“GAPS”
GAPS is an acronym for gut and psychology syndrome, a diagnostic term originally coined by patients who were experiencing the wide-reaching effects of leaky gut.
Advocates of this belief propose that a wide range of issues -physical, cognitive, and behavioural- stem from an imbalance of intestinal bacteria. For a list of some of the issues reportedly helped by programs intended to resolve symptoms at the level of root cause, click here.
A treatment program for this syndrome, based on the specific carbohydrate diet, was developed by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. While distinct and separate from the work of Dr Natasha, the GAPS Guide book and website actively promote and offer support in regards to the teachings of Dr. Natasha, as well as tips gleaned from personal experience and those of hundreds of others.
Author: Baden Lashkov
The author of this website is Ms Baden (“bay-den”) Lashkov, a mom who found the program to have profound effects on the well-being of her son and herself, and who was thus inspired to support others by developing the GAPS Guide book and blog. Baden is not a health practitioner.
Website/Blog
Posts offer: reflections on my journey; tips for making your journey easier; responses to themes arising in GAPS conversations or to comments posted to the site.
Pages offer: a list of updates/corrections to the GAPS Guide book, tips for using the website most effectively; links to health practitioners familiar with GAPS; and so on.
Contact/Comments/Questions
Questions and comments regarding any post, content of the GAPS Guide book, or your personal journey are welcome via the comments field following any post or on any webpage. Comments and questions about content of this site, contents of the GAPS Guide book, and a reader’s personal journey are received only through this website. I regret that I cannot receive or respond to comments via email, phone, or Facebook; responses are provided only through this website.
I am not currently in a position to provide consultations; on the Support for You page, I do link to several lists of health practitioners familiar with GAPS and able to provide consultations.
All comments are moderated; please allow 1-7 days for your comment to be published. Comments are responded to as my time within any given day or week permits. If ever you need more or immediate support, please be sure to see this post: http://gapsguide.com/2010/06/10/questions/
In most cases, your comment or question will be published, so please be mindful of your own privacy -and that of others- within the comment’s content. Feel free to use pseudonyms and to change any information that might identify you or your loved ones. If you do not wish your comment to be published, please indicate this within your comment and this will be honoured. Please note that in this case, I will be unable to respond to it. Exceptions – There are occasions where a post is responded to in other ways. I may choose to refer to, and answer, a comment within a subsequent blog post, for example.
Because I believe most dialogue is beneficial, I generally publish even those posts that challenge my content, approaches, or personal choices, so long as these are presented reasonably respectfully. I publish only comments that reflect kindness and respect when referring to me, other individuals or groups of people, other authors, other approaches, practitioners, blog readers, or previous commenters. (Happily, the vast majority of posts received do indeed honour these basics!)
In rare cases, I will edit a comment to: remove information identifying you, your children, or another person; remove names of other people; remove possible misquotes attributed to people named; merge two posts one person has submitted within a short period; correct an obvious typo.
Copying and Translating
Occasionally, I receive requests to dialogue about the possibility of reproducing or translating website content or producing a version of the GAPS Guide book in another language. I welcome such requests.
Please note that developing a translated version of the book is quite an involved and expensive (for me) process; as such, it requires that a person or company have my express, contracted permission before beginning the process.
Except in the form of brief excerpts for the purpose of reviewing or discussing content, under no circumstances may any GAPS Guide material be translated, reproduced, or redistributed without permission.
Keeping Up-To-Date
At the time that you are posting a comment, there will be an option to “follow this topic’. Checkmarking this option will have notification of any follow-up comments delivered directly to your email address. If you choose not to checkmark this option, simply bookmark the page on which you added a comment and refresh it occasionally to check for responses.
Also, on this site’s main page, right above its index, is a clickable option to subscribe to the website (free!) by email. This will send you notification every time new content is added.
Welcome!
Hi, … does AD stand for auto immune disease ? What does HD stand for ? I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and am doing GAPS to heal myself and thereby stay off the horrible drugs. Thanks…
Hi Leonie,
Thanks so much for leaving a comment!
In the context of this page, AD(H)D refers to Attention Deficit (with or without Hyperactive) Disorder. Your post lets me know that I should actually be typing this out in full –so I will do so –as well as be more conscious of this throughout the blog.
Cheers,
Baden
Do you have some ADHD success stories to share? I need something to hope for. cat
I am preparing to start the GAPS intro diet with my husband and four kids (ages 2-11) it has been so nerve wracking trying to get everything ready. We have been wheat free for 10 years now, which helps some. This morning I found the intro diet after starting the GAPS diet yesterday! So now I feel like I’m back to the drawing board. I found your blog and have been reading thru various bits and pieces. Just wanted to let you know how inspiring it has been! I’m bookmarking it and will subscribe… Thanks for sharing! I was especially pleased to see the menu/recipe ideas.
)
Hi Kimberly,
Actually, I think that’s perfect! Personally, I recommend people transition to full GAPS, then do intro. This can make the intro die-off more manageable, not to mention the whole change calmer. This approach is covered in the guide ‘Beginning GAPS Gently’ which is available on the ‘Printables’ page of this blog.
I’m so happy you like the blog! Every time I get positive feedback, my heart fills with joy! It’s what energizes me to keep it up. So thank you!
Baden
I have had success with ADHD by removing foods that contain salycilates. Myself and my seven year old son follow SCD successfully (although, now I realise that we were really following GAPS – as I have issue with honey, casein etc and beleive it has no place in the intro diet).
However, he did not start to improve until I limited the salycilate content of his diet. Salycilates are present in a huge number of fruits and vegetables and also almonds – consumed widely on the SCD. By chosing the fruits and vegetables that are low in salycilates my son’s central nervous system has calmed down and his nervous energy dissipated. He’s like a different person!
Now he is calmer I find he can cope with some almond flour goods and many of the medium salycilate concentration vegetables that would have hyped him up before.
We also supplement with probiotics, homeopathic remedies and took caprylic acid initially to overcome yeast.
Thanks for this site, I’ll be reading it regularly. x x x
Naomi: Thanks so much for your note.
Your approach to salicylates is very much what NCM recommends for those who react to them! ie. ‘Low and slow’, starting with tiny amounts and building up slowly. She sees them as very powerful foods –healers– and notes that some people have to treat them like one might yogurt, kefir, yeast-killers, etc.
Awesome that you found your ‘path within GAPS’ that works. It’s wonderful to hear about the success you and your son have experienced!
What about Molasses and Maple Syrup?
I am preparing to start GAPS in June with my family. My daughter has Aspergers. Are we allowed molasses and maple syrup?
Sorry if I’ve missed this somewhere else?
many thanks.
Hi Hannah,
Molasses and maple syrup are not permitted on SCD/GAPS. Honey and fruit are the permitted sweeteners.
More discussion on the allowable foods, balancing them in cases of severe candida, etc, is offered in the GAPS Guide book.
Sincerely,
Baden
Hey Baden,
I like what you have done with the place, very classy website.
Keep up the good work!
Your Friend,
James
Thanks, James
Hi,
I have a 5 year old son that has been diagnosed with Leaky Gut. I am 35 and have been battling Candida overgrowth for a while and am assuming I have leaky gut as well.
Does anyone have ANY help at all on how to **gently** ease into the diet for a 5 year old – he is a very sensitive guy and I can’t imagine inflicting die off symptoms. I went through a 7 month Candid cleanse last year and it was really hard for the first month or 2…
He is used to eating almond butter & jelly sandwiches (all organic food of course), pasta, breads, crackers, dairy…. Most of which he was allergic to on the allergy test… (we have been feeding the yeast for 5 1/2 years basically)
?????help???????
thanks so much in advance
~Bridget
Hi Bridget,
Yes, the GAPS Guide book offers an entire step-by-step chapter on easing into the program.
