THE GAPS DIET
The GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome)diet was derived from the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) created by Dr. Haas to naturally treat chronic inflammatory conditions in the digestive tract as a result of a damaged gut lining. SCD gained popularity after a mother, Elaine Gottschall, healed her own child of Ulcerative Colitis and became an advocate for SCD with her own book, Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health through Diet. Through years of research and clinical experience, Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride adjusted the protocols to fit the individual healthcare needs of her patients suffering from a variety of intestinal and neurological conditions as a result of an imbalanced bacterial ecosystem within the GI tract. The GAPS Diet focuses on removing foods that are difficult to digest and damaging to gut flora and replacing them with nutrient-dense foods to give the intestinal lining a chance to heal and repair. As more than 90% of all toxins comes from the gut, healing it will drop the level of toxicity in the body and brain dramatically.
THE GAPS DIET
The GAPS diet is divided into two parts: the Introduction Diet and the Full GAPS Diet.
THE INTRODUCTION DIET is divided into six stages. It generally takes someone 3-6 weeks to complete all the introductory stages, however, this varies with each individual. The Introduction Diet is designed for people with severe digestive issues including chronic diarrhea, IBS, Crohn's, gastritis, and Ulcerative Colitis as well as anyone with severe neurological conditions including autism, schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar.
THE FULL GAPS DIET is for those who have finished the Introduction Diet or who feel they are able to skip the Introduction Diet. The majority of foods eaten here should consist of clean meats, fish, eggs, fermented foods, and vegetables. Fruits and baked goods using nut flour should be consumed only in moderation. If suffering from yeast overgrowth, temporarily eliminating fruit, honey and nuts may be beneficial.
SUPPLEMENTATION
Essential supplements to complement the GAPS Nutritional Protocol:
A therapeutic strength probiotic
Essential Fatty Acids
Vitamins A and D
Digestive Enzymes and Betaine HCL with Pepsin
Vitamin and mineral supplements.
DETOXIFICATION AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES
Supporting the body's natural cleansing process is necessary for healing. Light methods of detoxification are recommended to begin with as to not overwhelm the body. Another important aspect is a reduction of the amount of toxins taken in. Keep your house chemical free, avoid new carpet, furniture and paints. Be cautious with anything that is used on, or touches the skin, such as personal care products. The skin will absorb what it comes in contact with.
The GAPS diet is a comprehensive elimination diet to heal the gut, restore digestion and begin the detoxification process. As a GAPS Diet Practitioner I will gladly guide you through the process if you feel the GAPS Diet is right for you.