One Sentence Summary
This cookbook by William Davis outlines 150 recipes to help lose weight and improve health by removing wheat from the diet.
Book Genre
Cookbook, Health and Wellness
Main Topic of the Book
The book covers removing wheat from the diet, and provides 150 recipes to support this lifestyle change.
Key Ideas
- Learn to identify wheat and wheat-containing grain-based ingredients. Learn symptoms of wheat-related illnesses, and how to find alternatives for common wheat-containing foods.
- Eliminate wheat and wheat derivatives. This starts the process of healthy eating and weight loss. Additionally, recipes are provided that use natural fats and quickly absorbed carbohydrates.
- Sustain health and weight loss. This is done through lifestyle and dietary changes that naturally and healthily lower weight.
Main Parts of the Book and A Short Summary
- Introduction. Dr. William Davis provides an outline of his “Wheat Belly” concept. He argues that eating wheat causes the body to store extra calories as fat, and leads to health problems such as heart disease, mental illness, and diabetes. He explains that wheat-free diets are usually quick and successful in achieving lasting weight loss.
- Part I: Getting Started. This section explains basic steps to make changes in the diet, such as eliminating breads, pastas, breakfast cereals, and other wheat-containing foods. It offers advice on shopping, meal planning, serving sizes, and tips for following the Wheat Belly diet.
- Part II: Recipes. The largest section, with 150 recipes – breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, appetizers, and sauces. The recipes are all sliced wheat-free, including small amounts of whole grain, rye, or spelt.
Key Takeaways
- Remove wheat and most grains from the diet.
- Follow a Wheat Belly diet that is high in natural fats and quickly absorbed carbohydrates.
- Enjoy 150 recipes that are low-sugar, low-carb, wheat-free, and healthy.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
The book is written by cardiologist and New York Times best-selling author Dr. William Davis. He is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a health consultant. He is the founder of the Wheat Belly brand and the wheat-free lifestyle it advocates.
Target Audience
This book is targeted at people looking to improve their health and lose weight, primarily through reducing wheat-based foods in their diet.
Publisher and First Publication Date
The book was published in 2013 by Rodale Books.