GAPS diet

GAPS stands for Gut and Psychology Syndrome, which is discussed in the Gut and Psychology Syndrome book by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. Dr. Natasha created the GAPS protocol, which is a temporary healing diet combined with lifestyle changes, to heal her own son’s autism. This protocol addresses the three underlying factors in a myriad of diseases: leaky gut, gut flora imbalance, and nutrient deficiencies.

In a nutshell, the GAPS Diet consists of:

• Elimination of complex carbohydrates, which feed pathogenic bacteria
• An emphasis on fermented foods and specific probiotic supplements to restore gut flora
• Plenty of nutrient-dense, traditional foods to restore nutrient deficiencies
• A specific series of food-reintroduction
• Lifestyle changes that include various detox and immune-boosting steps

Special Precautions of GAPS diet

• Lower Carb Intake : The GAPS diet contains less carbohydrates compared to the standard American diet by eliminating starchy vegetables, grains and sugar. During the first week, it is possible to experience some side effects due to the lower carb intake, such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue and irritability. If your body was used to using glucose derived from carbohydrate-rich foods for energy, switching to the GAPS diet may require a few days to up to a few weeks for your body to fully adjust and start using fats and ketones more efficiently for fuel.
• Die-Off Symptoms : Die-off symptoms are a common side effect during the first weeks of going on the GAPS diet and result from bad bacteria dying. The symptoms caused by die-off reactions are highly individual and can vary depending on your condition and body, according to Campbell-McBride. Some people may not have die-off symptoms at all, while others can have a worsening of their initial symptoms for a few days or weeks before seeing improvements in their condition.
• The full diet is probably healthy but is onerous. Without testing, It seems very unlikely that it could accomplish all that is claimed.

Health Benefits and uses of GAPS diet are

The GAPS diet, or gut and psychology syndrome diet, was developed by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride to treat not only digestive problems but also autism, depression, dyslexia, schizophrenia and other similar disorders, which are caused by gut flora imbalances according to her theory. The GAPS diet eliminates all grains, starchy vegetables and sugar but promotes bone and meat broth, animal protein and fat and nonstarchy vegetables to heal and seal the gut.