Whole30 Diet

Definition

Whole30 is a diet based on elimination of certain foods and food groups thought to cause inflammation and disrupt the body's natural processes. It is designed to be followed for 30 days.

Origins

Description

Whole30 is basically an elimination diet. It does not require calorie restriction, calorie counting, or weighing or measuring of foods or one's body, but instead focuses on eliminating certain foods and food groups that are considered inflammatory or that cause cravings and disrupt digestive processes. According to the founders, the Whole30 program is intended to change one's relationship with food and emphasize the benefits of healthy eating habits rather than weight loss. The plan's motto is “Eat real food.”

sThe Whole30 diet is one of the more restrictive diets in terms of food choices; it excludes entire food groups and does not allow alcohol or sugar at all. In general, the diet allows moderate portions of meat, seafood, and eggs, lots of vegetables, some fruit, natural fats, and herbs, spices, and seasonings. The website advises, “Eat foods with very few ingredients, all pronounceable ingredients, or better yet, no ingredients listed at all because they're whole and unprocessed.” For 30 days, those on the Whole30 diet must avoid all of the following:

Unlike the Paleo diet, which allows baked goods and snacks made with foods and ingredients that are Paleo-approved, the Whole30 diet does not allow these types of snacks because of they view them as “psychologically unhealthy” and reinforce food cravings that the Whole30 plan tries to break. The key word in Whole30 is “whole”. So, although zucchini, eggs, and almonds are acceptable to eat on their own, baking zucchini and eggs with almond flour into a bread is not acceptable on the Whole30 plan.

The following are allowed on the Whole30 plan:

The Whole30 plan focuses on changing food-related habits and cravings, as well as changing food-related mindset away from weight loss only. Whole30 advises dieters to weigh and measure themselves before and after the 30 days, but not during the month, to move focus away from weight loss and onto lifelong health benefits associated with changing food selection habits.

The Whole30 website provides numerous resources on how to prepare and maintain the diet for 30 days. Resources are available on how to add foods back into one's diet after 30 days, and Whole30 rules are specifically geared toward a 30-day program only.

Function

KEY TERMS
Celiac disease—
An autoimmune condition in which the ingestion of gluten causes damage to the small intestine and other health issues, such as joint pain and fatigue; affects approximately 1 in 100 people.
Crohn's disease—
A chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract that causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss.
Fibromyalgia—
A disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, along with sleep, memory, and mood issues; exact cause is unknown, but may be related to insufficient circulation or differences in how the brain processes pain signals.
Gluten—
The protein in wheat, barley, and rye that makes dough sticky and triggers intolerance or celiac disease in some people.
Lupus—
A systemic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation affecting the joints, skin, kidneys, blood, brain, heart, and lungs.

It should be noted that no scientific research has been conducted on the Whole30 diet, and website claims that the Whole30 plan improves the above medical conditions are based solely on testimonials from Whole30 dieters.

Benefits

According to the U.S. News & World Report 2018 evaluation of diets, most Whole30 dieters lose between six and fifteen pounds in 30 days. For individuals with sensitivities to artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, and other chemicals used in processing, the Whole30 diet eliminates all of these. The Whole30 is a gluten-free plan, and those who are already gluten free may find this diet easy to adopt. Whole30 excludes many foods that have been linked to inflammation and other health issues. After the 30-day-diet period, dieters are encouraged to add foods back in to their diet. Although Whole30 does not provide clear guidelines for this, nutritionists have suggested that adding foods and food groups back in the diet one at a time allows individuals to identify food sensitivities, allergies, and symptom triggers, and to modify their long-term diets accordingly to exclude those foods.

Precautions

The Whole30 diet was not well-rated by U.S. News & World Report due to its extreme restrictions, difficulty in maintaining restrictions (even for 30 days), and excessive organizational, preparation, and adherence requirements. Nutrition experts also noted that excluding all of a certain food group, such as grains and legumes, may result in nutritional insufficiencies, especially for those with certain medical conditions or with undiagnosed medical conditions. Removing grains, legumes, and fermented foods may disrupt the gut flora and cause digestive and other adverse effects, some nutrition and medical professionals have noted. In addition, 30 days may not be long enough to affect the immune system and reduce inflammation, according to some medical professionals.