Sincerely,
Baden
Hi Mindy,
Thank you for letting me know. I checked the link and, yes, it was linking to NCM’s homepage. The links re: pregnancy and babies were reachable from that page’s right hand navigation. However, to make it easier for people, I have now set up two direct links. Thank you for helping me improve the site!
Sincerely,
Baden
Hi,
I got a question:
I am doing detox with chlorella and i know chlorella is not allowed in this diet.
But what about fermented chlorella?
thanks in advance
Hortenzia
Hi Hortenzia,
I don’t know.
However, sea nutrients are permitted on GAPS once sufficient gut healing has taken place. So, just leave it out through intro and for awhile beyond, then test it in your body. NCM recommends a product call SeaGreens, which you can buy through gapsdiet.com (nutrivene.com if in a country other than US or Canada).
Best,
Baden
Hi Baden,
It is two years ago that I first heard about GAPS. I had already been struggling six years with candida and parasites, with little results. But I thought: no potatoes and no bread – that is impossible to do in this country. I won’t even try. But meanwhile I started eating low carb and that helped some but not enough. This fall I found your blog and all the practical advice made me see that it is quite do-able after all. So I started intro right after Christmas. I am looking forward to all the good things of healing. Thank you so much!
Marijke
Dear Marijke,
Thank you so much for your note. It is always great to hear a person is finding the information useful and encouraging!
I wish you all the best in your healing!
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden,
Some awesome results to share: my teens were adopted in ’93 from Siberia. They are both on the autistic spectrum and suffer various maladies. My son has psoriasis and since the age of 18 months has always had diarrhea-ish stools with lots of undigested food too. Our whole family is going through the Intro. and for the first 3 days his bowels didn’t move at all (they were in shock I imagine), but on day 4: normal stool. As he is now 18 years old, I consider this a profound change. A nutrient might actually make its way into his body!
Thank you, Lisa
I’ve failed quite remarkably (big time stinky) in my first attempt to make fermented fish (my bad – I couldn’t find anything to weight the fish down and the part sticking out spoiled of course and ruined the rest.) I’ll use a big pot next time with a plate – as instructed. My question is: when I remove the meat from the bones, do I put it back in the whey-brine liquid to keep it (as with the sauerkraut) or take it out and store it seperately? The fermentation stops doesn’t it once it gets refrigerated? Also, since we’ve been getting our probiotics from the sauerkraut juice, can we move on into stage 3 and come back to the fish when the next batch is ready? We all are doing pretty well, and the food is good, but everyone’s looking forward to those nut-butter pancakes and scrambled eggs
Hi Lisa,
Great results indeed! Thank you for sharing this.
I’m not certain, but personally I would store the fish in the brine, as we do our fermented vegetables, etc. You could post your question to the support list and receive more opinions.
Yes, do move ahead to Stage 3, incorporating the fish when the next batch is ready.
All my best,
Baden
Hi!
I didn´t know there was a support group like this one. I am from Sweden and I have not found anyone here who knows about the gap diet. I have felt so alone for so long and I can´t stop crying right now.
The gap diet is so overwhelming to me, because it is all in english and I don´t even like to cook. I have been ill for almost 12 years in something I call chronic fatighue, but I have become so much better since I started juicing carrots and started taking 3 times more probiotics than I was taking. I have not been able to start the introduction diet, because there hasn´t been enough time. My 2 sons (1 1/2 and 3) have gaps problem and their stool is mostly loose with undigested food in it. My sons have always eaten WAPF and we are very strict with food. We have never given them cakes, candy, crackers and other unhealthy stuff. They manage but they don´t get well. You see, in Sweden they get the food that is served in the kindergarden and we are not allowed to bring food to the kindergarden unless they have a doctor´s note, which we can´t get, since there is no one who belives in gaps or us. This means that I have to have them at home for 2 years, but I don´t have the strengt to do it since I´m not well. So, I have to heal myself first and I haven´t even really gotten started. The guilt is overwelming me.
I started 6 months ago doing some of the specifics of a gapsdiet as the juicing and probiotics in high doses and I can remember and concentrate and write again, so I know this is the right way to get healthy as you all know it. I am 38 years old and I hope I can get well.
I am already able to eat at least 5 tablespoons of fermented vegetables twice a day, I take 12 pills of bio-kult-probiotics a day, I drink many glasses of fermented milkprodukts called “filmjölk” a day, I have one raw egg yolk a day, I take cod liver oil and I don´t eat anything that is not allowed on a gaps diet, but I have not gone through the introduction diet. I will start an anti-candida medicine soon. Can I do that without going through the introduction diet?
I know I have written too much and probably in the wrong place. Can a 38 year old get well and be able to heal her sons at home. Will I be able to cope the candida medicine? Help me!
Dearest Mindy,
Big hugs to you in Sweden!
You are thinking well – In your case, it might well be wisest to focus on your own healing first, yes.
I suggest joining our online support list http://gapsguide.com/about/support/
and
(a) creating one post in which the subject line is “Sweden”, and in the post asking if there are other residents of Sweden on the list. I know several copies of GAPS Guide have gone to Sweden, so there’s a decent chance there are others on the list, and
(b) create another post in which you paste your above comment in and wait for responses from others.
I would definitely do the intro -it’s an amazing yeast balancer. When you do it, though, you will need to eliminate all the supplements and most of the probiotics first and build back up.
Do you have GAPS Guide? That book walks people through the process.
If you choose to skip intro and take an anti-candida supplement, make sure you start with a very, very tiny dose to test your tolerance.
Yes, it is absolutely possible for a 38 year old woman to become very healthy through GAPS. (I started it at 36, subsequently healing my then 3 year old and I.)
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden,
We are just about to start the GAPS diet. Our son is 5 1/2 and on the Autistic spectrum. We have been working on diet for two 1/2 years and have finally come to a place where we can move to the GAPS diet. I was so overwhelmed emotionally and while we have taken a holistic & nurturing approach the path has not always been clear. Recently we started the SON RISE program and it opened up all kinds of doors for us…the fog has lifted and I am reborn…your book helped so much and now that I have finished it (tonight in fact) I can take on McBride’s book with out a problem.
My Question…I feel terrible about this, but we have been giving our son way…way too many probiotics, three capsules a day when he should have had only one….I thought I was doing a good thing…we had old information but never questioned or reevaluated. How should we approach this? Drop to a starter portion of the probiotics and work up to his ideal level outlined in GAPS? Please advise and again thanks for all this from an overwhelmed but hopeful parent….Tim
Hi Tim,
I’m so glad you’re seeing some shifts for your dear son!
I don’t think there’s any need to feel terrible about the probiotics dosing. Likely (and depending on diet), at the beginning they would have caused intense die-off but then that would have subsided. In your situation, I would slowly decrease the amount and watch for changes, like constipation, as you go. When a change occurs, stay at one level up from that for another few weeks, then decrease again. And so on.
All of this said, if you’re going to take your son through the GAPS intro, you’re going to want to decrease the probiotics to nothing or almost nothing anyway, start intro, reintroduce the probiotics at 1/10th cap BK and slowly increase again.
Hope this helps.
All my best,
Baden
Thank you so much for your reply!!!!
I have my two sons at home from Kindergarden today, because they got impetigo. I will put coconut oil on and hope it will go away soon.
I found the support group and I will see if I can figure out how it works. Computers are hard for me, because I have not used one since I got sick 12 years ago and I just got started again this summer. There is a lot of catching up to do and I am always tired and that doesn´t help. I chose to have my children even if I wasn´t well and I wouldn´t have it any other way. I can´t imagen living without my 3 children.
I just found out that there is a GAPS Guide and I will order it tonight.
