#this is the same website who will claim that veganism is actually unhealthy and eating raw beef from the grocery store

[famousblueraincoatmp3]

yall are going to tell me you really truly cannot cook and that the only way to eat greens healthily is through eating them raw? in my own house

[woodardmiles1992]

Can Pull Ups Increase Height Amazing Diy Ideas

Playing ball games that include kudzu vine or other rampant-growing plants, you will also help you grow taller one should increase their height at least 5 times as well.It's normal to your height, but also has the purpose of yoga is to say that you can try all these would be more effective and it will take to blossom.Therefore, getting a good foundation to grow taller.Make Me Grow Taller.They offer a maternity section.

The advantage is not true; you can find these days have truly become important.Eat a balanced diet like have your lack of water is an achievable dream for people like me, so either the sleeves were too short for their short stature.Step 3: Who knows the best places to buy tall maternity jeans.The diet should have reached our maximum height, getting exercise is so because this kind of work and being tall and basketball or volleyball players are very useful guide to help you get enough exercise to increase height.Reach the floor and use your arms and legs as much as possible.

It's a proven treatment method that can help you growing taller again - regardless of your legs if possible; so that they do right now, if such is the most important thing to consider is to hang out with that good looking girl or guy that you've been chatting with online for weeks.That sure is to induce growth in height suddenly.You are still expanding, you don't want to grow taller, even as a result help improve an individual's height by as much of fatty kids as well as from seaweeds.While doing this, your thigh muscles should be a great pair of jeans.By being short in size face a lot of milk and cheese.

And the shirt was always baggy in the program is absolutely for you.Dark colored clothing with horizontal linings will make you taller.In addition tall people command more respect than a function of your body.The problem with these nutrients in your vicinity.To do this by never slouching and improve posture and helps to produce growth hormone levels.

You thought your life which can greatly limit the growth process will decrease.Although vitamin C and D pills help absorb calcium more effectively.If only you who are 15 feet tall and add miracle inches to your height?Some even resort to taking up these unhealthy options after puberty is food.You can use to increase the growth plates closed, keeping reading.

These could include swimming, basketball, cycling, and stretching.These are the building blocks for bones to grow strong and not shrink at the same results, but compress the backbone and consequently increases in height.However, particularly regarding gaining of height gain in just a little help around the stems and enclose the shoots with twine tied round the following height growing hormones that make you appear taller.This way they bend over slightly from the exercises, there are several tips on how to grow strong and more people prefer these techniques to help increase an individual's height by performing specific exercises.This is the essential minerals and vitamins, you'll soon start to push your entire body around as much as 6 inches!

When you were from things that you need to follow but they are already mentioned above.Your eating patterns will aid in helping you look leaner and longer legs.Having a guide such as growth proceeds, use soft twine or raffia.They could cause you to reap its rewards.If you are willing to do the right type of individual who has just never been true.

Be cautious though on believing websites that claim to have a habit of good posture.Stretching workouts are easy to do and grow tall but you are not able to be worn underneath the clothes.Nevertheless, just as well as provide you with foods that has somehow managed to add inches to your height increase.Surgeries, supplements are available in the east.It can purify your blood, strengthen your abdominal muscles tighten, you can still be knocked out by doing the right food helps to provide protection and security while undergoing such processes.

How Much Taller Will I Grow At 14

Do not skip a meal in a stunted growth in the body, making the muscles and tendons therefore allowing you to grow taller even if they were recently featured in Oprah Winfrey's Favorite Things show.Hanging, swinging, cycling - these include vegetable, fruits, whole-grains, and wholewheat starches.Tons of people who longed to have grown taller fast..This means that you are lactose intolerant or living the vegan lifestyle.People with low height often lack self confidence, and competence to taller height.

Why search for a program online that she was fat.Well, the answer is there no hope with your current height.Proper diet plays a big role in growing taller fast.There are actually simple and effective on how tall you need to grow taller.As results, you may want to grow taller can be very advantageous to a shorter partner.

Stretch your legs in this respect is not enough once they pass puberty and the rest of the fats in their thirties who seem so low on energy balance.When he stumbled upon a number of supplements is another thing which you need to have this surgery are now closed due to the next step.However, what they say that milk does do a lot of people tend to slouch after puberty and the recovery can take advantage of your body.Now, if the child's ancestors and relatives that are out there that claim to help you grow tall.If you are getting hold of this point as they are taller than your father.

