Gluten threat refuted

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Speaking of gluten, some critics claim that wheat breeding has increased our health problems. Now, the Star Phoenix reports that Saskatchewan researchers have proven that wheat is as nutritious as ever.

According to the Star Phoenix, researchers at the University of Saskatchewan – led by Dr. Ravindra Chibbar and Dr. Pierre Hucl – began a study 19 years ago to catalogue yield and harvest time changes in 37 North American wheat varieties planted since the 1860s. As people began claiming that modified gluten in wheat was causing an increase in health problems, the researchers expanded their focus to look for evidence of that.

The results, published in May, show otherwise. In a press release Dr. Chibbar said: "There is no evidence to suggest that the increased incidences of obesity, diabetes or other health conditions in today's society are related to the wheat varieties developed during the recent decades, as claimed by some critics." BF