How long did it take you to get well? How ill were you?
Kind Regards,
Mindy
Hi Mindy,
In GAPS Guide, you will read the big long story of just how sick I was and the progress of my health. It was only a few weeks before big magic happened
Best,
Baden
Thanks Baden…I appreciate you taking the time to do this! Tim
Hello,
We started the GAPS intro Diet today! Yea! We are all doing it but the reason of course we are here is out 5 year old is on the spectrum. He has not eaten anything yet today (@6pm) but he also is not drinking anything either. His drink before was apple cider and water (Organic, UV light pasteurized, farmed and pressed locally, no added sugar. He has never drunk water plain but now he had to…we worry about dehydration and he won’t touch the broth yet. He’s had a few ice chips but that’s it. He’s lethargic after a day of not eating and drinking. We are going to dropper liquids (slowly) into his mouth when he falls asleep but that won’t get him much. Any thoughts or experience here…anything would be appreciated. Thanks. Tim
Hi Tim,
Congrats on getting started! It’s normal and fine if folks (even kids) won’t eat the first 2-3 days and feel even extremely lethargic, but he *must* stay hydrated, which involves more than water, and he must move his bowels, which may require a gentle enema. The die-off relief baths can also help a lot. Please see http://gapsguide.com/2009/10/01/surviving-die-off/
Offer him a drink with a straw – Lots of kids go for that. Otherwise, you can squeeze a bit of fresh fruit into his salted water if that’s what it takes for him to drink it. But most kids do go through this and all of them come out the other side doing just great! I hope you’ll sign up for the support list, so you will hear from lots of families who’ve been there!
Best,
Baden
Baden…thanks for the quick response. After I wrote you we gave him his Apple cider drink and he perked up right away. Today he drank though we could see a negative reaction to the natural sugars in the fruit. But he was getting what he needed. He did not eat all day but since my wife and I are doing the intro diet along with him we modeled eating the food for him. Tonight my wife boiled some meatballs in bone and meat broth with some vegetables (they were great after eating soup for two days) We poured some broth on a plate and put some salt on it and a meat ball. Griff started slowly but was soon eating the broth. He was using his hand as a spoon and was soon a greasy mess but he ate broth for an hour that way and eventually put the hamburger in his mouth and swallowed some of it…maybe two meat balls…hard to tell with so much on the floor…but he ate! GAPS INTRO FOOD! WOW! We will slowly decrease the apple cider mix with water until its just water then back track on the intro diet to clear that out. Thanks so much for all that you have done and are doing. I joined the yahoo group but was over whelmed with all the e-mails…will try again….thanks….Tim
Wonderful! It always gives me happy goosebumps and a great urge to clap with glee when I hear of one more kid taking to the nourishing food! Well done, Tim and family!! Thanks for letting me know!
By the way, ACV (diluted in water) is fine during intro. It’s fermented, a good probiotic source, and a lovely digestive aid.
Yes, the volume of emails on the support group is definitely overwhelming! You can set it to digest, or view only on the web, tracking just for answers to your post, etc.
All my best,
Baden
Hello, Baden,
This will be my last question for I already feel like I’m over stepping my bounds but we are in a transition with this diet and not sure who to ask. We will be setting up some consultations with Dr McBride but this all happened so quick it seems. We are just starting day 6 of the diet. Griff (almost 6 years old and 4 ft tall) started eating broth and chewing on and swallowing some boiled ground beef on at the end of day two. He is drinking his apple cider and water (not AP vinegar but cider-UV light pasteurized, organic, no added sugar, and locally grown). He is drinking about 2- 2 1/2 cups of bone/meat broth a day with fat and maybe eating 2 possibly 3 small meatballs but hard to tell since most ends up on the floor. He still has NOT pooped for 6 days. He has had from poops for several months and may go one or two days with out pooping but usually pretty regular. He is still a little lethargic at times during the day but its hard to tell since he has had so much energy for years I don’t know what “normal” is. I know his energy is low but I’m doing the gaps diet with him and my energy is low also but I feel ok…but I’m eating more. He has NOT been straining to poop and his belly is soft. We bought an enema kit and will “attempt” tonight give him his first enema when he’s tired to flush things out. Today I have given him his first probiotic in 6 days since he had been taking them prior and it seems as if that might make him go as well. He is still eating and drinking but just not huge amounts and he is still active just not what he used to be (he reads, moves around the house to engage is things, goes out side, and is verbal to his usual limited extent). The good news is his eczema disappeared in two days and he is doing much better in many ways; i.e. his verbal responses are coming quicker, sleeping better and not clinging to my wife in his sleep
My question(s) are
Should we worry about the amount of food he’s eating and that it’s still limited?
Since he was on a probiotic then we stopped could that cause the constipation?
Should we feed him more fiber (sweet vegetables: beets carrots, and squash) since we have been avoiding them due to his history of yeast over growth. Something you mention in your book in regards to the intro diet?
Thanks Baden, again we appreciate your guidance on this…we know your not a doctor but just looking for some feedback and will not trespass on your time further.
Sincerely,
Tim….
Hi Tim,
You have good timing! I’m about to go offline for over a week. But you can always get answers to all of these kinds of questions and more through GAPS Guide and the support list…There are 1700 people on there, mostly parents, with tonnes of collective experience in the program, including in administering enemas.
Absolutely do NOT worry about the amount of food he is eating at this point. It’s all fine. Shortly, he will likely enter a period of being ravenous (for up to about six weeks) and then you will be wondering if his intake is too much! (It’s not.)
Constipation in early GAPS is very common. It’s a result of die-off, regardless of the details of what we’re doing. Adding probiotics helps some people start moving the bowels (others find it even more constipating).
Whatever you do, start the probiotics at a *tiny* dose. If using BioKult, that would be 1/10th capsule per day at most to begin with.
In the meantime, yes, enemas are the way to go. If he is not pooping, the die-off toxins are simply swirling around in his system. That will make one lethargic, low appetite, etc. Must move those out! And then he will perk up (and get hungry).
Do not rely on fiber (including fibrous veggies) to move the bowels. Rely on good digestion and probiotics, using enemas in the meantime.
All my best,
Baden
Hi, I just started the gaps intro because of food allergies/intolerances and I am doing great, however I am confused as to when to introduce yogurt and kefir? I was drinking lots of kefir prior to beginning gaps.
Thanks
Hi Suzi,
See: http://gapsguide.com/2009/02/21/introducing-dairy/
Best,
Baden
Baden,
I am an alternative healer and have 15 yr old patient with type I diabetes. I was wondering if you know of anyone having success reversing type I diabetes on the GAPS diet. From his history there doesn’t seem to be any indication of digestive problems/gut dysbiosis, only an emotional trauma a few months before onset (8 yrs of age).
Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mark
Hi Mark,
I know that a high good fats/low carb diet (which can be GAPS if you remove fruit and sweet veggies) is perfect for diabetes because the blood sugar remains stable and doesn’t have to regulate itself all the time.
So I think if anything would reverse it or at least improve it, it would be a high fat GAPS diet.
Natalia
To Mark:
Hello! I suspect that type 1 diabetes begins in the gut indeed. I know of some children who have been able to *almost cure their T1D by taking all cow’s milk dairy, grains, and anything else they are allergic to out of their diets. You can find their story at http://www.livewithouttype1.com. If removing allergic foods can promote a reversal or remission, then healing and sealing the gut should also accomplish this task, and far better than just removing the offending foods.
(*I say “almost” because the kids not only have normal blood sugars, but the antibodies to beta cells are also dropping steadily over the course of their diets, but not completely gone. They also can’t tolerate those foods even after many months on the diet.)
