With its stringent guidelines — no meat, dairy, grains, sugar, or legumes for 30 days — the Whole30 diet has always been a bit controversial, but even the founders will tell you that it's called the Whole30 because it isn't meant to be long-term. According to the site, the goal of Whole30 is to act as a "reset" to help you "curb your cravings and bad habits, boost your metabolism, heal your digestive tract, and calm your immune system." And there are valuable lessons to be learned from those 30 days. "The Whole30 encourages you to examine how foods make you feel and your relationship to food," Jessica told POPSUGAR. "Because of its focus on fresh, whole foods, it also gets you into the habit of cooking more meals at home."
If you are ready for a reset, Jessica's advice is to really use that 30 days to examine your current habits around food and create new ones. "You also want to be mindful during the reintroduction phase and pay attention to how certain foods make you feel," she added. Because this diet can be such a drastic change, if you have any health conditions or are pregnant or nursing, be sure to speak with your doctor before getting started, so they can ensure you aren't missing out on any important nutrients.