What is the Whole30 and should you try it?

If you haven’t heard of the Whole30 yet, we can guarantee it was only a matter of time.

More than 100,000 people have completed the rules-based regime that cuts out various food groups for 30 days in an effort to reset your body.

Yet recently, the Whole30 finished dead last in an evaluation by health experts, even behind a diet primarily made of weight loss shakes. So, we have to ask: do the health claims really stack up?

What is the Whole30?

For 30 days, you must abide by the Whole30’s somewhat stringent rules.

• Do not eat any sugar or sweeteners of any kind (that’s right, not even dates).
• Don’t drink (or eat) alcohol. Smoking’s also out of the question (naturally).
• Do not eat grains. We’re not just talking white flour – no corn, rice, even quinoa.
• Do not eat legumes, including beans, chickpeas, lentils, peas, peanut butter, soy.
• Do not eat dairy. The ONLY exception is ghee (clarified butter).
• Do not eat carrageenan (a gelling agent), MSG or sulfite additives.
• Do not make treats with “approved ingredients”. Dang, no Sweet Potato Brownies…
• You also must not weigh yourself or take measurements for 30 days.

Is that healthy?

Here’s the thing: there’s nothing unhealthy about the Whole30. The main mantra is eat real food, and we know that taking processed junk out the equation is most of the battle.

Really, it’s about rediscovering your body’s needs. While cutting out sugar, grains, legumes and dairy all at the same time is difficult, you may discover, as you slowly reintroduce them, which foods were giving you a bad belly or problem skin.

When is the Whole30 not right for you?

If you’re vegetarian or vegan, there’s concern over cutting out protein-rich legumes. Organic fermented soy and dairy are allowed in these circumstances, they say.

The Whole30 also has a tough love approach which might not be for everyone. They’re not joking when they say to “toughen up” because you can’t have cake at your best friend’s wedding. Nope, not even a tiny slice.

Finally, if you are fairly certain you don’t have any food sensitivities, an elimination diet may be an unnecessary headache.

The whole life solution.

We’d argue that breaking your sugar (and, therefore, junk food) addiction takes a little longer than 30 days. In fact, research has shown it actually takes at least 66 days to fully break a habit – hence our I Quit Sugar: 8-Week Program.

Just like the Whole30, we focus on real food – but we don’t cut out food groups (except fruit for a little while, while your taste buds recalibrate).

Instead, we aim to give you meal plans that are easily modifiable to your needs, a complete but unrestrictive detox and delicious recipes that will keep you on the low-sugar wagon long after the Program finishes.

Plus, you don’t have to give up any of your favourites, like dark chocolate, butter or even red wine!

SHARE

About Unknown