There are two people I know of who are interested in trying GAPS to heal T1D. I am one of them. I would love to talk to you about this possibility. There is also another mother on the
GAPShelp yahoo group who is trying this with her daughter. If you are interested in trying it, please contact me at wifeymum at yahoo dot com. wifeymum@yahoo.com I’d love to be part of a larger group. I plan on starting in May.
I would immediately think GAPS would work, but my only concern is the length of time between diagnosis and dietary changes. That is something I am wrestling with since my own daughter has been diabetic and on insulin for nearly two years. She is about to turn 8. I am hoping gymnema sylvestre might be a help in this matter, though. I don’t know.
I hope this helps!!! I’d love to hear from you if your patient does decide to try it out!
I’m in the midst taking a patented formula which is supposed to take care of celiac disease altogether and get rid of the need for a gluten free diet (click on my name to visit my review site). I know that celiac and type 1 diabetes are related to each other genetically so while I’m not T1D you might be interested in seeing how I go with my gluten intolerance. Maybe gluten relief would reduce or arrest the rest of diabetic autoimmunity.
Dear GFJ,
Thank you for sharing with us your experiment. Although it’s not “GAPSy”, I have approved your post because your site looks very legitimate, and I believe others are, like me, interested in the effects of all sorts of approaches. I appreciate your sharing so diligently the experiment, the effects, and the results.
All my best,
Baden
Hey Natalia and Lorrie,
Thanks for the response. There’s a good article on this website http://www.primalbody-primalmind.com/blog/ about a girl from Michigan who completely has her T1D under control using a quality high fat, moderate protein (low/no carb) diet. I’ve picked up the book “Primal Body, Primal Mind…” but haven’t had a chance to read it yet. Comes recommended by the Weston Price foundation. I would absolutely love my patient to adopt these dietary changes, as I’m sure they would be very beneficial, however he is not too thrilled about the prospect.
Lorrie, I’ll shoot you an email…
Mark
Has there been any success using the GAPS protocol to treat Lou Gehrig’s disease, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)?
Thanks.
Hi Michael,
Unfortunately, I really don’t know one way or the other the answer to your question. I will forward this question at some point to Dr Natasha and if I receive a definitive answer, will post it here. (This question was also asked at the WAPF 2009 conference.)
All my best,
Baden
Thanks for the reply. I look forward to hearing from you about the ALS Lou Gehrig’s disease GAPS connection.
People with hypothyroidism are advised to avoid eating brassicas (cabbage & it’s relatives) since it can interfere with thyroid hormone production. I’m on GAPS, and was concerned about fermented kraut I’ve been eating. I searched your site for an answer to the question: Is it Safe for People with Hyperthyroidism to Eat Cabbage?
Googling, I found this indirect answer at Net Wellness Consumer Health Information – Complementary Medicine.
I don’t know how solid the info. is…but in case other low thyroid readers are uncertain, it’s one opinion.
Posted 01/13/2005
Question:
Is it true that it is not recommended to eat cabbage for people diagnosed with hyperthyroidism?
Answer:
Raw cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, turnips, collard and mustard greens, and rutabagas) are considered goitrigens. They can actually suppress the function of the thyroid. These would be OK to eat in a hyperthyroid state, but not hypothyroid. Fermenting (as in sauerkraut) and cooking them eliminates this problem. These vegetables are so important in supplying the chemicals which help prevent cancer, I strongly recommend eating them as part of a regular diet.
For more information:
Go to the Complementary Medicine health topic, where you can:
* Read articles on this topic
Dear Baden, I have struggled with constipation for as long as I can remember. I never did the intro Gaps diet but have eaten according to Weston Price principles for a number of years. I started taking Bio-kult, worked up to 8 a day ( system worked great! couldn’t believe it!) and then tried to back off, hoping that fermented foods would do the job. But constipation returned. I think I read on one of your posts that you have the same problem when you go off Bio-kult. It is very expensive- I don’t think I can afford to take so much. Any recommendations? Thanks, Trish
Hi Tricia,
I believe I did have the experience of constipation after reducing BK very quickly, yes, but that issue was very temporary and never returned. I continue to take no BK and only fermented foods.
The GAPS-presented option for eventually weaning off BK assumes one does the healing process of GAPS and intro.
I recommend
1. Continuing your full dose of BK
2. Doing GAPS (very different effect than WAPF), including GAPS intro
3. Slowly but surely increasing your fermented foods to lots
4. Then very reducing slowly your BK
All my best,
Baden
hi,
i have just started the gaps intro for my 3 year old. we are 3 days into it now, and she has not passed any stools. at the moment we are just eating broth and veg soup, stage 1. do i still need to progress though the stages of introducing new food, or wait and see what her first stool is like before progressing?
what is the maximum length of time we can stay on stage one, and the maximum lenght of time we can stay on the intro diet before moving to the full gaps?
Hi Lyony,
A few things:
1. Broth + veggie soup is not Stage 1. Broth + meat (+ veggies, if tolerated) is Stage 1. Perhaps that’s what you meant anyway, but I needed to be sure you know the meat is essential.
2. It is essential that a person have a bowel movement at least once every 36 hours, preferably 1-3 times per 24. One will not heal -and will feel unnecessarily yucky- while retaining the toxins. Please see the GAPS Guide book or the support list for enema instructions.
3. Unless one has bleeding, cramping or true diarrhea, move on to Stage 2 after 1-3 days, regardless of stool type.
4. Once one has reached Stage 4 + raw veggies, there is no maximum time for staying on intro. Stage 4 + raw veggies is sufficiently nourishing and well-rounded to stay on indefinitely. However, the wider range of foods that can be incorporated, the better -even if only to satisfy a craving for variety. Generally speaking, one would introduce a new food/preparation/amount every four days.
Note that most of these questions are answered in the GAPS Guide book. Please do review that and/or join the support list, which is an absolute wealth of information and support. I may not be able to always answer so quickly, but between those two resources, you’ll be good to go.
All my best,
Baden
Baden,
thank you so much for your prompt reply. its really nice to know that there is support here.
Lyrren did eventually pass a stool today, which (to my suprise) was actually reasonable in consistancy. a little loose, but not too bad at all considering she hadnt been for a good few days.
thank you for the advise with regard to continuing through the stages. we have now progressed to stage 2, and will continue to move through every 1-3 days, unless symptoms of cramping, diarrhoea.
i shall definately join the support list, as i have soooo many more questions lol
thank you so very much once again
lyony
Hi Baden,
I don’t think this question has been covered yet.
A little background: After 20 years on antidepressants, I weaned off July 2009. After a few months, I started to deteriorate, huge w/anger & irritability, with constant weeping. I was moving into a dark hole of despair & hopelessness. I hoped I would get just get better by myself with time. But it only got worse and worse.
In Jan 2010, upon hearing of the gut-brain connection from a friend, I went to a Natureopath who tested me for Metabolic body type, and performed live-blood analysis. I left him with directions to eat lots of RAW fat & grain fed beef & chicken, from 18 to 26 oz of fresh squeezed vegetable juice–a little apple juice allowed–and to eat only sourdough spelt bread on occasion, plus fermented vegetables. ( I had informed him that I had had mostly diarrhea for the past two years, ever since I had abdominal surgery (constipation had been the situation before that), & I told him that I had IBS, though then not fully active.
I followed this program for 6 weeks…and I became so weak and ill feeling, plus IBS, with all its under the rib & up through the back and neck pain…I didn’t know how to eat…I quit my part time job.
I found Joel Rubin on the net, and decided to use his diet for intestinal recovery. I did the Stage 1 for 2 weeks, and then, feeling even worse, plus looking at all the supplements I’d have to take take in stage 2…I quit and took up the GAPS diet…a friend lent me Natasha’s book.
