The Whole30 diet

They say you are what you eat so it’s important that your diet helps you to lead the healthiest life possible. Eating healthy, whole foods is one way to help you look and feel like your best self while also guiding you towards optimal health. One particular diet that is currently making the rounds is the Whole30, a diet that encourages you to only consume whole, natural foods that help heal the gut and give you a reset.

What is the Whole3o?

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Based on the principles of the Paleo Diet, the Whole30 is a 30-day challenge in which you push yourself to only incorporate real food into your diet. Like the Paleo Diet, this diet is restrictive and needs to be adhered to absolutely. It was developed by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig, two sports nutritionists and overall fitness fanatics. Since 2009, they have helped millions of people get their health and fitness back on track, guided by their book “It Starts with Food“. They claim that the key is changing your relationship with food so that you see food as fuel and not as a reward or something to depend on when you’re bored/sad/angry. By changing your relationship with food you will begin to note what you eat and how it affects your body.

What you will be eating

The Whole30 is tough since it restricts what you will be eating for the next 30 days. The rules state that you can enjoy a wide variety of fruits, veggies, and proteins supplemented by healthy fats like nuts, seeds, and oils. You must avoid certain food groups like dairy, grains, legumes, and sugar. This diet is meant as a reset, to let your gut heal and change the way you eat, so by eliminating these foods you allow your body to only eat healthy, nutritious foods. When doing this diet you should eat things that have few ingredients and definitely no added sugar. This is the most difficult thing since you must read food labels very carefully-manufacturers sneak sugar into everything! There’s no need to restrict calories or fat on this diet since you will be eating only nutrient-dense foods that will fuel your body through the day. Your tastes will change throughout the 30 days and instead of cringing at veggies and longing for French fries you will learn to want things that keep you satisfied, mentally and physically.

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The benefits

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This diet can benefit those that are looking to cure several different health problems like allergies, inflammation, and leaky gut. Many people have reported that their lives have changed for the better after completing this diet. Not only does it change your relationship with food but also it can help relieve lifelong ailments, simply by changing what you eat. You will notice that your skin will get clearer, your clothes will start to fit better as you build muscle mass, and you fall asleep and sleep through the night better. There are countless benefits to a diet that incorporates whole foods with a focus on fruits and vegetables. However, this diet is difficult for vegetarians and impossible for vegans since you need to eat lean protein throughout the day. If you’re ready to take the challenge and change your diet, then the Whole30 is waiting for you!