Is wheat healthy?

[mkp2204]

I am 56 years old. Since March 2009 after a cardiac arrest I have been on a diet where sugar, oil,salt and fat are restricted.I have started eating whole wheat, more vegetable and fruits. Initially I weighed 85 kg. I dropped to 65 kg. But as from the year 2011 I started to put on weight. Actually I am 70 kg. I walk 5 km daily and my diet is the same. Is the WHEAT to be blamed as I read in many articles.

[Aliwally]

Hi mkp,

You might have noticed that this low carb or low fat dietry advice gets a lot of discussion on this forum.

About 3 years ago, I lost over 2 stone by just eating sensibly i.e. cutting out junk and not eating between meals plus more exercise. However, recently I have taken a more low carb approach, cutting out breakfast cereals, sandwiches during the week and reducing portions of pasta. I have not been following Atkins or anything prescribed. This has worked for me. I definitely lose a few extra pounds when I do this and my blood glucose is now within normal limits.

This approach has not made an iota of difference to my TC levels which remain steadfastly at 8.3, but I would say that I am not fanatically low fat ,I eat butter, cheese and yoghurt in moderation.

[patch14]

Have you thought of replacing some of your wheat for oats? Have porridge instead of a wheat based cereal for breakfast, that sort of thing. Wheat is OK in itself but it is a carb (so are oats but they do have a affect of helping to reducing the LDL levels in cholesterol) - I agree that reducing the amount of carbs in the diet, including bread, pasta, rice and potatoes and increasing the amount of vegetables but not fruit (too much fruit sugar is another nono) is said to be the way to go. A friend of mine has followed this regime (it is a life change NOT a reducing diet) and with a little leaway at the weekends when she gives herself a treat and eats and drinks what she wishes within moderation of course!) she has lost nearly two stone since February and feels very well. It is not a quick fix but it is a lifechange and she will be able to continue to lose the 7 lbs she needs to reach her ideal weight and feel comfortable but she won't change her ways at the end of it because she feels so healthy ( she has a two course breakfast, lunch and evening meal with little carbs and THAT seems to be the secret!)

[Glasgow42014]

What to Eat if You Have Chest Pain and Sure Way to Poison Arteries

The Foods Your Heart Likes The Best: Foods that can save arteries and

prevent heart disease; Seafood - Fruit, Vegetables - Nuts - High-Fibre Foods

Magnesium - Rich - Foods - Grains - Legumes - Onions - Garlic - Olive Oil

Alcohol in Moderation - Foods - High in - Vitamin C and E and Beta Carotene

The Universal Heart Medicine:

The best way to slash your chances of heart disease is, above all, to eat fish,

particularly fatty fish, overflowing with omega-3 fatty acids. The evidence of fish's

preventive and therapeutic powers against cardiovascular disease is compelling.

Seafood's probable main heart medicine is its unique marine fat, so fish may be

the one food where fattier is healthier.

The fish with the most good fat: Salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, herrings - fresh,

frozen or canned.

Fish: Heart Attack Survival Food:

If you have a heart attack, there's no question about what to do: make a preemptive

strike. Get on a high-fish diet immediately. It can cut your chances of future deadly

heart attacks by one-third. In fact, eating fish boosts your odds of escaping subsequent

heart attacks better than the traditional route of cutting down on foods high in saturated

animal fat.

Ten Ways Fish Oil Fights Heart Disease

1, Blocks platelet aggregation (clotting)

2.Reduces Blood Vessel constriction

3.Increases Blood Flow

4.Lowers Fibrinogen (Clotting factor)

5.Revs Up Fibrinolytic (clot dissolving) activity

6. Lowers triglyceride's

7. Raises good HDL cholesterol

8.Makes cell membranes more flexible

9. Lowers Blood Pressure

10.Wards off deadly fibrillation (irregular heart-beats

Surprise! Tomatoes Fight Heart Disease

[Glasgow42014]

Fill Up On The Fibre

Bump Up your intake of fibre and knock down your risk for heart disease; that's what

international research on the subject indicates:

Why Mediterranean Hearts Are Stronger

For a better heart adopt the diet of the people who live around the Mediterranean, particularly in Greece, Italy, Spain and Southern France.

[Glasgow42014]

Part 2. Is Wheat Healthy?

Some foods (like wheat) can make an outstanding contribution to your meal plan, they

are definitely NOT for everyone. Wheat can be difficult to find in high-quality form; can

be more commonly associated with adverse reactions than other foods; and can present

more challenges to our food supply in terms of sustainability.

[fossehill]

I have just been diagnosed with Angina.It was a shock as I thought my diet very healthy.For breakfast oats, banana with soya milk. Lunch salad including advocado and few olives my own olive oil and balsamic dressing one round of my own wholemeal bread. light evening meal of small piece of chicken or other non fatty meat with veg + small amount of carb. eg couscous,pasta, two small potatoes or brown rice, fruit to follow.

Tea to drink thro the day occasional Small glass red wine