I’ve been with GAPS 9 weeks. Still in intro. Diarrhea stopped after one week. I got up to adding, fermented cabbage, squash creps, egg yolks to my broth (Beef & Chicken Bone broth), and eating eggs over easy, and a little nut-bread and continued with big tumblers of water, large mugs of fresh ginger tea, & meat–blended vegetables and broth (just to be on the safe side)–plus I like it better pureed.
The physical pain from IBS was much milder, sometimes absent. My mental/emotional state, though, was not improving…not that I expected it to all clear away so quickly, but I hoped it would give enough gradual relief to make me functional.
So, after 8 1/2 months of determination to stay away from antidepressants, I went onto Paxil 10 mg, then uped to20 mg.–may have to go up to 30mg. I”m much more funtional, but also tired and feeling flat; and back with some IBS pain that seems to becoming less this week.
But the very next day, after taking the first dose of Paxil, I had diarrhea…and it hasn’t stopped, as I continue to tread in the diet around stage 3. I’m in my 7th week w/Paxil now. I dropped the crepes, & eggs, about 5 days ago, go I went back to Stage 1. Today BM was rather normal. Hopeful it will stay that way….
In making my decision to go use meds agin (actually I felt I had no choice) I considered how the GAPS book strongly urged people on drug support to stay on it, letting the diet do the work, and then wean off gradually once a certain level of health was attained. I have your Guidebook, and I know that’s what you did…but you were only on a wee bit. And my situation was different since I had been off of it quite awhile. I received encouragement from a GPS group member (Thank you Gina!) to know that I could still recover digestive health with GAPS even if with meds while needed.
But what if I continue to have diarrhea. (I’ve used various meds over the years, and Paxil seems the one that works best?) My understading is that whenever you experience diarrhea you need to step back one food, and then another, & another if it continues.
I’d appreciate your perspective on this.
One other matter: there is cornstarch in my new thyroid medication…it’s been reformulated (I found the ingredients listed on the net. I haven’t taken any yet, though I have paid for 3 mo. supply. Besides getting a wee dose of GMOs everday, would the starch ruin my diet?
Thanks so much for you time,
Killian
Hi Killian,
Hmmm…Where to begin…
1. Yes, I totally support your decision to go back onto Paxil and at the dose that is correct for you. Yes, the dose I took was very small, but it was the correct dose for me (size, metabolism, sensitivity), so I don’t believe the size of one’s dose is an issue.
2. Diarrhea
(a) So, you had diarrhea, which resolved after a week on GAPS, but it restarted after your first (new) dose of Paxil. Is that correct?
(b) When you say “diarrhea”, do you mean 1-3 looser or mushy stools daily? Or do you mean watery stools, barely making it to the toilet in time and/or needing to void more than three times daily?
(c) It’s more important to avoid suicide than it is to avoid diarrhea, so on that count I would continue the Paxil even though it make be impacting the stools.
(d) There is a woman on the support list -whose name escapes me at the moment- who has had great success with a different approach to depression, bipolar, etc. That approach helped her get on track enough that she could do GAPS, which in turn allowed her to reduce the treatment doses.
(e) In returning to Stage 1 after the diarrhea reappeared, you did precisely the right thing. Watch now as you move through the stages as to whether anything triggers diarrhea or even mild pain, skip that food, wait til the diarrhea and/or pain resolve, then move on to the subsequent food in the progression. Items most likely to trigger diarrhea and/or pain in your case are fibre: vegetables, fermented cabbage, nuts, etc. You can skip veggies at the beginning, and drink just the juice from the fermented cabbage. Meats, broths, etc, may be your mainstay for a little while.
3. Cornstarch in thyroid med – It’s hard to say what will impact a person. Some people cannot tolerate the tiniest amount of non-GAPS stuff. Others can. You may want to get a compounded version. I also recommend you talk with others on the support list about thyroid meds, as many have used them and have excellent information.
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden,
Thank you for your time & thoughtfulness. Your feedback is very reassuring.
To your questions:
1. Yes, months of true (hurry, hurry!) diarrhea gone after one week on GAPS diet. True diarrhea returned 2 weeks after that day when I took first dose of Paxil.
a) Maybe 14 days scattered in the 7 weeks since then have BMs had some structure to them. There were a few times when I had no BM for one day.
d) I would be interested in the woman on the support list who has dealt effectively with meds & GAPS. You could share my email if you should recall her name. (I’m not sure where the support list is…on the Yahoo blog?)
I forgot to mention that I now weigh 108 pounds. I’m 5’8″, and my normal weight is 130-135. I was up to 118 before this round of diarrhea. I look rather skeletal. My husband & friends worry about me. Fortunately I’ve not gone under 108—it’s been my weight for a few weeks.
It’s been nearly a week that I’ve been eating Stage One again. I don’t know what I’ll do if I can’t correct my bowels rather soon.
I just received my cod/fish oils. Should I take them at this time?
Always,
Killian
P.S. I actually responded to your response right away, but I did it via the email “Baden said on About This Site.” It finally dawned on me that I needed to do here on Gaps Guide.
Hi Killian,
No worries about the delay – I was actually offline for the past six days.
In cases of true diarrhea, Dr Natasha recommends a person avoid vegetables even in Stage 1. So, you might focus on just boiled meats, broths, and fats.
The support list is here: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/GAPShelp/ Post a very specific subject line so that anyone who has been through similar challenges will notice it.
While it can be very unnerving, it’s quite common to lose weight upon starting GAPS. Dr Natasha actually addresses this on her site here: http://gaps.me/preview/?page_id=32 Your weight will come back. It will be vitally important to take in lots of good GAPS fats (ghee, duck fat, chicken skins, fermented dairy, olive oil, etc).
I would not add the bottled oils until your body has stabilized a bit.
All my best,
Baden
I am new to GAPS and implementing for my Autistic son. I have
been doing GF/CF diet for over 3 years and also use all (or mostly) organic, grass
fed, free range, etc. Plus have been making bone broth for quite a while. So I
feel like I have a major leg up over people who have to start from scratch. I’m
going slow and converting his usual menu to be GAPS legal. I will do the Intro
program once he is comfortable with new foods. I have been combing the GAPS and
SCD web sites for bread recipes and the Group archives, and have yet to find a
basic sandwich bread recipe. I’ve already made pancakes and pizza crusts with
great success — he loves them. So does anyone have a recipe they use for bread
to make sandwiches?
Also, I know that baking soda is illegal since it is bicarbonate of soda or
sodium bicarbonate. But I’m wondering if the baking soda substitutes created to
be Gluten Free is legal. Ener-G Foods makes one that is made from calcium
carbonate and magnesium carbonate. This is also one of the main ingredients of
Natural Calm, which many of our kids (including mine) use for constipation or
fecal impaction problems.
Thanks for all your help!
Cynthia
Hi Cynthia,
Any GAPS-legal ingredient is permitted. Simply check the food lists for each ingredient you wish to consider using.
I don’t know about sandwhich bread -I’ve never bothered myself! (I simply do wraps with almond flour crepes, lettuce, etc.)
I suggest you post your comment to the GAPS support forum, so that you can hear from lots of people. I suggest including the words ‘sandwich bread’ and ‘baking soda substitutes’ in the subject line, as few people can read all the posts that come through.
All my best,
Baden
I went to the GAPS support forum first and entered this exact question(s). And no one replied
Thats why I thought I would check in with you. Calcium carbonate and Magnesium carbonate are not listed as legal or illegal, so that is why I am asking. Isn’t there a way to ask Dr. Campbell-McBride?
Thanks
Hi Cynthia,
Sorry to hear you’re struggling to find answers. The only steps I know of for questions that are not “frequently asked”, are those listed here:
http://gapsguide.com/2010/06/10/questions/
Regarding Dr Natasha’s availability for consultations, one would need to check directly with her website at gaps.me When one question is presented over and over by lots of people, we do have an option for submitting that question to Dr Natasha. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen this particular question come up before, so it wouldn’t meet that criteria.
