So…if you’re reading this, you’ve probably heard of the infamous “whole 30” diet. Maybe you’ve heard of it and have always wanted to give it a try. That’s how I started with it. I’m going to be explaining what this diet is (yes, it’s a diet), and giving my honest opinion about whether I think it’s worth it or not.
Disclaimer: This is based on my personal experience and opinion of the diet from a nutrition perspective. This is not how everyone thinks about it, which I respect!
What Even is it?
Now for what the whole 30 even is. This is a 30-day elimination diet where the focus is to eat only whole foods (hence the name). The diet does not allow you to consume added sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, dairy, or gluten. It also encourages you to not weigh or measure yourself until the 30 days are up.
Now if that doesn’t sound tough enough, here are some more of the rules. According to the website, you’re not allowed any slip-ups, “special occasions,” or cheat meals (which I’m already not a fan of). If you have a single bite of a food on the naughty list, you MUST start over from day 1…no if, ands, or buts.
The diet also emphasizes tough love. They state that this diet is not hard. Some of the things they consider “hard” are “fighting cancer” and “birthing a baby.” You’re also not even allowed to think or imagine slipping up. No pressure…right?!
Restriction Central
I want to start off by saying that there is a time and place where an elimination diet is appropriate. When they’re done under the guidance of a registered dietitian, they could definitely be beneficial.
This diet isn’t usually being done for a medical reason. Most people do this diet to change the way their body looks or feels. I personally did a diet similar to the whole 30 during the summer after my freshman year of college (more on that, here). I did the Blogilates version, which was pretty much identical.
This diet is touted on restriction. To go from eating these types of foods, which aren’t even unhealthy, to eating so few options, is way too much for most people. When I started this diet, I was incredibly moody, overwhelmed, and felt that I was missing out on so much.
I vividly remember going to a friends birthday dinner a few days into my whole 30 journey. I was so upset and scared of what I could eat, I almost wasn’t going to go. How crazy is that?! I went and ended up getting chicken that I scraped all the breading off of… To say that you can’t eat during “special occasions” like a wedding or birthday is absolutely absurd. The goal of this diet is to become “healthier,” but this seems like anything but.
Gives Food a Moral Value
By labeling foods as “good” or “bad” in this diet, you’re giving it a moral value. Food is not a person and doesn’t have a personality! It can’t be good or bad. The only way a food is “bad” is if it’s moldy, dirty, or expired. A food is “good” if it’s something that tastes good to you.
I will say, some foods nourish our bodies better than others. But, some foods are meant to nourish our souls more. Let’s say you go to a birthday party and a delicious chocolate cake is sitting there. If you were to eat that chocolate cake everyday, you may not feel so great. But, having a slice at a birthday party in celebration with others is what life is all about.
When we start labeling foods as “good” or “bad,” it leads to feelings of guilt. If I were on this diet and had one of the “bad” foods, I know that I would feel bad about it and do something to compensate for it. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with eating rice, peanut butter, or anything else on this list (as long as you don’t have any allergies).
Limits Nutrients
Another downside about this diet is that you’re limiting food groups that contain key nutrients for our bodies. For example, legumes and whole-grains are excellent sources of dietary fiber. Fiber is important for regulating our GI system, slowing down the release of insulin in our blood (which is what spikes blood sugar), and keeping us regular.
When you’re cutting these foods out, you’re missing out on all the benefits! Dairy is a great source of calcium, which is not allowed on this diet. What about if you’re a vegan? Most vegan sources of protein such as tofu, beans, and legumes, are not allowed on the whole 30 diet. I’m not quite sure how they would be expected to stick to this diet. But, hey…it’s not hard…right?!
So…is it Worth it?
If you’ve made it this far, you could probably already guess my answer. Is the whole 30 worth it?
Personally, I think it does way more harm than good. It leads to restriction, excessive thoughts surrounding food, and feelings of guilt or shame if you consume a “bad” food. Not to mention, what’s supposed to happen after these 30 days? Most likely, you’re going to end up over-consuming the foods you wearn’t allowed to eat out of deprivation….which is totally normal! That again will lead to guilt and shame. It’s just a vicious cycle.
xoxo
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