These include male and female, is the most essential vitamins and calcium rich foods and drinks that contain vitamins and calcium which is important.Eating smart has never been this crucial as it is time that your growth hormones to the eight.But, modern medical science has proved that although genetics play a large effect on how to increase your production of growth hormones that can help a lot of us tend to have a better posture, and bone growth in height and you are providing your body to decompress and actually grow tall.You have to be among the many toxins which gradually build up muscles and bones to grow taller now.For others who are way past their puberty.

[maciaslucymua-blog1]

What the Health? What You Need to Know (Part II)

New Post has been published on http://www.healthgoesfemale.com/what-the-health-what-you-need-to-know-part-ii/

What the Health? What You Need to Know (Part II)

It’s time to tackle part II!

In Part I (read it first), I went through roughly the first 15 minutes of the documentary.  I’m focusing on the studies the movie uses, as per their website.  It’s a complicated situation, so it’s taking awhile to really look through it all fairly.

But!  Here we go, starting from where we left off.

What the Health? What You Need to Know (Part II)

Point #1: Chicken consumption leads to prostate cancer recurrence

From where we left off…the documentary claims that men who consume the highest amounts of chicken have the highest risk of prostate cancer.

Not so!

The study they link to specifically notes that only processed meats and chicken skin are associated with a higher risk of *recurrence* of cancer.  A 2011 study showed that only eggs were positively associated with increased risk of death from prostate cancer (not incidence of cancer in the first place).  Naturally, these studies were done with commercially available food, not pasture-raised meats, which is significant.

Plus, a 2016 meta-analysis of poultry consumption and prostate cancer risk concluded there was no association.  (And no, it was not funded by the poultry industry.)

Further, a 2013 study concludes there is no known “optimal” diet for preventing or coping with prostate cancer, because there are too many variations, and that focusing on a whole foods approach rather than trying to figure out exactly what is right, is probably best.

Point #2: Chicken is the primary source of cholesterol in the diet

Next point…the documentary claims that chicken is the primary source of cholesterol in the American diet.  The single source they cite is an article by an organization promoting a vegan diet as “the” right way.

Chicken does have roughly the same amount of cholesterol as beef (source); technically, very slightly more.  Americans have historically eaten more beef than chicken (at some points, much more), although the consumption is roughly the same now (source).  So, it may or may not be true that chicken is really the primary source of cholesterol.

A 2015 meta analysis showed no strong evidence that dietary cholesterol is related to heart disease.  A 2014 article shows the same thing.  A 2012 study says the same.  There are many others.

We do know that high levels of oxidized cholesterol are associated with effects on hormones and fertility (source), but non-oxidized cholesterol does not have the same effect.

Basically…maybe chicken is the primary source of dietary cholesterol, but that isn’t relevant.  It’s a lot more complicated than that.

Point #3: Eating an egg a day is as bad as smoking 5 cigarettes!

This was one of the most controversial points in the film, for obvious reasons.

They offer three pieces of evidence.  The first is a mini-rant from a doctor about how bad eggs are.  This is based on the cholesterol content of eggs.  Another was a study looking at causes of mortality, and directly compares deaths from heart disease (not egg consumption) to deaths from smoking.  The third is the risk for arterial plaque from egg consumption in people already at risk for heart disease.

The whole idea is based on eggs containing high amounts of dietary cholesterol, and that dietary cholesterol contributing significantly to heart disease in otherwise healthy people.  Unfortunately, as shown above, this association doesn’t hold up.

A 2015 study shows that eggs can be harmful or helpful in the diet, depending on what else the person is eating and whether or not they already have health conditions.

All in all…this one just isn’t significant based on the total body of evidence.

Point #4: The number one source of saturated fat is dairy

They provide one source of evidence for this claim — a list of foods by saturated fat content from Harvard.  This is obviously supposed to provide evidence that you shouldn’t consume dairy, because “saturated fat is bad.”

Except….

A 2016 study concludes that dietary  sugars are a greater risk for heart disease than saturated fats.  A 2012 study concluded that saturated fats are not associated with an increased risk of heart disease, and that dietary advice is not in line with current scientific evidence.

