The Whole30 program, a Salt Lake City-based diet program, has recently gained traction around the Provo area, and more buzz is likely to develop in upcoming months.
Whole30 provides a set of guidelines to follow regarding nutrition and food consumption. The basics of the plan are to only eat whole foods (e.g. meats, eggs, veggies, fruit) and cut out all of the rest for 30 days. Prohibited foods include added sugars, grains, legumes and dairy.
The program claims to “reset” the dieters’ metabolism and systemic inflammation. The point is to let the body heal from the built-up unbalanced nutrition it has consumed.
Many of the testimonials on the program’s website claim that the Whole30 program produces positive results. A good percentage of the testimonials are even from doctors who recommend the program to their clients for various reasons.
Students around the Provo and Orem area have seen positive results, too.
Jake Bowers, a senior at BYU studying health promotion, experienced better results than he expected.
“I initially thought it was crazy and wouldn’t work, but my body felt so good at the end of the 30 days, and I saw drastic results,” Bowers said. “I get better sleep, I gained energy, and I have more confidence.”
Courtney Rich, a recent graduate of BYU, said, “Not only did I see physical changes, but mental as well. I no longer get into that mid-day slump. I have enough energy throughout the entire day.”
But some are skeptical about the Whole30 program and its claims.
Keilah Martinez, a health coach at BYU, explained that diets with a specified short time frame aren’t likely to create lasting results. “It is more effective to adopt healthier lifestyle habits and stick to them long-term,” Martinez said.
Martinez also stressed the importance of whole grains in people’s diets. She said this type of grain has vitamins and minerals that will benefit their bodies if consumed moderately.
