If you've read my story, you may have noted that I completed two Whole30 months (non-consecutively) before starting Dr. Bernstein's plan in January 2015.
After reading Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution book a year earlier, I wasn't ready to start. I avoided it and thought I should try some other options first (like the Whole30). Although I didn't achieve the blood glucose stability from the Whole30 as I do from low-carb (I was still eating fruit, and lots of it), the Whole30 program was a great learning experience for me and a gateway to further carb reduction.
This is not a gimmick or a fad diet. It is a legitimate way to test your body for possible sensitivities and allergens by short term elimination.
The Whole30 plan is a Paleo program based on whole foods that was created to re-set your body and metabolism through the elimination of processed sugar, artificial sweeteners, grains, dairy, legumes and alcohol. These 'restricted items' can all cause adverse effects, and your body needs time to heal without consumption of these items. On this plan, you ARE allowed to eat all vegetables, fruits, meats, and nuts (no peanuts, though because they are a legume).
The entire Whole30 program is outlined and discussed at length in the book, It Starts With Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways, by Melissa and Dallas Hartwig.
The name is Whole30 because you follow this elimination diet for 30 days, then slowly add the restricted items back into your diet, one by one, in order to determine your body's sensitivity to common allergens.
What I learned from completion of the Whole30 is that I feel better by eliminating grains from my diet and eating only small amounts of dairy. This knowledge made it infinitely easier to later make the switch to low-carb for blood glucose management.
A 30 day commitment is also easier for many to accept than a lifetime commitment, especially without knowledge that the change you are making will work for you.
I will ALWAYS advocate for Dr. Bernstein's plan for diabetes management, but I believe that EVERYONE should read It Starts With Food and complete at least one Whole30 month to determine how their body reacts to the foods they eat.
You can also complete a Whole30 while also following Dr. Bernstein's plan for low-carb. Remove dairy, artificial sweeteners, and peanuts from your diet and see how you feel during and after the month.
Have you tried a Whole30 or know someone who has? What have you learned in the process? Please tell us your story in the comments below.
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