The Whole30 plan allows dieters to eat without restriction, but even if healthy foods are consumed, overconsumption can still lead to weight gain. Also, the restrictiveness of the diet may result in a “rebound” after the 30 days are over because dieters may over-consume the restricted foods, potentially causing weight gain and digestive upset.

The Whole30 plan does not provide clear guidance on how to proceed after the initial 30-day time period, and the restrictiveness of the diet makes it difficult to follow for the long-term. Also, nutrition and medical professionals question the health benefits of Whole30 because it is not based on clinical studies.

Risks

For those who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, the Whole30 program may not have as many nonanimal protein sources when legumes are excluded as a food group. Because beans and other legumes are a major source of protein for vegans and vegetarians, the Whole30 program may not fully meet their nutritional needs if diet rules are not followed. Whole30 does offer program rules specifically for vegans and vegetarians to ensure nutritional needs are met.

Excluding food groups that hold nutritional value, such as grains, legumes, and dairy, may result in nutrient, vitamin, and mineral deficiencies. Physicians have warned that individuals with undiagnosed diseases or pre-existing nutritional deficiencies may have side effects from the Whole30 diet, ranging from mild to severe. These adverse effects include constipation, vision problems, joint or bone pain, and internal bleeding, if the Whole30 diet is followed without medical supervision.

Pediatric

The Whole30 diet is not appropriate or safe for children and adolescents because it may not provide key nutrients required during growth and development. Serious side effects may occur in this population.

Pregnant or breastfeeding

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult with their physicians about the appropriateness and safety of the Whole30 diet for their nutritional needs before starting the diet.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR

Research and general acceptance

According to the Whole30 website, more than 2 million unique individuals visit each month, from more than 100 different countries. Whole30 social media sites have more than 2 million followers. Although Whole30 has many dedicated followers, its restrictiveness, inconvenience, and difficulty in managing the diet around work and social engagements are not appealing to many dieters.

No scientific research has been conducted specifically on the Whole30 diet plan. Health benefits listed on the website and in marketing materials are derived from dieter testimonials and personal experiences, or from studies of low-carbohydrate and Paleo diets.

Resources

BOOKS

Hartwig, Dallas, and Melissa Hartwig. It Starts with Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways. Las Vegas, NV: Victory Belt, 2014.

Hartwig, Dallas, and Melissa Hartwig. The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015.

Hartwig, Melissa. The Whole30 Day by Day: Your Daily Guide to Whole30 Success. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017.

Hartwig, Melissa. The Whole30 Fast & Easy Cookbook: 150 Simply Delicious Everyday Recipes for Your Whole30. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017.

PERIODICALS

University of Pennsylvania. “Why Everyone You Know Is Doing the Whole30—The Diet Nutritionists Call ‘Baseless.”’ Penn News 8 (February 12, 2018): 18.

“The Whole Truth on Whole30.” Environmental Nutrition 41, no. 2 (2018): 3.

WEBSITES

Best Diets Rankings. “Whole30 Diet.” U.S. News & World Report. https://health.usnews.com/best-diet/whole30-diet (accessed May 29, 2018).

Hartwig, Melissa. “Whole30.” Thirty & Co., LLC. https://whole30.com (accessed May 29, 2018).

Markham, Heidi. “You Asked: Should I Try the Whole30 Diet?” Time. http://time.com/4525768/whole30-diet-nutrition-food (accessed May 29, 2018).

ORGANIZATIONS

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 S. Riverside Plaza, Ste. 2190, Chicago, IL, 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040, (800) 877-1600, amacmunn@eatright.org, http://www.eatright.org .

American Society for Nutrition, 9211 Corporate Blvd., Ste. 300, Rockville, MD, 20850, (240) 428-3650, Fax: (240) 404-6797, http://www.nutrition.org .

American Vegan Society (AVS), 56 Dinshah Lane, PO Box 369, Malaga, NJ, 08328, (856) 694-2887, Fax: (856) 694-2288, http://www.americanvegan.org .

British Nutrition Foundation, New Derwent House, 69-73 Theobalds Rd., London, UK, WC1X 8TA, +44 20 7557-7930, postbox@nutrition.org.uk, http://www.nutrition.org.uk .

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Dr., HFS-009, College Park, MD, 20740-3835, (888) 723-3366, https://www.fda.gov .

Jennifer E. Van Pelt, MA

  This information is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for professional care.