Every New Year, conversations are filed with New Year’s resolutions. Generally people see the new year as a perfect opportunity to start a habit that will actually be good for their body or mind. It is during this time of year that people with chronic illness tend to get more unsolicited advice. Whether it is yoga or essential oils, you can be certain that this holiday season a relative has found the cure to your chronic illness. 

I decided to actually try a few of the ‘cures’ that have been recommended to me. 

Here’s what I found when I tried the first wellness trend that was recommended: 

It is important to have a balanced diet. There is no dispute that eating well can make you feel better. However, diet trends with lofty claims about curing chronic issues often miss the mark. Whole30 is a type of elimination diet that cuts out dairy, legumes, grains, alcohol, sugar additives, and any processed foods. The claim is that it will improve sleep, energy, mood, chronic pain, immune system and more.

1. Sugar withdrawal is a real thing!!! I generally eat healthy meals, but I do love desserts. About three days into giving up sugar, my energy level, mood, and cravings were all over the place. ALL I WANTED WAS TO EAT A SWEET TREAT! Once I got past the first few days, I felt improved energy and mood. I definitely still eat sugary treats after the experience but I know that when I am having a flair up and my energy is gone, avoiding the sugar until I feel better makes the experience that much easier. 
2. Whole30’s pain/inflammation claims were hit and miss. None of the pains that I have as a result of my condition were improved by the diet. That said, I felt more energetic and better fueled, which made my normal activities more tolerable. The only thing that got better was my period. I felt completely normal the entire time I had my period which was amazing. 
3. No long standing problems were cured. I continue to take the necessary medications and am followed by a care team. If I did not already have a diet and nutrition plan, I think trying Whole30 would be a decent place to start. The Whole 30 is not about starving oneself, losing weight quickly, cutting out essential nutrients (if you do not have allergies to the food groups that are allowed), or developing an unhealthy relationship with food.
4. Some of my personal nutrition goals and dietary restrictions are not Whole30 friendly, but that doesn’t mean they are unhealthy. Anyone with a chronic illness should have conversations with their physician about weight goals, nutrition goals, and dietary restrictions that will improve their quality of life. Infact, these types of lifestyle changes are sometimes the only treatment that can be offered for some chronic illnesses! The changes are different for every patient because not one person has the same health experience. This is why nonchalantly recommending that a chronically ill person try a diet that worked for a friend’s aunt’s brother-in-law’s daughter’s boyfriend’s cousin is a frustrating generalization of the challenges that a chronically ill individual faces. So, long story short, while I love the concept of Whole30, it is important to work with your care team to modify any diet plan to fit your personal needs.

In general, I enjoyed my Whole30 experience. It did not fix my chronic illness, but it did make me feel more energetic. If you are interested in trying Whole30, check out their website here, and comment below on your experience!