • Sharon

      September 7, 2011 at 7:29 am

      Dr. Davis has a two blogs. After reading them for a couple of months he does not recommend rice pasta either. Lots of fresh vegetables, a little fruit, and lean meats if I remember correctly. Here are the two blogs http://www.trackyourplaque.com/blog/ and http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/ . Lots of information.

  24. Alisha

    September 7, 2011 at 4:54 am

    My family and I started the Paleo diet earlier this year. There are plenty of things to eat when you're not eating wheat products. (And lots of new Paleo cookbooks too!) It just feels overwhelming to think about dropping the wheat products. We try to be faithful with the diet at home - which is most of the time. And then we can relax a little more when we're out. I think maybe an 80/20 rule is good?I saw this book on Amazon the other day and thought it looked really interesting! Thanks for sharing! Amazing salad you created too!

  26. HeatherChristo

    September 7, 2011 at 10:29 am

    Shoot! I am going to have to read this book. I better get my hot buttered toast on first!However, beautiful food like this salad makes me think I could give up wheat. maybe :)

  27. na

    September 7, 2011 at 1:41 pm

    Wait a minute, I thought organic wheat did not have genes modified since all organic products have to be non-gmo. So wouldn't eating organic wheat bypass all the ill effects of gene modification?

    • Deliciously Organic

      September 7, 2011 at 4:32 pm

      Good question. Wheat is not yet genetically modified, but the seeds have been bred and cultivated throughout the years to grow faster, taller, resist disease, etc. Through this breeding and cultivating the seeds have been changed and aren't the same as the seeds we started out with thousands of years ago (or even the ones we used 60 years ago!).

  29. marla {family fresh cooking}

    September 8, 2011 at 5:59 am

    Awesome discussion here! Carrie this book sounds very interesting. I have tried so many ways of eating and finally I feel like I am in a good place. Since belly fat is not a problem right now and my energy levels are bright I will stick with a well rounded whole food meal plan that includes some grains. Not a ton. But some none the less. Thanks so much for bringing this to our attention.

  30. Erika

    September 8, 2011 at 7:46 am

    Well, after reading this post, I certainly don't feel as great about eating my two pieces of Ezekiel bread for breakfast!!! :) It's a shame that man has taken what God provided and manipulated it to a point where maybe it isn't even good for us anymore! You read so much conflicting info, that I just try to have an "everything in moderation" approach. Thanks for the interesting and thought provoking post.

  31. J Uhler

    September 8, 2011 at 11:23 am

    Amazing information everyone! I've felt compelled to steer clear of wheat products recently (I'm not sure why, I'll give credit to the Good Lord), I'll stick to the spelt and kamut bread I've been making. I've never heard of this book, but I do believe I'll be checking it out and his blog, too!

  32. Gillian

    September 8, 2011 at 1:39 pm

    Thanks for the interesting, informative post. This makes me sad, though! I think cutting out wheat is reasonable to an extent - definitely on an average day, but it would be tragic to give up occasional cakes, squares, pancakes, etc :( I hope your blog doesn't change too much! Let us know how you decide to act on the information.

    • Deliciously Organic

      September 8, 2011 at 3:56 pm

      I agree. I don't think I could give up occasional cakes, pancakes, brownies, etc. The blog won't change. :) I'll probably have more recipes that are gluten or grain free (naturally that way), but I'll still include the whole wheat versions for those who prefer to use wheat.

  34. Emily

    September 9, 2011 at 10:06 am

    Thanks for posting such an interesting topic! We're switching to a gluten-free diet in the hope that will help my son with his autism & ADHD symptoms (there is quite a bit of research about the benefits of GF & GFCF diets helping improve these conditions in affected children). I will have to find this book at the library & give it a read. There is also a new cookbook due out next week that's exclusively about gluten-free recipes that I've heard some good things about already: "Paleo Comfort Foods: Homestyle Cooking in a Gluten Free Kitchen" by Julie & Charles Mayfield. I am curious to read it as well.

  35. Maggie

    September 9, 2011 at 10:28 am

    Hi Carrie thank you for this post. I do not know all of the science behind it but I do know that since I've given up gluten and most grains I do feel better. I would love to see more gluten free/ grain free versions of your recipies. I think what you do is amazing!

