Whole 30 Diet

The Whole 30 Diet…is it a whole lot of wisdom? Or should it be buried in a hole in the ground…

 

The Whole 30 asks people to avoid a list of foods for 30 days and consume whole foods. The “No-No” list includes: added sugar (real or artificial), alcohol, grains, legumes, dairy; carrageenan, MSG or sulfites; baked goods and junk foods…all with minor exceptions. This is good, right? Well, while promoting consumption of whole foods and moderate portions of meats, seafood, and eggs with lots of vegetables is good advice, eliminating entire groups of foods like legumes/dairy/grains can leave you without important nutrients from those sources. Legumes are quality carbohydrates rich in folate, potassium, iron, and magnesium. Grains are often fortified with B vitamins, and dairy provides calcium and vitamin D.

 

Another important aspect to consider is the time frame — 30 days. This would definitely be long enough to help curb some regular sugar cravings, but the general response will be to immediately consume those foods you have been deprived of for the past month. You may even feel like you have more energy after following this diet all 30 days, but it is likely due to the fact that you lost weight from depriving yourself of so many foods that are regularly over-consumed. Rapid weight loss is rarely permanent.

 

Rather than following a diet with rules and a set end date, aim to consume foods in moderation for a lifetime. There are also many behavioral/emotional reasons for struggling with weight that are not addressed with popular fad diets. Consider seeking counseling with one of the dietitians at BN to receive an evidence-based approach to weight loss.

 

-WW