Our bodies are constantly bombarded with toxins from the products we use, to the air we breathe, to the water we drink. The toxins we are exposed to, lead to inflammation which turns into disease. It is also important to note that the root cause of disease begins in the colon and gut. One way we can address this issue is by making better food choices.
The Whole 30 Challenge is a thirty-day challenge designed to remove highly inflammatory foods from your diet for a thirty-day period. The goal is to not only remove these foods but make detailed notes of changes in the body during the challenge. Weight is only one tool used to measure health. There are several other things to consider. For example: How are you sleeping? How are your energy levels? Do you have brain fog? How do you feel after you energized or tired? How is the health of your skin? Are you having regular bowel movements?
Before you begin, I encourage you to write down current health issues that you are experiencing and take note of how these symptoms change over the next thirty days. We are all different, and foods impact us in different ways. There may be some foods on this list that may still cause an inflammatory response in your body. If there are some symptoms that are not improving, please consider that you may have unknown food allergies and intolerances. For example, some people have a sensitivity to nightshade plants [tomatoes, potatoes, etc.] You could consider removing those suspected foods as well.
DISCLAIMER: The Whole 30 is a list of foods permissible for all nations. We are not encouraging or suggesting the consumption of unclean foods. There are plenty of other nutritious foods to choose from.
Planning is going to be the key to success!
You must plan your meals to make sure you don’t accidentally eat something that is not on this list. Meal prepping will also be helpful. When you are eating whole foods, you will be in the kitchen prepping and cooking more. A slow cooker (crockpot) will be very helpful during this challenge. Meal suggestions below:
Breakfast: Smoothies, Egg Frittata (no cheese), Fruit Salad
Lunch: Salads, Homemade soup, Taco Salad (without the taco/nachos), baked potato with salsa and a side salad
Dinner: Vegetable Soup, Roasted Veggies, Spiraled Zucchini with vegan or turkey tomato sauce
Snacks: Fresh fruits, Fresh Veggies, and Hummus, boiled eggs
It is very important to remember to be mindful when ending the Whole 30 Challenge. It is not wise to resume your normal diet. For best results and a better understanding of your body, slowly reintroduce one food per day. Take note of how the food makes you feel when you eat it. For example, day one after the challenge you add bread back into your diet. How did it make you feel? How did you digest it? How was your energy level? If you are not mindful of reintroducing foods, then you will not get the full picture of how high inflammatory foods impact your body.
I hope this challenge will not only give you some insight into how your body responds to food. I also hope that it will be a great test of the flesh. Fasting and restricting ourselves is a very powerful spiritual experience. Embrace the experience in totality.
Remember, Yahusha went 40 days with NO FOOD. We are striving to be more like Him each and every day. I believe that those that commit themselves will be successful! You will gain the insight you need to take better care of your temple. Shalom!
If you are a member of the BANAH – Women of Rebirth website and would like to participate in the Whole 30 challenge with us please click this link to register.
If you are not a member of the BANAH – Women of Rebirth website, please post your comments below.