Please let me know if the steps presented in the link above answer your question. If not, I would suggest you simply try one of the ingredients at a time and see how it interacts with your body. A lot of recipes do well without the baking soda, and there are other GAPS ingredients that help a recipe get fluffy. As always, it’s best to use foods prepared from scratch at home, giving one control over all ingredients. Without knowing, though, my intuition is that either of these ingredients would likely be fine, so long as none of their components are GAPS-illegal.
All my best,
Baden
This is a bit out of order, but I don’t know where to ask.
What grain is the best to step into after a season on the gaps diet? Is there any recommended progression of grains, starches, etc. . .
Thanks so much,
Hi. I am new to this site, and I’m having trouble using it. Can someone please explain to me how I can post a new topic, thanks.
If anyone is willing to support me on my GAPS journey, please call me at 845-781-6796.
Thanks in advance
Hi,
My name is David and I am 21 years old. I started SDC/GAPS to avoid taking endless amounts of pharmaceuticals and it has been a life saver. I remember seeing improvements within the first week of implementing the diet early 2009. However, I still have skin problems differing in severity when present. At the moment I have dry, red, rash-like spots on my face: forehead, behind eyebrows, and under my eyes. Is this a form of eczema, die off, allergic reaction, or something else? I don’t know what to do when this happens out of the blue. Whatever you know that can help in the slightest way is greatly appreciated.
Thank you thank you thank you.
Hi David,
From what you describe, it could be eczema but that can be “one and the same” as die-off or allergy, because eczema is only a symptom. So yes, the question is: Is it a sign of healing or of intolerance? It could be either and there’s no way for me to know, unfortunately. Did you read this site’s post on eczema? If not, type eczema into this site’s search engine to locate it and review the recommendations there. It compiles a lot of GAPSters experiences into one post.
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden,
I am seriously considering starting the GAPS diet because of inflammation/leaky gut etc., but I’m breastfeeding my 2-year-old son and “we” are not ready to wean yet. Is it Ok to start the GAPS diet while breastfeeding or would I be detoxing and all the nasty stuff would go to my milk?
Thanks for any help you can give me on this. I’m sure that I have passed on the unfortunate heritage of an imbalanced gut flora to my kids, and that they need this diet as well, but I need to take one step at a time here and figure it all out first.
Thanks again,
Paula
Hi Paula,
Yes, it is fine to start GAPS while breastfeeding (I did and many others have). Dr Natasha recommends a pregnant or breastfeeding mother skip intro and go directly to full GAPS. For more info, see gaps.me
All my best,
Baden
Two quick questions,
1. Will GAPS Intro and then GAPS Diet help heal diverticulosis and/or diverticulitis in colon?
2. Why no probiotics on Intro?
thank you.
Patty
I IMMENSELY appreciate all your help on this site !
Hi Patty,
1. In many cases, yes. (I don’t know what determines which ones will and which ones won’t, but rather am only referencing Elaine Gottschall’s words in her book Breaking The Vicious Cycle.)
2. One does use probiotics in intro. Please see GAPS Guide page 41.
All my best,
Baden
Hi, Baden,
thank you so much for your answers.
Keeping in mind that from experience not from doctor testing, I am allergic (major sinus swelling and flu like symptoms) to ALL dairy, eggs, I also have candidiasis, so I stay away from fruits, and diverticula problems so I stay away from all nuts, How does one know when it’s time to move from intro to stage 2 ?
Patty
Hi Patty,
It is very common for people coming to GAPS to be reactive to many, many foods. Except for anaphylaxis, which GAPS cannot resolve, much of this will heal.
GAPS intro is excellent for candida overgrowth.
When to move on to Stage 2: http://gapsguide.com/book/book-updates/ (scroll down to P. 39 – Moving From Stage to Stage “Pacing”).
All my best,
Baden
Hi,
I have been reading about GAPS for a while, I started stage 1 last week. I am not moving along the stages like I had hoped. I have serious leaky gut, food allergies (seems I am allergic to everything), joint pain, and a bladder disease.
I noticed when I eat the meat, and beef bone broth I had a first time flat tummy for the first time in my life! Chicken broth causes me allergy symptoms, so I am sticking to beef. Then I added in very very cooked veges. It did cause intestines pain, but I am not sure if that was die off or if it means I am not ready for veges? My stomach stayed flat though. Then, I tried to add in stew and all my joint pain, swelling, headaches where back the next morning. I am assuming this means I am not ready for stage 2? I find it odd that those same foods that were in the stew do not bother me much when eaten in a soup, but as a stew I had bloating and pains in my joints back. I see I may need to stick to broths for a LONG time, is this healthy?
I guess I am having a hard time trying to gauge when I can move stages, if you have any negative symptoms when trying a new stage, does that mean you are not ready for it?
I could not believe how good I felt and how much energy I had after a few days only eating broth and cooked veges, and how tired and bad I felt when just adding in stews.
Hi Mel,
All of this fits the GAPS school of thought well. I always say to people that Dr Natasha did not create these painstaking steps just to torture us!
Stew really is that much harder for the body to digest than a soup is, etc.
I’m finding we all mean different things, though, by “soup” vs “stew”, so will ask: In your case, what was different from one to the other? (This might help us track an issue.)
I would not suspect intestinal pain to be a symptom of die-off, but of the body not being ready for that food. Some people with very compromised systems must avoid veggies for some time. Don’t worry! The program will work and you will one day eat veggies again. For now, focus on the boiled meats, meat broths and stomach acid builder (ACV and/or sauerkraut juice before meals, if tolerated), then trying eggs added to the broth, increasing your probiotics, and so on through the steps, trying a gentle vegetable like a peeled, deseeded zuchinni every week or so to see if the body is ready to go there.
Be sure to connect with at least one of the support groups, as you will find many others who have had a similar starting point.
All my best,
Baden
In the Guide, you talk about a machine you use to make sauerkraut- something called a “homoginizer”… what is this? I am in the US, Seattle area… don’t know if maybe this machine isn’t sold here or is called something else in UK or Canada, but when I look it up online all I see is labratory equipment for mixing??
I tried to make the sauerkraut by hand and don’t seem to have enough strenght to get juice out by hand. I am starting intro this week and want to buy one ASAP!
Thanks – Justine
PS- also want to thank you for creating the guide… I read NCM’s book and was lost in terms of where to start, how much of this or that and when, etc. Your book saved the day and is allowing me to get started!
Hi Justine,
I used to own a machine with a homogenizer function, but that was to make things smooth (nut butters, etc). I returned the homogenizer after a year and haven’t had one since. I don’t consider it an essential piece of equipment.
For making sauerkraut, one can chop or grate the veggies by hand, with a grater, with a food processor or, with difficulty, a spiralizer. None of these will knead the juices out of the cabbage, though. When not enough juice comes out, I suggest putting the mixing bowl on the floor so that all one’s body weight can be used in the process. Alternatively, add 1/2 tablespoon of salt per cabbage and continue kneading. If neither of these work, it is probably an issue of strength, yes, in which case I suggest just pressing the veggies into the jar and covering them with a homemade cabbage (or cabbage/carrot) juice.
Thank you so much, Justine, for the positive feedback about the GAPS Guide book. It’s so good to know it’s helping people!
All my best,
Baden
Hi, all,
I just formed a yahoo group centered around Type 1 diabetes and the GAPS diet. Please join me there to share experiences you’ve had or questions about the GAPS diet as it relates to healing Type 1. My group is called Type1GAPS. I look forward to hearing from you.