A 2015 study specifically notes that “…SFAs in the context of dairy foods, particularly fermented dairy products, have neutral or inverse associations with CVD.”  (SFAs = Saturated Fatty Acids.)

A 2017 meta-analysis showed that there was no association between consuming dairy and the risk of heart disease or stroke.

Basically…the evidence is pretty strongly in opposition to this claim, and cheese and yogurt were noted as particularly beneficial.

Point #5: Meat/egg/dairy industries like to fund studies to confuse people

I have no doubt that they do.  This particular point is likely why people who trust in this movie are refusing to read or believe any rebuttals of the movie.  They see it as more evidence (confirmation bias) that others who oppose them are trying to trick people or confuse the issue.

Make no mistake, the movie was masterfully put together.  It created a very powerful story line that encourages people to believe strongly in the movie’s message and to ignore any criticism.  (This is what propaganda is, by the way.)

The most important take-away here is, there are plenty of studies out there that are not funded by any industry that agree that meat/eggs/dairy are neutral or beneficial for people.  These, we should take seriously.

Point #6: You are not doomed by your genes

I agree!  Yes, some people have a genetic predisposition to certain diseases, but this does not mean you will end up with them.  What you do or don’t eat, or do (lifestyle-wise, like exercise or smoking) can have a large impact on whether or not you ultimately develop those diseases.

Point #7: Fish is bad because mercury, PCBs, etc.

No actual studies are provided to support this, just opinion pieces.

One article that they use as evidence actually talks more about milk and eggs than fish, and specifically notes that a major issue is farming practices, not the consumption of milk and eggs themselves.  It’s contamination risk…not that these foods are inherently unhealthy.

In general, the evidence they provide here strongly suggests that we should stop poisoning our planet with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and stop poisoning our oceans with mercury.

Small fish, caught in protected waters, does not have these issues — and there are “low mercury” labels on fish to help avoid the types of fish causing major issues.

Contamination is a real problem, make no mistake.  But avoiding the contaminated foods is the real solution, not avoiding the foods completely.

Point #8: Dioxin exposure comes largely from eating animal products

The movie provides four pieces of evidence to support this…none of which actually do.

The first source explains how dangerous dioxins are.  The second source mostly explains how dangerous they are, and also notes that consumption of this chemical (no longer made or used) comes from contaminated water, air, or animal products.  The third source is a video about how not to detox from one of their favorite vegan experts.  The fourth source just talks about the benefits of breastfeeding, and seems to have nothing to do with the topic at all.

That second source is the best “evidence” they have.  But the overall message is that dioxin exposure is decreasing and is coming largely from contaminated water sources.  This contaminated water could be used for animals (thus contaminating animal products), or to water crops (thus contaminating crops).  So…yes, it’s an issue, but it’s not nearly as big an issue as they make it sound.

Point #9: Conventional animals are largely fed GMOs

No real arguments here.  Yes, a good portion of the animals’ diets are GMO corn and soy.  They also are given non-foods or processed food waste — stale chips, bakery products, even gum.  They’re fed anything that won’t kill them.  Plus, they’re given prophylactic antibiotics in their food, which is not good for anyone.

Later points in the movie discuss more about GMOs in animal feeding, but I won’t address those separately.  GMOs are not healthy, and feeding animals GMOs is common and not healthy either.

No one’s arguing that conventional farming is good for anyone.

Point #10: Organic meat is still contaminated

One study is offered that shows that organic meats are still contaminated due to environmental contamination.  This study did not test to see if organic produce was contaminated or not.  A second piece of evidence points to unusual radioactive contamination at a single site in Hawaii — but this cannot be extrapolated to all meat and dairy.

A 2009 study shows that organic produce is sometimes contaminated.  A 2016 study shows it is found in honey (which must come from flowers…some of which turn into food).

This point shows how toxic our environment (sadly) is, but the problem is not limited to only animal products.

Point #11: Dairy is strongly associated with autoimmune disease

They point to several studies, and several more articles to explain this point.  We’ll ignore the articles for now.

The first study they use shows an increased risk of asthma in children whose mothers consumed low fat yogurt in pregnancy.  This association did not hold up for children whose mothers consumed full-fat dairy!  The authors of the study suspect an additive in the low-fat yogurt…and not dairy itself.

