Professional Endorsements

Praise for the Whole30® program from a variety of medical professionals and experts in their field.

Ellen Vora, MD

Holistic Psychiatrist and author of The Anatomy of Anxiety

As a psychiatrist, I wholeheartedly recommend the Whole30 program, and I use it frequently as a tool in my practice. There is substantial medical research demonstrating that inflammation and micronutrient deficiencies can play a role in mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, and bipolar disorder, and the Whole30 supports people in correcting both of these states of imbalance. In my clinical experience, the Whole30 program is not only therapeutic but also diagnostic. It helps my patients identify which foods seem to be their most potent dietary sensitivities. I’ve prescribed the program to hundreds of patients over more than 10 years in practice, and many have experienced improved health markers and mood. I will continue to use Whole30 in my practice, and I endorse it as an excellent foundation for habit change for anyone evaluating whether food and nutrition can help improve their wellbeing.

Catherine Moring, PhD, RDN, LD, BC-ADM, CDCES, MCHES

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

We know that Whole30 has real cultural resonance, and a basic internet search will show that participants report significant changes in their lives. As a medical professional, quantitative data to support those qualitative results is very important to me. I’m Board-certified in advanced diabetes management, and I’m also the founder and executive director of a hospital and community wellness center. Around 2015, I began to wonder if my patients’ lab results would reflect what I already observed in them—that Whole30 was helping them reclaim their optimal health and experience both physical and emotional benefits. And, you know what? They did. In a preliminary (unpublished) 2018 study of 62 participants, our data showed statistically significant reductions in LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, weight, and waist circumference. Participants’ mean overall LDL cholesterol decreased by 6.33 mg/DL in just 30 days, along with a decrease in triglycerides of 24.57 mg/DL. The vast majority of patients in the study (70%) experienced lower blood sugar, and an estimated 2/3 had lower blood pressure. I believe too many of us are suffering unnecessarily and experiencing an array of negative emotional and physical health outcomes, and I also believe that Whole30 is a powerful tool for creating long-lasting change and multidimensional wellness. I enthusiastically endorse it and will continue to recommend it to and use with my patients. It truly is one of my favorite and go-to tools in my practitioner toolbox.

Will Cole, DC, DNM, IFMCP

Functional Medicine Expert and New York Times bestselling author of Intuitive Fasting

As the founder of one of the first functional medicine telehealth centers and a specialist in the underlying factors of chronic disease, I approach patient care with the idea that “food is first.” My patients come to me with autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, and digestive disorders, and though my treatment plans are always customized for the patient’s individual needs, I’ve come to rely on the Whole30 elimination protocol as a first-line option for many of them. I’ve been recommending the Whole30 since 2018, because their elimination and reintroduction protocol provides deeply personal data and gives me valuable insights about how commonly-inflammatory foods may affect each patient. Whole30 is one of the ways I help my patients learn to love food that loves them back, and I endorse it wholeheartedly after observing the Whole30 help them discover invaluable self-knowledge that empowers them–and me, as a physician–to identify their most functional, healthy lifestyle.

Steph Greunke, MS, RD, PMH-C

Founder and CEO, Postpartum Reset & Co-host, “Doctor Mom” Podcast

I’ve been using the Whole30 in my clinical practice for over a decade to support patients with digestive concerns, skin irritations, headaches, low mood, and fatigue. In my experience, there’s a probable link between what my clients are consuming in their diet and the severity of their symptoms. The Whole30 is a simple, effective, and accessible protocol to help people connect their food choices to negative health symptoms and trouble with energy, sleep, and mood. The Whole30 is especially helpful when the protocol they’ve been given from their other providers doesn’t seem to be resolving the issue. I’ve witnessed hundreds of clients’ success on the Whole30 program.

Vickie Bhatia, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Whole30 Certified Coach

As a clinical psychologist, I have used the Whole30 with clients who want to investigate the link between what they eat and their mental health. Many clients experience reduced anxiety, improved mood, greater energy, less brain fog, and reduced inflammation and pain while on the Whole30 and use the reintroduction phase to identify potential food sensitivities. In addition, during the Whole30, many clients recognize that they may be using food as their primary emotional coping strategy. We can then build and strengthen alternative skills, such as coping strategies, boundary setting, identifying their own needs, and living a life aligned with their values. Although the Whole30 may not be right for everyone (for example, individuals with a history of disordered eating), it has helped my clients make behavior changes and evaluate how nutrition can impact their physical and mental wellbeing.

Luc Readinger, MD

Luc Readinger, MD

VMH Family Practice and Complementary Medicine

I have done the Whole30 and prescribe it to my patients. In my clinical practice, I have had patients lose weight, lower the amount of insulin they need to take by up to 80%, lower their hemoglobin A1c by three full points in three months, improve or completely resolve symptoms of brain fog, fatigue, and chronic pain. More importantly, patients feel better when they eat this way.

Michele Blackwell, MD

Michele Blackwell, MD, FACOG

I have personally experienced the benefits of the Whole30 program, and I wholeheartedly recommend the Whole30 plan to my patients to optimize a woman’s health during pregnancy and lactation. The nutrient-dense foods recommended provide ample vitamins and minerals without the need for the standard prenatal supplement. Eating according to the Whole30 meal plan will also help regulate blood sugars, alleviating hypoglycemic spells common in pregnancy. In addition, the Whole30 will reduce the likelihood of gestational diabetes, excess pregnancy weight gain, and possibly macrosomia (large babies) and polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid).

Michael Hasz, MD

Michael Hasz, MD

While it’s obviously important to have excellent food quality, you also have to be in the right neighborhood with macronutrients. I tore the Whole30 meal planning template apart, put it back together, and did all the math. When all was said and done, I realized you had a really well organized plan for people.  You put thought into your recommendations and your meal planning template… and you got it right.

Duncan Macdonald, LAc.

Duncan Macdonald, LAc.

I use the Whole30 protocol in conjunction with acupuncture in a wide range of patients, from those looking for relief from a specific pain complaint to those suffering from more amorphous diagnosis (chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, insomnia, etc.).  I’ve had over 30 patients complete the Whole30 as part of their treatment plan. I have had two rheumatologists and a neurologist contact me to find out what kind of magic I am performing on their patients! I’ve also seen extremely good results using the Whole30 protocol in post-surgery patients who are not yet ready for active rehab. It gives them a tool to hasten their recovery and also manage post-surgical inflammation in a way drugs simply cannot.

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Melissa Urban

Co-Founder / CEO

Melissa Urban is a 7x New York Times bestselling author (including the # bestselling The Whole30) who specializes in helping people establish healthy boundaries and successfully navigate habit change. She has been featured by the New York Times, People, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Today Show, and Good Morning America, and is a prominent keynote speaker on boundaries, building community, health trends, and entrepreneurship. She lives in Salt Lake City, UT with her husband, son, and a poodle named Henry.