If you have been following health news over the past few years, you may have hard of the "War on Wheat," shepherded by Dr. William Davis, author of "Wheat Belly." In this book, Davis claims that modern wheat, including whole grain wheat, is responsible for the obesity epidemic, many cases of type 2 diabetes, celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, many cases of premature aging, and many cases of heart disease. In addition, he states that wheat is addictive and makes schizophrenia worse. He suggests going wheat-free for optimal health.

Davis writes (and this is agreed upon by pretty much all experts) that sophisticated genetic hybridization experiments in the 1950s created the modern high-yield strains of dwarf wheat that makes up most of what we eat today, and this wheat has never been tested for safety in humans. Davis pinpoints the larger variety of glutens in modern wheat compared to ancient wheat as one of the main causes wheat-induced dysfunction. For example, he claims that polypeptides derived from gluten cross the blood-brain barrier and bind to opiate receptors, leading to addiction and worsening schizophrenia. He uses some case studies and the work of psychiatrist F. Curtis Dohan to support his claims about schizophrenia.

Many scientists and physicians disagree with Davis's claims, and some agree, so where does that leave the food consumer?

As a PhD scientist, my own view is that more research needs to be done to understand the health risks of modern wheat strains. If modern wheat concerns you, you can buy heritage wheat (ancient einkorn and emmer wheat) at specialty stores, or try cutting out all wheat products for a few weeks to see how you respond.

And, of course use generally accepted health tips like:

• minimize sugar
• minimize saturated and trans fats
• eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, and proteins
• as far as grains, try different ones and see what works best for you

At Mindfl Tea, we care about our customers' health and well-being, and so I hope you found this post to be informative and helpful.