Is Wheat Healthy?

Wheat is everywhere. It’s in bread, pasta, crackers, bagels, muffins, pastries, desserts, wraps—you name it. It’s even hidden in sauces, gravies, and processed foods you wouldn’t expect. For many, wheat is a dietary staple, especially in certain cultures.

But unfortunately, the wheat available today is not the same wheat our grandparents—or their parents—ate. Their wheat was a more natural, unaltered grain, grown as nature intended.

Modern wheat (as some call it due to its drastic changes from modern agricultural practices) is not like the wheat naturel intended it to be, and comes with several downsides for our health. It’s not a "health food", even if it’s homemade, organic sourdough. Research has linked modern wheat consumption to obesity, diabetes, liver issues, heart disease, digestive disorders, joint pain, and even skin conditions.

That being said, wheat and wheat products don’t have to be avoided like the plague. They can be enjoyed as an occasional treat. If you’re in good health, you can most likely tolerate it more often without issues. But if you’re trying to improve your health, it’s important to understand why wheat is not a health promoting food, and how it can impact your body.

Here’s what you need to know about wheat and how it affects your health:

1. Glyphosate Contamination

Almost all wheat in North America (Canada & the US especially) contains high levels of glyphosate, a toxic chemical pesticide widely used in conventional farming practices to grow and cultivate wheat. Glyphosate has been known to cause cancer, and it also increases inflammation, disrupts gut health, and negatively affects hormone balance.

2. High in Sugar (Refined Flour = Blood Sugar Spike)

Most wheat containing products are made with white flour, which is wheat that has been heavily refined, stripping away nutrients and leaving behind pure starch (sugar). White flour, which is mainly just sugar, causes blood sugar imbalances, leading to insulin resistance and weight gain, hormonal disruptions, and leptin resistance (leptin is the hormone that regulates appetite and metabolism). White flour (a refined grain) also harms the liver by contributing to fat buildup, causing fatty liver, and adding stress to liver function. FYI: All-purpose or bread flour (which are commonly used to make sourdough bread and other products) are white flour. 

3. Hard to Digest

Refined wheat flour lacks essential fiber, making it harder to digest. Foods that are difficult to digest stress the gut and disrupt digestive balance, leading to bloating, discomfort, and long-term gut issues.

4. High in Gluten

Most wheat grown in Canada and the U.S. is not the same wheat our ancestors ate. Through modern farming practices, selective breeding, and genetic modifications, wheat has been altered to contain significantly higher levels of gluten. While gluten is a natural protein in wheat, today’s excessive levels increase inflammation and contribute to digestive problems, especially for those with gluten sensitivity, leaky gut, or autoimmune conditions.

About Sourdough: While, yes, sourdough bread has some better qualities than regular bread, it’s not a health-promoting food because it’s still high in gluten (unless you’re using an ancient wheat grain that has been preserved in its original natural form, meaning it hasn’t been hybridized like modern wheat) and contains glyphosate. As a treat, I love some sourdough (and other wheat foods like pasta), but they’re not a regular breakfast or meal staple for me.

Some people may argue that wheat is fine, but the proof is in the pudding: I have seen incredible results in my clients trying to improve their health (and myself) for weight loss, more energy, better mental focus, hormone balance, and better digestion when they cut it out for periods of time—along with many others who have done the same. If you want to learn more, I highly recommend the book Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis.

Common Wheat Foods: 

• Baked Goods

• Bread - Including white, whole wheat,

• multigrain, sourdough, and others.

• Rolls and Buns - Hamburger buns, hot

• dog buns, dinner rolls.

• Pastries - Croissants, Danish pastries,

• and turnovers.

• Muffins

• Bagels

• Cakes/Cookies/Pastries

• Chocolate Bars

• Pies and Tarts .

• Pasta and Noodles

• Cereal

• Pancakes

• Waffles

• French Toast

• Granola

• Crackers

• Pretzels

• Granola Bars

• Protein Bars

• Soy Sauce - Traditional soy sauce

• contains wheat.

• Teriyaki Sauce

• Gravy

• Salad Dressings

• Marinades

• Canned Soups

• Frozen Meals

• Lunch Meats

• Hot Dogs and Sausages

• Meat Substitutes - Such as seitan, which

• is made from wheat gluten.

• Vegetarian and Vegan Products

• Beer

• Malt Beverages

• Breading and Coatings

• Stuffing and Dressings

• Seitan - Also known as wheat gluten,

• used in many vegetarian dishes.

• Processed Cheese Products

• Imitation Seafood

• Certain Spices and Seasonings

• Some Ice Creams and Frozen Yogurts