# I'm thinking of giving up wheat . . . **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 6, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195 "2010-10-06T00:02:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boozilu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@boozilu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boozilu)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/1 "2010-10-06T00:02:09Z")
but I love homemade cookies and muffins. Am I screwed? (It’s for an overall health thing, not a gluten or celiac issue.) ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/2 "2010-10-06T00:04:17Z")
There are cookies that don’t have wheat in them, right? (Like peanut-butter cookies, for example.) ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/3 "2010-10-06T00:09:04Z")
You’re going to enter the wide and wacky world of alternative baking ingredients. There \*are \*lots of gluten-free recipes for baked goods; just how much healthier some of the substitutes are, I often wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/4 "2010-10-06T00:36:53Z")
You make a certain number of baked goods without flour. Old-timey European baked goods sometimes use finely ground hazlenuts or almonds instead of flour. [example recipe](http://www.joyofbaking.com/ChocolateAlmondTorte.html). While these types of recipes are extremely delicious, they are also MUCH more expensive to make compared to similar recipes using flour, because nuts are expensive. The result is also extraordinarily caloric. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/5 "2010-10-06T00:51:05Z")
Screwed? Heck no. You can find recipes up the wazoo (and not requiring special ingredients) at most of the low-carb boards and forums. Like **HelloAgain** says, a lot use things like almond flour,but I think you can make that by grinding up almonds and have it work in a lot of cases. I find good recipes at www.lowcarb.ca (in the forums) and in various other such boards. Or you can just Google for “no wheat muffin”, “low carb muffin”, etc. Good on you for giving up wheat. It really is awful for you like most grains, and I’m not just talking the digestive stuff. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/6 "2010-10-06T01:24:45Z")
Wheat is awful for you? Why? Since when? How? No offense, but this sounds like more food woo. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/7 "2010-10-06T01:34:52Z")
Yeah, what’s the deal? If you don’t have special conditions or allergies, what’s the health benefit in avoiding wheat? ---
**Author:** ![boozilu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@boozilu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boozilu)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/8 "2010-10-06T16:23:23Z")
The personal trainer of a friend suggested it to her for weight loss, and I immediately embraced it for me even though I’ve done no research at all! ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/9 "2010-10-06T16:39:22Z")
> [@boozilu](#): > > The personal trainer of a friend suggested it to her for weight loss, and I immediately embraced it for me even though I’ve done no research at all! Most personal trainers are kinda dumb. That’s why they become personal trainers. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/10 "2010-10-06T17:49:21Z")
> [@boozilu](#): > > The personal trainer of a friend suggested it to her for weight loss, and I immediately embraced it for me even though I’ve done no research at all! It’s great if you cut out all those carbs that come with wheat, but if you just replace 'em with carbs from rice or potatoes other similar sources, there’s no net benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/11 "2010-10-06T20:49:39Z")
Personal trainers like the low carb or Atkins type diets because they work. They work because they’re very easy to follow and you eat less. But anyway if you want to cut out wheat, so what? It’s just one food and you can replace it with other things, so why not try it. If your not suffering from any major health problems it’s not gonna harm you. I’ve made muffins out of other types of “flour” and they are good. They aren’t the same but they are good to eat. I say go for it for a few weeks and see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/12 "2010-10-06T21:21:06Z")
> [@boozilu](#): > > The personal trainer of a friend suggested it to her for weight loss, and I immediately embraced it for me even though I’ve done no research at all! You can absolutely substitute other grains for wheat successfully in baking. Bread is difficult, but cookies are very easy. However, this will do entirely \*\*nothing \*\*regarding weight loss, so don’t bother. In order to lose weight, eat fewer homemade cookies and muffins. ---
**Author:** ![Lightlystarched](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Lightlystarched](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightlystarched)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/13 "2010-10-06T22:18:03Z")
Good for you!!! I gave up grains and sugar and vegetable oils and I lost 40 lbs. Some great recipes can be found at marksdailyapple dot com. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/14 "2010-10-06T22:52:34Z")
If you want to lose weight, jut follow a strict Cardiac diet. That is: **No trans fats.** Minimal Saturated fat. I try to make it zero. This means lots of no-fat Greek yogurt. Keep other fats to a minimum. Most plant oils (except Palm and Coconut) are OK in moderation, especially Olive and Canola. Lots of greens and fruits. Lots of fish. A fair amount of nuts, especially almonds. A fair amount of chicken. Occasional lean beef. I have not specifically “given up” anything - I still eat wheat, sugar, and other carbs. I am not on a high-protein diet. I’m not generally hungry during the day - if I am, I snack on nuts or low-fat trail mix. I am not trying to lose weight, but I have lost 15 lbs since the middle of July. I was not overweight when I started this diet. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/15 "2010-10-07T02:47:01Z")
> [@Lightlystarched](#): > > Good for you!!! I gave up grains and sugar and vegetable oils and I lost 40 lbs. > > Some great recipes can be found at marksdailyapple dot com. +1 Mark’s Daily Apple = Awesome ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/16 "2010-10-07T04:44:15Z")
So, quick recap: wheat isn’t bad for you. Ok, thanks. I thought so. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/17 "2010-10-07T16:11:25Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > So, quick recap: wheat isn’t bad for you. Ok, thanks. I thought so. Wheat is not bad for you. All of this low-carb/no-bread/no-fat/six-pounds-of-spinach-for-breakfast bullshit comes down to one thiing: if you want to lose weight, reduce your calorie intake. (You know what has a lot of calories? Carbohydrates! And fat! Whoda thunk?) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/18 "2010-10-07T16:41:55Z")
Instead of giving up wheat, you’re probably better off going switching to more whole grains/wheats, rather than going cold turkey. And just _cut back_ on cookies and muffins – you don’t have to give them up entirely. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/19 "2010-10-07T18:42:16Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Instead of giving up wheat, you’re probably better off going switching to more whole grains/wheats, rather than going cold turkey. > And just _cut back_ on cookies and muffins – you don’t have to give them up entirely. Just make sure you are not prone to gout … my brother decided to get healthy, decreased his red meat and started getting sardines and anchovies and herring and cod, increased his whole grains oatmeal for breakfast every morning, added in more legumes, lots of salads and veggies [spinach, cauliflower, asparagus, mushrooms are among some of his favorite things in salads] and @\_@ one of the worse flares his doc had seen for years. :smack: He got gout, which is sort of from Mom’s side of the family, though it seems to have skipped most of our generation except for him and our cousin Jackie. A lovely example of why no single diet is the answer for everybody =) ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195/20 "2010-10-09T02:30:50Z")
> [@boozilu](#): > > The personal trainer of a friend suggested it to her for weight loss, and I immediately embraced it for me even though I’ve done no research at all! The point of cutting out wheat for weight loss would be that it would mean cutting out cakes, cookies, muffins etc. You can bypass that by eating cookies and muffins made with other ingredients but then you won’t lose weight. You could try cutting out sugar, and bake with Splenda, that would do more to reduce your calories. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-thinking-of-giving-up-wheat/556195.md?page=2)