January Experiment Part 1
Photo by Tamanna Rumee on Unsplash
I did the Whole30 - here’s what I learned.
On December 28th I embarked on the Whole30. It is essentially a 30 day elimination diet, marketed as a way to reset your body and feel better. Elimination diets are the gold standard for finding out if you have food sensitivities, which can have a huge variety of symptoms, and that is the main reason I did it.
No gluten, grains, dairy, sugar, alcohol or legumes. You are discouraged from weighing yourself and from eating foods that are technically compliant (like grain free crackers), but not in compliance with the spirit of the program. The program is restrictive and you need to be 100% compliant for it to work - not even a bite of cheese, for example, or you need to start over.
In case you are not familiar with the premise of food sensitivities/intolerances here is a further clarification. There are no tests for them so conventional medicine has little time for the idea, but their symptoms can be hard to identify, wide ranging, and impactful. We hear the most about gluten these days. At one end of the reactivity spectrum there is Celiac disease where eating wheat causes immediate and extreme reaction. At the other end - if you have a gluten intolerance or sensitivity - you may get headaches, or become more anxious, or be more fatigued or bloated. All of these symptoms could be ascribed to other issues, but when you do an elimination diet, you may identify the culprit.
A few years ago I did eliminate gluten for a few months to see if I had an intolerance - I do not. But, I had never eliminated this many foods at one time. If I followed this restrictive program, I wondered if my constantly runny nose would be better (dairy sensitivity is often implicated in this symptom)? Would my aches and pains be less (food intolerances cause inflammatory reactions which can increase pain)? And overall, maybe I would feel better AND prove to myself that I could do it.
The first week was the hardest and I found myself with cravings, urges, and many thoughts around them. But with each passing day it became easier, and because you do not have many choices on what to eat (for all intents and purposes - produce and protein), it simplifies things - fewer decisions are needed. As I moved past the weekends I felt good because I was actually doing it, AND I was that much closer to being finished. Honestly, the thing I missed most of all was the tablespoon of milk I put in my coffee every morning. The nut milks are no substitute - and I tried about 4 of them.
What got better? My sleep - I experienced uninterrupted, deep sleep most nights. My hot flashes nearly disappeared - and anyone who has had them knows this is a big deal. Finally, I just felt incrementally more clear headed and energetic.
What did not get better? My runny nose and my aches and pains.
On the one hand I was disappointed that there were no earth shattering reveals. But, in a way, that was good news too. I have resumed my normal eating patterns now, but I am paying more attention to how my sleep and hot flashes are impacted. The most valuable piece of the whole experiment were all the learnings I gained by giving up alcohol for the month. I will fill you in on that next week!
Would I recommend it? Yes. I think most everyone can benefit from a program like this, although you have to be ready for the commitment if you want it to work (like everything else!). This was floating around in the back of my mind for some time, and this is the year I felt ready to try it. Many people do it multiple times over the course of years and months, and find that they have big positive changes.
Would I do it again? Probably not. But, I am glad I did it because now I can take what I learned and apply it going forward. Better sleep and fewer hot flashes are learnings that I am happy to have! The point I always make in this space applies: be willing to be curious, to try something and to give it time to take hold. You have no idea what you may learn.
