Phytates. Science actually knows very little about these anti-
nutrients that some say rob your body of minerals. Sally
Fallon’s book Nourishing Traditions teaches how to soak grains
to neutralize phytates. (I discuss this issue and, for ease of
digestion, teach it as an option in Step 9 of 12 Steps to Whole
Foods, too.) However, Reddy and Sathe published a book on
phytates, the “anti-nutrient” in many grains. They explain
evidence that phytates may not do what we think they do. They
may not leach minerals from our blood and bones. They may, in
fact, be helpful and important. After all, the Bible calls wheat
the “staff of life.” On a logical level, it doesn’t make much
sense that grains aren’t good food. Many more Egyptians would
have died in the time of Joseph and Pharoah, had they not had
stores of wheat. It keeps for hundreds or thousands of years
because of its hard shell, protecting the nutrition inside.
Wheat is vitamin- and mineral-rich. It’s easy to grow and
inexpensive. It’s great food. (Too bad it’s