Whole30 diet

You’re going to eat clean. Really clean. You’ll say no to dairy, sugar, grains, legumes, sulfites, and fruity umbrella drinks (if you haven’t already sworn off those!). You’ll say yes to all the veggies, meat, poultry, healthy fats, fruit, and…well…that’s it—for 30 days. The Whole30 plan sounds a little bit like other popular diets, but many people say it’s even stricter. The founders insist it’s less of a diet and more of a 30-day nutritional reset (which we admit, does sound a lot more appealing). And here’s where your ears might perk up: Whole30 might have special benefits for those living with invisible illness. Whole30 was developed by sports nutritionist Melissa Hartwig, who wrote several books and maintains an active website devoted to this plan. Whole30 shares features with many of the eating plans you might already be familiar with, including detoxes, Paleo, and Bulletproof diets (great news—these two are in the WanaLibrary!). The idea behind Whole30’s 30-day “cleanse” is that you’re removing ingredients and substances that could contribute to sluggishness, hormonal imbalances, poor sleep, and inflammation. Once the 30 days are up, you start reintroducing specific foods to identify which ones may not totally agree with you. The discovery of hidden food sensitivities is just one aspect of this plan that could be helpful to people with invisible illnesses because it’s like a fact-finding mission that ultimately gives you the opportunity to eliminate troublesome foods from your diet completely. This diet is simple…but simple doesn’t mean easy, as you probably know. Chances are you’ll end up cooking or assembling your own meals and making special requests at restaurants (but foodies, remember—the plan is 30 days, not forever). There’s no calorie counting or portion control, and you’re encouraged to eat until you’re full. However, with so many limitations on types of food you can eat, many people lose weight as well. The program makes the questionable claim that it can help those with disordered eating habits restore a healthy emotional relationship with food. (If you’ve struggled with disordered eating, never start a restrictive plan without talking with your therapist first.) As most of us know, your diet is definitely connected to your emotions, so it’s a good idea to keep track of your mood along with your other symptoms as you make your way through the 30 days. The more info you can collect, the better!