  36. Karen

    September 9, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    Thank God for simple salads like this one. We were one of millions of homes without power in San Diego yesterday. I had made the dressing the day before and had spinach and the rest of the fixins ready to go. So, we pulled off a spectacular dinner of hamburger patties and this salad with spinach. Thankfully, the power is back on today (about 2:30 am after almost 12 hours without) We certainly know what we need now for an emergency. Everything - Ha!

  37. Kristi Rimkus

    September 10, 2011 at 7:30 am

    Very interesting post. I've periodically gone on food elimination diets for health reasons and often feel much better without the wheat and dairy. Your post really makes me think about replacing wheat with other alternatives. Great job on this article, and the salad looks so fresh!

  38. Hilary

    September 10, 2011 at 11:42 am

    Thanks for the review and delicious sounding recipe! My doctor put me on a grain-free, dairy-free diet, and most people I tell think that it is a horrible place to be. Honestly, when the food you were eating was causing pain and draining your energy, it's a GREAT thing to stop eating it. I hear a lot of comments too that it must get monotonous and boring to not eat wheat. But if you think about it, that doesn't make much sense. How does adding ONE food (wheat) in various forms (bread, pasta, etc.) give our food variety?? It's really everything else we eat that is the variety of our diet. I haven't given up pancakes, muffins, cookies, or anything like that. You can easily make those with nut flours and butters, coconut flours, etc. It is a lot to get used to, especially if you go from not having a clue to having to drop everything cold turkey, but I still am able to eat many foods that I love and I enjoy them MORE because I feel so much better! And there are so many more resources online and cookbooks available than there were even a year ago. Modern wheat is definitely making lots of people sick, and we are starting to fight back!

  39. Bethanie

    September 12, 2011 at 10:31 am

    WOW! I've added the book to my already overwhelming book list.. .but it's close to the top!!! We are grain, dairy, corn, soy free around here... it is tough, but I've lost my baby weight after baby #3 in 4 years and hubby has lost 40 lbs and cholesterol dropped 100 points (it was over 350) and our health has greatly improved. I've never heard of dropping grains due to his reasoning, but I'd like to hear more about it! Thanks for the recommendation!

  40. Meagan

    September 24, 2011 at 6:08 am

    We've followed a Paleo/Primal lifestyle for the last year: No grains, legumes (including greenbeans, corn, quinoa, etc.), Dairy or processed sugar. I highly recommend checking out robbwolf.com for the very best scientific data on the subject. Some fantastic cookbooks include Everyday Paleo, Paleo Comfort Foods (just released), Primal Blueprint and Make it Paleo (releasing next month).It has changed our lives and I'm so grateful I found it when my son was an infant. My greatest joy is knowing he will not suffer health issues from grains and bovine dairy like I did as a child.I look forward to your journey.

  41. Kristine

    October 8, 2011 at 5:43 pm

    I am a new reader to your blog, and I am just now catching up to your 30 days of being wheat-free. This is so interesting to me! I have no symptoms other than I am extremely tired, have some adult acne, and carrying about 15 extra lbs that I have not been able to loose since my last baby, even with running everyday or taking a spin class! I went to the doc and had blood drawn because I suspected hashimotos (my mom was diagnosed with it along with a few other autoimmune diseases about 5 years ago). But the results came back that my thyroid was fine, which I was happy about, but didn't help with my tiredness and weight. I am excited to read about your journey, especially since there may be someone else out there that is going through a similar thing. Your blog is so uplifting, thank you for sharing!!

  42. Liz

    October 19, 2011 at 9:45 am

    I just found your blog too! Very nice! I have not yet read the Wheat Belly book, but sounds interesting. My thoughts are more on finding what feels good for you and staying away from processed wheat. I think spelt is an older wheat version.. anyways, i am reading an interesting book called the China Study, which promotes a whole-foods, plant based diets of beans/legumes, fruit, veggies, and whole grains. While (so far) there's no mention of wheat in particular, sticking with tihs diet (none to under 5% animal proteins - whether in meat, dairy, eggs, etc) can virtually eliminate your stats for cancers, diabetes, some autoimmune diseases, high cholesterol.. the list goes on. Definately some alternative info to consider alongside the wheat thing!

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  6. [...] the past two weeks I have given up grains based on a very lengthy conversation I had with my friend Carrie. She was on day 14-grain free and told me how the book Wheat Belly inspired her to make a change. [...]