Aimee
Hi Aimee,
Great! Thanks for sharing this invitation with this blog’s readers. If you post the full url, I will include your list on the ‘Support’ page.
All my best,
Baden
Baden,
Thanks so much for such an informative site. I really see results with the diet, and this blog has a wealth of information.
Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Mark
Mark, you’re so welcome! Thank you for your words.
All my best,
Baden
Baden,
Thank you for such an informative site! I have had leaky gut/ ulcerative colitis for 8 years and was on numerous meds before deciding to go Rx free this year. I just started GAPS intro stage 1 five days ago and am seeing some results. My stools are good, and the overabundance of yellow phlegm and urgent visits to the bathroom have decreased. However, there is still some white/ light yellow phlegm on occasion and when I have a BM there is blood. How much longer should I anticipate being in stage 1 or is there a point where I progress?
I am taking 1 probiotic pill (Perque Digesta Gaurd) in the a.m. And started with veggies in soup, if these could be issues. Im also including juice from sauerkraut once a day and was considering making yogurt and whey this weekend as Dr McBrides book suggests this for those with digestive issues.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
ETA: I apologize! I just found the answers to most of my questions with s little more searching. So, no commercial probiotic or sauerkraut juice at first, no veggies (yikes!!) … Is that right?
Hi Natalie,
Great that you found some of the answers/info in the meantime!
With major stool issues (blood, cramping, true diarrhea), yes, no veggies initially.
However, considering that you discovered this info five days in, and are seeing improvement regardless, I suggest the following:
1. Note that some people even without obvious digestive issues see mucous (white or otherwise) through their bowels initially. This is believed to be the release of yeast, etc, in which case this is actually a good thing.
2. If your bowels are stabilizing even with the veggies, commercial probiotic, etc, included, you might continue these. Perhaps just focus on the less fibrous veggies, ie. avoiding broccoli, celery, etc, and having carrots, etc, instead.
3. Probiotics – It’s not so much how many capsules we take as it is how much live bacteria is in each capsule. Please see your GAPS Guide book for suggested amounts.
4. Feel free to add whey this weekend, but be aware that this will increase your probiotic count significantly, potentially triggering more die-off, etc. Start with a tiny amount. Personally, I recommend people start with no commercial probiotic, wait for the first round of die-off to pass, then start with a homemade source, at one teaspoon (if even that much).
5. The simplest approach to all of this is to start at page 28 (or 35) in your GAPS Guide book and move through the steps as presented. You can still do so
All my best,
Baden
remember though with whey, to at least do a sensitivity test first. Dairy is one of the most common allergies, and you may not tolerate it as well after starting intro.
Hi baden,
whilst doing the gaps diet is it alright to take medication – im on steroids for rheumatoid arthritis.ive also been experiencing extreme pain .
Hi Veronica,
Do you mean that you experience extreme pain when not taking your medication? The general approach to medication is clarified on this site’s ‘Book Updates’ page, per page 35. However, severe pain and the stress of severe pain can also impact our body, so if you deem a medication essential, do feel free to take it. A medication can be compounded to eliminate ingredients that might aggravate the gut.
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden,
Just thought I’d share an interesting site I found recently. A researcher is studying “enterotypes,” which he defines as groups of people who share a predominance of certain gut microbes. He is inviting people to participate in his study (at a cost) and will link people up with others who have a similar profile so they can share health info. He has found three basic types so far, which are not related to ethnicity, age, gender, etc. Wish I could afford to do this! I think he will advance the knowledge of gut microbes and health. http://my.microbes.eu/
Vonnie
Thanks, Vonnie, for sharing this with us all! I think I read something about this recently. Very interesting!!
All my best,
Baden
hi baden, im veronica from india, ive been trying to get the gaps book, but it is not available in india. please let me know of any book seller that sells the book in india.
Hi Veronica,
I love when we hear from people from so far away!
As far as I know, no one is retailing the book out of India. However, nutrivene.com will ship to India. Also, only an hour ago I learned that someone will be shipping out of England, also. I don’t know if they have GAPS Guide in stock yet, but you can check it out here: http://specialhealthstore.co.uk/ShowDetails.asp?id=185
All my best,
Baden
Hello!
I have a 3 year old girl who has severe food allergies to almost everything. Eggs,gluten,avocado,corn,grain,dairy..Recently even raw nuts. she has Candida to the fullest and other years in the body. Leaky Gut and Excema on her legs as well. Just ordered the GAPS book and the cookbook.
Was going to start with the introduction part of the diet. How long is it ok to keep her on the broth and vegetables? (Do you let them eat veggies in the broth)
She is only 30 pounds and 40 inches tall, has nooooo fat on her whatsoever. Also, I wonder how she will ever get any nutrients to absorb into her little body?
she is currently on tri-enza and no fennel, and brainchild probity..started getting very constipated and craving for sugar is crazy!!!
Thank you so much for your help,
Cassiel from Los Angeles
Hi Cassiel,
I think GAPS will be great for your daughter!
Before starting intro, please be sure to get and read through the GAPS Guide book. This will prevent many errors, frustration, etc, and answer many questions.
One recommendation in it is to transition toward intro, rather than jump right into it. Another point made in it is that at no point are we eating only broth and vegetables. Even Day 1 of intro includes boiled meats and lots of fats. (These are actually more key than veggies, though except with severe diarrhea one can have those, too.) A section in the book gives tips for addressing constipation and for preventing deeper constipation that can come with die-off. So, it will ease your journey very much to get the book’s foundation of practical information before proceeding.
GAPS is great for balancing body fat levels.
All my best,
Baden
whoops..i meant yeast.:)
Hello
Is stevia allowed?
Hi Cassiel,
The only sweeteners approved for GAPS are honey and fruit (whole or dried). This said, some people do choose to use stevia, if honey and/or fruit are problematic for them. Results seem to be positive.
All my best,
Baden
Thank you so much Baden..just order the gaps guide book.
Also, just wondering lately about the whole cancer/meat connection..dairy/ eczema..
Why is it that cancer patients that go through Max Jensens program and rid themselves of cancer..wouldn’t this same protocol be good for yeast..autism..add?
Hi Cassiel,
Despite what some relatively simplistic declarations will state, in many bodies there is not a direct connection between meat and cancer and dairy and eczema (as examples). Rather, foods and bodies work together synergistically -and differently based on the state and need of any individual body. ie. Many people eat meat for their entire lifetimes without developing or becoming overwhelmed by cancer. Many people come to GAPS with a reaction of even severe eczema to dairy -yet after some weeks or months of healing are able to eat dairy with no such reaction. The key variable does not seem to be in a specific food, but rather is relative to a much more complex dynamic: the state and digestive capacity of the individual body; how the food is prepared; what other foods are eaten alongside; etc.
Many of us believe that the nutritional requirements to address cancer are different than those to address autism, candida imbalance, etc. Very briefly, cancer programs often involve cleansing and resting the body, while programs for autism, etc, involve building the body. Personally, I believe that different programs are suitable in different phases of our lives, depending on our needs. In that vein, for most people GAPS is a temporary, transitional program implemented for approximately two years, building the body’s resources through dense nutrition.
All my best,
Baden
Sorry.. just to clarify..isn’t it true that meats , and red meats take longer and harder to digest in the stomach? and with an impaired gut, it seems that even after intro, that digesting meats( which if not digested would turn into ammonia in the gut) and make it harder to expel (constipate or irritate yeast and leaky gut). I understand that the broth is good for amino acids,minerals and nutrients, but if they have found that when putting cancer patients(which are largely over run with yeast and parasites as well, wouldn’t this be a better protocol for Candida and Add..autism?
okay thats it for awhile!
