Whole30 Diet: What To Know

Overview

The aim:

To reset your body, identify food groups that disagree with it and treat medical conditions. Weight loss is almost always an added bonus.

The claim:

The Whole30 is not a diet, a weight-loss plan or quick fix – it’s designed to “change your life,” the founders says, by eliminating cravings, rebalancing hormones, curing digestive issues, improving medical conditions and boosting energy and immune function. Find “food freedom” from poor eating habits, and transform how you think about food, your body and your life.

The theory:

All sorts of physical and mental health issues – ranging from acne to depression to allergies – could be due to your diet. But you can’t know which foods are to blame for what ails you unless you cut out all traces of sugar, alcohol, grains, dairy and legumes for 30 days. By day 31, you’ll be free from your food fog and may not even miss your nightly wine ritual or morning muffin fix. If and when you reintroduce food groups, your body’s reaction will tell you which groups should stay out of your life – or at least remain limited.     

Balanced Diet

These diets fall within accepted ranges for the amount of protein, carbs, fat and other nutrients they provide.

Pros & Cons

• Short-term
• No calorie-counting or exercise required

• Goodbye to grains, dairy, sugar, legumes and alcohol
• Only the highly committed and organized need apply