An End to Holiday Indulgences
Coming off the holiday season, many people use January to “detox” from all the heavy holiday meals and desserts enjoyed in November and December. Highly-processed, sugary foods can trigger inflammation and intolerances within the body. One elimination-type diet that is popular is known as the Whole30.
What is the Whole30?
The Whole30 diet was created by Melissa Hartwig and has been a popular reset diet for many years now. As suggested by the name, it lasts 30 days and requires that you cut out inflammation triggering foods, including but not limited to dairy, gluten, and alcohol. After 30 days, you are advised to gradually add the eliminated items back to your diet to determine which types of foods cause health effects.
Whole30 meals focus on meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, vegetables, fruit, and healthy fats.
Below is a list of food items not allowed under the Whole30 plan:
- Grains
- Added sugars or artificial sweeteners
- Dairy
- Legumes – including peas and peanuts
- Soy products
- Processed foods
- Certain additives
- Alcohol
The diet is not necessarily low carb – for instance, potatoes are a staple – but those following the diet still tend to reduce their carbohydrate intake from their normal levels.
The Elimination Diet
Health practitioners have used elimination diets for years to address symptoms such as:
- Digestion issues
- Joint pain
- Headaches
- Skin conditions
Elimination diets are useful in identifying food sensitivities. Sensitivities are different from allergies, which can be diagnosed through testing. Intolerances and sensitivities are more subtle reactions, and the best way to identify an intolerance is by eliminating several common culprits for a period of time, then slowly reintroducing one food category at a time to see if it causes a reaction. Continuous consumption of foods that trigger physical reactions can contribute to a level of inflammation throughout the body that could increase your risk for several health conditions and diseases – diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and some autoimmune conditions, just to name a few.
Whole30 is essentially an elimination diet that benefitted from great marketing. If you do decide to try this way of eating, or another elimination diet, you may find that by the end of the 30 days, you notice small but significant changes in your health—fewer headaches, better digestion, or perhaps a decrease in joint pain.
Easy Whole30 Recipe
One somewhat negative thing Whole30 followers do mention is the amount of cooking (and subsequent cleaning) involved. It is difficult to find compliant meals at a restaurant, so nearly all meals are home-cooked. Planning for leftovers is one way to reduce the time spent cooking.
Here is a very simple recipe from the blogger Peanut Butter Runner that is Whole30 compliant and can be used for several meals:
Three Ingredient Pot Roast
- 3-pound chuck roast
- 28-ounce can of tomatoes.
- One head of garlic.
Place the roast in a dutch oven. Generously season with salt and pepper. Add the can of tomatoes and place the garlic cloves (unpeeled) around the meat.
Roast in a 300-degree oven for four hours. The meat will become shreddable, and the mellowed garlic cloves and tomatoes create a flavorful sauce mixed with the meat juices. Once cooked, remove the garlic cloves from the pot, and shred the meat. Add the roasted garlic back in by squeezing the cloves out of their peels. Discard the peels and stir the meat and sauce mixture together.
Serve over a baked potato with roasted broccoli on the side.
Watch the YouTube video. Attorney Ed Smith discusses his holistic approach to personal injury law.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
Thank you for visiting our blog. I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. Car accidents happen with alarming frequency in the Sacramento area. Injuries sustained in a car crash can lead to chronic pain and inflammation. We endorse a holistic approach to healing for our clients. If you have questions about injuries you sustained in a car accident caused by a careless driver, call our injury lawyers for free and friendly advice. Our phone numbers are (916) 921-6400 if you are calling from the local area or toll-free at (800) 404-5400.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/vegetables-avocado-vegan-veggies-2338824/
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