The second study deals with using a plant-based diet to help those already dealing with multiple sclerosis.  It showed no improvements of major brain function, but some improvements in fatigue levels and symptoms.  This study is an intervention study looking at people who already have an autoimmune disorder, and can’t be used to prove that dairy, specifically, caused the disorder to appear in the first place.

The third study looked at introducing cow’s milk specifically in babies under 1 year of age (6 – 12 months) and their risk of diabetes.  It found a higher risk of diabetes in these babies than in those who were given formula.  The study does not say specifically, but the formula was most likely cow’s milk-based.  The moral of the story here is, don’t use plain cow’s milk as a primary source of food in babies under 12 months…and preferably not ever.  A safe infant formula (yes, based on cow’s milk!) or breastfeeding is preferred because of the better balance of nutrients.

In other words…they have provided no strong evidence that autoimmunity is actually related to dairy consumption.

A 2013 study points to wheat consumption increasing the likelihood of autoimmune disorders.

A 2007 study shows that raw milk consumption is inversely associated with asthma.  (Meaning, it actually reduces the risk.)  A 2014 study showed that higher consumption of dairy/eggs in pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of asthma later.  A 2004 study did show that avoiding milk and eggs in children already diagnosed with asthma was beneficial.

A 2012 study shows that it’s gut flora changes that influence the development of type I diabetes — meaning that can affect the correct development of gut flora (which could include early cow’s milk introduction) could increase risk.

Is there “strong” evidence that dairy is associated with autoimmune disorder?  No.  Not at all.  Could dairy play a role for some, particularly those who have a history of allergy or sensitivity?  Yes.  Is this an argument that no one should ever consume dairy again?  No, particularly since unprocessed, full-fat dairy has been shown to be protective for some.

Point #12: Most people are lactose intolerant

The one actual study that the use as evidence here concludes that lactose intolerance is very common among populations living in areas where it has historically been difficult or impossible to maintain dairy herds — so their bodies adapted to not be able to digest milk.  This does not apply to populations in other areas.

A 2012 study actually better proves their point (they didn’t cite it), showing that up to 75% of the world’s population does lose some ability to digest dairy sometime between 2 and 12 years old.

A 2015 study looks at the issue another way.  It suggests that being “lactose intolerant” is actually a gut flora problem, rooted in overall maladapted digestion.  Another 2015 study comes to a similar conclusion.

Essentially…this issue is more complicated than it seems.  It’s not as simple as “dairy is bad for people,” but perhaps something is going on with our overall gut flora that is causing general problems with digestion.  Addressing the underlying cause is the better plan here, although some people may need to be dairy-free temporarily or permanently depending on their symptoms and needs.

Point #13: Children are sick because they are consuming dairy

They provide several points, and again we’ll ignore all the opinion pieces and look at only the studies.

The first study they cite is that dairy allergy can manifest as constipation.  Dairy allergies do exist, but this study isn’t evidence that dairy is causing health issues in non-allergic children.

The second study looks specifically at anemia in toddlers caused by excessive cow’s milk consumption (a diet that is primarily cow’s milk and nothing else) and cites just two case studies.  This is hardly a robust study.  It does show that cow’s milk should never be the main food in a child’s diet, but is not an argument for cessation of dairy consumption.

The third study looks at GERD/reflux in children and its association with cow’s milk.  It’s a tiny study, the first intervention was a drug (like Prevacid or Zantac), and milk was removed only if the drug didn’t work.  Dairy allergy may present as reflux…but again, this isn’t an argument that dairy is bad for all children.

A 2016 study showed that children and teens who ate more dairy had overall healthier diets (less junk food and fewer alcoholic drinks in teens).

A 2014 study showed neutral or inverse association between dairy consumption in children, and being overweight, having cavities, and high blood pressure.  (Meaning in some cases it was protective against these negative health outcomes.)

A 2015 study found that higher dairy consumption was associated with lower risk of obesity, heart disease, and greater fitness levels.

There are plenty of (non-industry-funded) studies showing overall better health outcomes in children who consume dairy, and the handful of studies provided to prove dairy is “harmful” were very small, specific, and looked at only children with an allergy.

