The Dangers of Wheat: Insights On Heart Disease And Healthy Living From Dr. William Davis

In this episode of the Health and Wellness Coach Journal Podcast, Dr. Jessica Singh interviews William Davis, MD. Dr Davis is cardiologist and author of the groundbreaking #1 New York Times bestseller Wheat Belly, three other New York Times bestsellers: Wheat Belly Cookbook, Wheat Belly 30-Minutes (or Less!) Cookbook, and Wheat Belly Total Health, and several other books including Wheat Belly 10-Day Grain Detox and Undoctored. His most recent book is Super Gut: A Four-Week Plan to Reprogram Your Microbiome, Restore Health and Lose Weight that maps out the damage that has occurred with the modern human microbiome and the specific, actionable steps that can be taken to restore it to maximum advantage.

The Real Story Behind Wheat

Dr. Davis explains that the wheat we eat today is not the same as the wheat of our ancestors. Through extensive hybridization—not genetic modification per se, but aggressive cross-breeding—modern wheat has been engineered to grow faster and resist pests, but at the cost of human health.

Dr. Davis shares that modern wheat is highly inflammatory, containing unique proteins like gliadin that stimulate appetite and disrupt gut health. He explains that wheat raises blood sugar levels even more than table sugar in some cases, significantly contributing to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Grain consumption, he notes, is linked to a wide range of chronic health issues—including arthritis, weight gain, gastrointestinal distress, fatigue, brain fog, and accelerated skin aging. Even so-called “ancient” forms of wheat, such as einkorn, may still pose health challenges, despite being less harmful than modern strains. Dr. Davis also highlights historical and biological evidence showing that wheat consumption has long been associated with increased tooth decay, rising rates of iron deficiency, and the triggering of autoimmune responses.

This is especially relevant for health coaches working with clients who are struggling with chronic, unexplained symptoms. Coaching provides a safe, non-prescriptive way to explore dietary experiments like reducing or eliminating grains to see how the body responds.

Coaching for Lasting Health Change

 Dr. Davis and Dr. Singh discuss the role health coaches can play in empowering their clients to reclaim their health without diagnosing or prescribing. Through simple yet impactful dietary adjustments, coaches can guide clients in reversing chronic conditions like tooth decay, arthritis, and iron deficiency. The episode also touches on the emerging role of microbiome management as a cornerstone of holistic health.

This episode serves as a powerful reminder that true health starts with informed, intentional dietary choices. Dr. Davis provides listeners with the tools to make those choices—empowering coaches to guide their clients toward lasting, transformative health changes.

Key Takeaways

As plant-based diets become more popular, it’s important to recognize the need for strategic supplementation—particularly with nutrients like vitamin B12, zinc, and hyaluronic acid, which are often lacking in plant-based foods. At the same time, our modern relationship with grains deserves a closer look. Today’s wheat differs drastically from its ancestral forms, having been heavily modified in ways that can negatively impact health. Even ancient varieties, however, were not without their drawbacks. Research continues to link grain consumption to issues such as tooth decay, arthritis, and iron deficiency, challenging the long-held belief that grains are universally beneficial. Amid these complexities, health coaches play a crucial role—not by diagnosing or prescribing, but by educating and empowering clients to make informed decisions that support the reversal of chronic conditions. Increasingly, this also involves attention to the microbiome, which is now recognized as a foundational aspect of overall health and vitality.

Books Mentioned In This Episode:

Davis, W., 2011. Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight and Find Your Path Back to Health. New York: Rodale Books.

Davis, W., 2014. Wheat Belly Total Health: The Ultimate Grain-Free Health and Weight-Loss Life Plan. New York: Rodale Books.

Davis, W., 2015. Wheat Belly 10-Day Grain Detox: Reprogram Your Body for Rapid Weight Loss and Amazing Health. New York: Rodale Books.

Davis, W., 2012. Wheat Belly Cookbook: 150 Recipes to Help You Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health. New York: Rodale Books.

Davis, W., 2013. Wheat Belly 30-Minute (or Less!) Cookbook: 200 Quick and Simple Recipes to Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health. New York: Rodale Books.

Davis, W., 2017. Undoctored: Why Health Care Has Failed You and How You Can Become Smarter Than Your Doctor. New York: Rodale Books.

Davis, W., 2022. Super Gut: A Four-Week Plan to Reprogram Your Microbiome, Restore Health, and Lose Weight. New York: Little, Brown Spark.

Website:  https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/drdavisinfinitehealth

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavisinfinitehealth/

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

1:21 - Challenging Conventional Medicine's Approach to Heart Disease: Dr. Davis’s Journey Beyond Cardiology Norms 

5:40 - What Routine Cholesterol Tests Don't Tell Us About Heart Health

8:33 - Wheat and Sugar: Leading Culprits of Heart Disease and Insulin Resistance

12:31 - Navigating The Challenges Of Finding Credible Health Information

19:25 - Triglycerides: A Key Indicator Of Health

21:18 -From Misinformation And Medication To Lifestyle Changes: Rewriting Health

25:33 - Exploring A Wheat-Free Diet And The Benefits Of Omega-3, B12, and Hyaluronic Acid 

32:52 From Ancient Grains to Modern Wheat: The Genetic Shift and Resulting Nutrient Deficiencies

40:00 - Takeaways