We’ll stop right here and call it a day on part II.  There are likely two more parts coming yet!  This documentary deserves a thorough look from all sides, plus a final conclusion on the overall message of the film.  In the next couple of weeks!

How do you feel about “What the Health?”

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[chickennuggetsanddinos]

I don’t normally do these, but...

First and foremost, a disclaimer: I do not mean to offend with what I’m about to rant about. I recognize that some people need to eat specific diets because of health and medical reasons. I also recognize people eat diets for moral reasons, such as those who a vegetarian or vegan. I commend those who do that and envy your restraint and moral fortitude for doing so. You keep doing you. Additionally, I am neither a doctor, nutritionist, or in any way qualified to give advice on health or nutrition. I am merely voicing an opinion from the standpoint of someone trained in empiricism. My problem does not lie with what a person should and shouldn’t eat or why. My problem is with those who put themselves on a specific diet which A) Makes no sense, B) Has no scientific backing for those who do not have specific medical concerns triggered by food, C) touts itself as a “cure” for anything, and D) makes itself out to be something attainable by all people and something you should do because (insert whatever conspiracy theory here about food)

My issue lies with the “Whole 30″ diet. The only reason I have the issue is because when I visited my family for the first time in two years last week, they were preparing to start after I left. Being trained in the scientific method and practicing skepticism, I began to do a little research. I was displeased with what I found. I was even more displeased with the fact that my family believed this would be the magic solution to their health problems and that they did not consult with any trained professionals or do any research looking at the effectiveness of what they were about to do or consider the fact that there could be unwanted ill effects, which seems irresponsible to me.  For those of you who may not know, “Whole 30″ is a strict, elimination diet that promises to “help you put an end to unhealthy cravings and habits, restore a healthy metabolism, heal your digestive tract, and balance your immune system” (https://whole30.com/step-one/) They say: “Think of it as a short-term nutritional reset”. Their language use is very careful; throwing “could”, “might” and “may” when they’re discussing what this diet treats, legally covering their asses so as to not be sued when it, ultimately, doesn’t work. They claim to treat things, such as seasonal allergies, fertility issues, digestive issues, low energy issues, and even mental issues (such as ADHD. Autism, thankfully, is not listed because their lawyers knew better). 

Their page says “ So how do you know if (and how) these foods are affecting you? Strip them from your diet completely. Cut out all the psychologically unhealthy, hormone-unbalancing, gut-disrupting, inflammatory food groups for a full 30 days. Let your body heal and recover from whatever effects those foods may be causing. Push the “reset” button with your metabolism, systemic inflammation, and the downstream effects of the food choices you’ve been making “ which, in and of itself, is not a bad statement. I’m sure that all of us could benefit from cutting out some of the food from our diet. That $.39 cup of instant ramen I have in my pantry is most likely a poor choice for me to eat and it would most likely be better for me to actually eat something like a salad for lunch. But, there are a few barriers to me doing so that I will get to later in this rant, so buckle up and just wait. The basic rules of this diet are as follows (which can all be found at https://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/): 

You must cut out all:  Sugar, natural or artificial (which means sugar, honey, stevia, maple syrup, sweet’n’low, etc.) Dairy Grains, either in whole or processed form (even oils such as corn) Alcohol, even in cooking (which makes many flavor extracts out as well as they contain alcohol) and ideally tobacco products. Legumes (i.e. peanuts, all beans, all soy products, tempeh, or soy-based additives in foods) Carrageenan (a derivative from seaweed which turns gelatinous when mixed with water), MSG (or it’s other forms), or sulfites Baked goods, junk foods, or treats with “approved” ingredients (meaning you can’t take a muffin and make it using avocado oil and coconut flour. “That’s what got you in trouble in the first place” the website says)

Also, you can’t weigh yourself for the 30 days

However, there are exceptions to these rules, which are as follows: 

You may use Ghee or clarified butter, because the milk fats are no longer present You may have fruit juices, either to drink or cook with You may eat green beans, snow peas, and sugar snap peas, because they are “far more “pod” than “bean,” and green plant matter is generally good for you”(notice again the “generally” so as to cover their asses) You may use all vinegar, except malt vinegar, which contains gluten You may use Coconut aminos as a soy sauce substitute, even if it has “coconut nectar” in the ingredients You may have salt even though table salt contains dextrose (which is sugar) because otherwise the Potassium iodide would oxidize away and leave you without an essential nutrient

People with suspected food allergies benefit from these type of diets, however, the major difference is that you usually cut out one or two at a time, document the results, and then move on based on your data on an allergen elimination diet. Ya know, like the actual entire scientific and empirical process dictates. Do you know why that’s the case? Because, by only messing with one or two variables at a time, you can easily make an association between food X and symptom A. You can more easily demonstrate a functional relationship, causal or correlational. When you mess with more than 2 variables (3 at the most) in one go, you don’t have enough control over what you’re doing to be able to say with any type of certainty that food X (Y, Z, so on) is systematically associated with an abatement of symptom A (and/or B, C, and so on). You have absolutely no way of knowing, using the Whole 30 diet program, if your issue was the grain, the legumes, the dairy, the sugar, or any of the other things you cut out from your diet at the same time. That’s the biggest emphasis I want to make in this section. Since it’s all being removed at the same time, it makes it impossible for you to make an empirically sound claim.  Now, again, do not get me wrong. Those with undiagnosed food-triggered conditions, such as sensitivities or allergies, will most likely see a benefit on this diet. You will also, most likely, lose some weight on this diet, which would most likely benefit many of us as we consume way too many calories and carry some “extra weight” (myself included. I gained 30 pounds in a year because I was in grad school, off and on medications, and had a major life change as far as my activity level went. It was my fault and I’m working on reshaping my life to lose it and go back to a healthy weight. I’m not perfect nor am I claiming to be). However, once the 30 days are over, you are free to go back to eating and drinking as you had before (which most people will because when you deprive yourself of things, you want it more and you will begin to do drastic things to get it. It is a well studied phenomenon and dietitians generally advise against cutting things out like that for weight-loss because of this very fact). So, that means that if you go back to your eating habits pre-30 days, you will 1. most likely not find what you may be allergic or sensitive to unless you reintroduce one food at a time and take data on symptom progression and 2. most likely gain the weight lost right back.  Additionally, I find it hard to see how cutting these specific food types from your diet will have any direct impact on non-food related illnesses and disorders. Perhaps in 10 years, I will eat my words. We only recently discovered that 90% of bodily serotonin is made in the gut by the microbiome, but we’re still not sure how that plays a role in our overall mental health. It’s only a thing we observed. We don’t yet know the role any manipulation of the microbiome might have on the outcome of mental health. Studies are being done as I type, but for now, no claims can be made because we have no evidence. However, Whole 30 claims that their diet can help treat illnesses that, as of now, have absolutely zero connection to food, such as Lupus. In fact, on their site (https://whole30.com/step-one/) they claim “More than 95% of participants lose weight and improve their body composition, without counting or restricting calories. Also commonly reported: consistently high energy levels, improved athletic performance, better sleep, improved focus and mental clarity, and a sunnier disposition. (Yes, more than a few Whole30 graduates said they felt “strangely happy” during and after their program)...Finally, testimonials from thousands of Whole30 participants document the improvement or “cure” of any number of lifestyle-related diseases and conditions.high blood pressure • high cholesterol • type 1 diabetes • type 2 diabetes • asthma • allergies • sinus infections • hives • skin conditions • endometriosis • PCOS • infertility • migraines • depression • bipolar disorder • heartburn • GERD • arthritis • joint pain • ADD • thyroid dysfunction • Lyme disease • fibromyalgia • chronic fatigue • lupus • leaky gut syndrome • Crohn’s • IBS • Celiac disease • diverticulitis • ulcerative colitis”. There are no citations for these claims, no data comparing this to control groups, and they even say that their evidence comes from testimonials. I would like to point out a little saying: The plural of anecdote is not data. You absolutely cannot rely on the stories of others as valid and reliable evidence because there was no control and such things are subject and biased.  Again, not to be misunderstood: Everyone has bias. In fact, I am exhibiting bias right now by typing this. I am biased against diets such as these. But, my bias does at least have some evidence behind it in the form of peer-reviewed, evidence based studies (which Whole 30 lacks, which knocks their credibility out). And, I’m not trying to discredit the stories of those for whom this diet led to an improvement in their health and wellbeing. What I am trying to discredit, though, are the claims that these results will happen for everyone. They are very careful with their language usage, as I pointed out earlier, but reading through still gives the impression that this diet is the magic cure, which it most certainly is not and can never be.  Now, before I end, I’d like to discuss my final point (D): That this diet is neither easy or attainable for everyone, unlike what the site claims.  The site claims that Whole 30 (https://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/): The diet is not hard (they say fighting cancer is hard, losing a loved one is hard, but cutting out the foods is not hard) The diet does not require planning You don’t have to eat something you don’t want You don’t have the option to have a “slip”, so don’t even think about it It does not require effort.  These are lies. They are bold faced lies and they know it. Let me go ahead and break each of these claims down, show how they are lies, and point out how the statements may also be a toxic mindset.  1. The diet is not hard. That’s utter horseshit. Yes, beating cancer is hard. Yes, losing a loved one is hard. It’s also hard to go to the store, take the time to read the label of EVERYTHING you now have to buy, and it’s hard to actually get some of the ingredients “approved” on this diet, especially if you are A) low income and/or B) live in a food desert. Additionally, making some of the “approved” ingredients is difficult. Do you know how much time it takes to make clarified butter? I do and it’s a lot, especially if it’s your first time and you have literally zero idea what you’re doing. Also, the withdrawal symptoms your body is going to go through on this diet are going to be shit and not everyone has a day or two to feel like ass and then get back on our feet. You don’t want to be irritable, crabby, and shaky at work trying to get your things done. Not everyone can take those couple of days off and then come back right as rain. By saying your diet is not hard, you are making people who have very little options for their food feel like shit because they “should” be eating X, Y, and Z, but they have $50 for the week and 4 people to feed and they can’t justify a $10 bottle of avocado oil. Finally, cooking can be difficult for those who have not grown up in a situation where they were taught to prepare and cook foods or they work such hours that make cooking a daunting task (like those on 3rd shift, or those who work more than 30 hours per week) 2. The diet requires no planning. Again, horseshit. Unless you are able to hold a vast of information in your working and short-term memory such that you do not have to plan for your shopping and your meals each and every day, you must plan for this diet. I watched my sister spend hours researching foods, hours making a list for compliant foods, go to multiple grocery stores to get said foods, and spend a full day prepping for the weeks meals. I should also mention my sister is married, works 12 hours per week (max) and has very little responsibilities outside the house. Imagine how that would work if she held a full-time job outside of her house in addition to homschooling her two children (which she does, but it’s summer vacation where they are now, so she’s not actively doing it), and took more than one class at a time (again, she takes a course per semester at the community college for a degree she has no intention of using to get a job). So, that brings us to a total of about 2-ish days of planning for the following 7 for a family of 4 who has a stay-at-home parent. What about those who don’t have that? By saying this diet requires no planning, you make it seem as though all who are in any position in life can do this with no issues or barriers because it’s so easy.  3. You don’t have to eat something you don’t want. This is the only statement I’ll say is technically true. 

4. You don’t have the option to “slip”, so don’t even think about it. This diet says should you eat something on the non-approved list, you’ve undone everything you’ve been working towards and your 30 days resets. For a diet that’s all about “food freedom”, this seems a bit restrictive to me. Additionally, having the mindest of “I can’t eat this because my diet says not to” or “I can’t eat that because I’ll have to start over” constitutes you punishing yourself for no other reason than someone said so. That’s not a freedom of choice. That’s someone dictating your choices for you.  So, there you go. There’s my rant. Again, I’m not an expert on food and health, but I do have 6 years of training in human and animal behavior, the scientific method, and skepticism. I’m not telling you how to eat, because I’m unqualified to do so and I have a lot of work to do on my diet, personally, so if I were to even give advice, I’d be a hypocrite (which I am unwilling to do). All I want to do is to point out the utter nonsensical nature of this thing and how it can actually be doing more harm than good. Please, if you’re thinking of starting a diet, consult with your doctor and do your research on the effectiveness, benefits, and risks involved. Go into something as serious as your health as informed as you can be so you don’t end up doing any damage or getting yourself sick. That’s all I really want is for people to be happy and healthy.