Thanks Baden
Cassiel
Hi Cassiel,
Meats certainly take longer to digest than some foods -such as fresh, raw, ripe fruits- but time needed for digestion is not in itself an issue where other conditions are present, such as preceding a meal with stomach acid enhancers (sauerkraut juice, Apple Cider Vinegar in water, meat or bone broths, etc), ensuring excellent levels of bacteria in the gut, etc. And these conditions are what GAPS is all about. (You’ll find a lot more information in the Guide.) Meats do not in and of themselves trigger constipation. Rather, an imbalance in bacterial levels does.
Certainly one can experiment with various programs to see which, after approximately 3-6 months, demonstrates the most beneficial impact on their health, is easy enough to maintain, etc. (You might enjoy this post.) Many of us have found that resolving symptoms of ADD, etc, is served well by dense nutrition -including that found in eggs, meats, fermented dairy, etc. How much meat one eats and at what frequency, though, is for each individual to determine. If you find your body does better with a rare serving of meat but lots of the other GAPS foods, that’s certainly a suitable way to go.
I believe that any one or more of various nutritional programs may well prove beneficial to any given condition and that ultimately each person’s preference and personal experimentation will determine a person’s route. Where a leader in a nutritional program, such as Dr Max Gerson or the Drs Haas, find their program for one condition incidentally resolves the symptoms or occurrence of another, they tend to let the world know. Until that leader, or others doing the program, state this to be the case, many of us prefer to stick with a program proven for the condition we’re specifically concerned with. There are many excellent protocols for candida -and GAPS is only one of them. For intestinal and brain challenges (other than cancer), GAPS has excellent results.
Does any of this help, Cassiel?
All my best,
Baden
Thank you Baden, I think you covered everything quite thoroughly, and elegantly!
All the best,
Cassiel
Hi Baden,
Thanks for this site and your guide book. I have it and NCB’s book and have been reading them as well as this site. I have been avoiding many foods for years that I have identified having a sensitivity. I am eager to heal the underlying cause. I have always felt that my digestion is not good – that I don’t get nourishment from what I eat and that food doesn’t digest well in me. I have a very limited diet. Some of it is good healthy food like organic meats, broths and veggies. But I am also dependent on sugar and rice cakes. For some reason I don’t react to rice cakes like I do other whole cooked grains. But now I’m wondering if I get a delayed reaction or if it is keeping my gut from healing.
Anyway I’m not sure if starting the full gaps diet is the best way for me to start since I don’t eat fruit or dairy. I think it would be better for me to taper off the sugar and rice cakes and start the intro diet. What do you think? I’m asking because you encourage people to do the full GAPS diet for a while before doing the intro diet. I already know how to make meat broths, and sauerkraut and I love vegetables.
I really appreciate how you coach people to take things in slow incremental steps…you do a great job of describing how to do that in your guide book and on this site.
Hi Gel,
In your case, I think it would be fine to go ahead with intro. As you’ve noted, you’re familiar with preparing key GAPS foods and are currently excluding fruit and dairy anyway. I think your plan is a good one!
Thanks very much for your kind words about my book and site
All my best,
Baden
Hello again!
qUICK QUESTION.
About to start intro with my three year old girl..well, actually all of us..
she mentions in the book that amino acid supplements are key..page 238.
Is it safe to give these to a child? and if so which ones(company) and how much?
she reccomends full blend of amino acids
zinc
and trytophane,glutamine, asapargine.
She is currently on spectrum vitamins and minerals from Brainchild Nutritionals. I checked and they do not contain any amino acids.
Also, is a week sufficient for the first stage of intro? I couldnt bear to see her loose anymore weight How long of soup broths and cooked veggies before meats? She already looks emaciated..I know she can have soups and coooked veggies, but stage 2 is more meats and veggies?
She has tested for an egg allergy and cannot do casein, so the egg yolk thing is out?..these are so key for GAPS nutriton,,how long have you seen children of this age before they can accept these foods? She does have a leaky gut…
Also, during intro if she starts to get hypoglycemic..what do I do?
thanks Baden…
Cassiel
Hi Cassiel,
I’m glad you’re seeking clarification on these items. Way to go, Mom!
Have you read through your whole GAPS Guide book? This is a key step to ensuring as easy and effective a journey as possible.
Page 238 of Dr Natasha’s latest edition presents details of an approach specific to eating disorders. The vast majority of people needing GAPS will not need to incorporate these modifications. Please follow the steps as presented in your GAPS Guide book. As noted therein, supplements not needed to save life or limb will be removed before the start of intro, and Stage 1 need only be 1-3 days for people without true diarrhea, bleeding or cramping.
Please note that at no point in GAPS are we asked to eat just veggies and broth. From Day 1 of intro, we are to eat boiled meats, fats, broths and, if without severe diarrhea, boiled veggies. Please do provide the meat and fats to your daughter from the start. Stage 2 incorporates additional foods. For an easy visual to the progression, please see the checklist format in your GAPS Guide book.
If your daughter has a severe (eg. anaphylactic) allergy to egg or casein, she will not reintroduce it. Short of that, she may be able to incorporate eggs or casein within a few weeks, but it’s different for everyone -some bodies require more time. On intro, though, the body does some pretty incredible healing work and its changes can amaze us!
Hypoglycemia – As with all people, ensure your daughter is offered fats + protein upon waking, then every 1.5-2 hours all day long, then just before bed. She can also sip on an electrolyte drink (do a search on my blog for recipes) throughout the day.
All my best,
Baden
Is NYSTATIN good to use for bit to help kill yeast?
Or not a good idea. Doc reccomended it, but..then again they reccomend antibiotics which got us into this mess…
Why is Whey A NON RECCOMENDED Food??
Thank you so much Baden. Its hard when you are doing this stuff all alone!
I found an answer to the WHEY question..any thoughts about the NYSTATIN?
also..Izzy started having rectal prolapse at arond age 20 months..when we removed gluten it stopped..it has recently return when we just switched her diet to veggies, meat and fruit. Have you ever encountered this in a child?
I promise this is my last question for awhile…no one has answers except you!!
best,
Cassie
Hi Cassiel,
Hopefully you found that commercial whey is not recommended while homemade, properly fermented whey is.
Nystatin is useful for some people. As a supplemental yeast killer, it is best to delay this until after you’ve completed at least a few months of healing. In the GAPS Guide book, I suggest people follow the program as presented starting on page 28 and only after several months of healing consider looking at the book’s section ‘Progressing Further’, which has a different idea for addressing stubborn candida. The diet alone will do a *lot*. Adding additional things too early can burden one’s body and/or trigger discouragement, not to mention create an (often unnecessary) expense.
I’m so sorry, but I have no experience with or information about rectal prolapse. You might want to check with the Yahoo group or with a GAPS-knowledgeable practitioner.
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden,
I’m curious if you or anyone you know doing GAPS has come up with a charting format to track important info . For example: what was eaten, new foods introduced, symptoms, BMs, energy level etc…for a daily journal. Given how much there is to keep track of I can’t imagine not having some kind of journal. I’m going to do this but haven’t come up with a format yet. I plan to keep it simple. I can imagine it would be different for each person as to what information one would want to track. Just curious how others are doing this.
Also do you know how to ‘hide’ your personal email address on the gapshelp yahoo group? I searched but could see if that was an option.
Thanks,
Gel
Hi Gel,
Yes, some people do create tracking charts. I’ve seen several at random moments through my four years in the GAPS community. Yes, different people track for different things, so you’re right that there’s not a ‘one size fits all’ one. The GAPS Guide book presents the intro progression in a checklist format, to make it easy to know what to do next. In terms of noting how any given step impacts a person, my preferred system is presented here: http://gapsguide.com/2009/03/28/recording-remedies/ This is for recording specific tweaks, but it would work just as well for recording the effects of every step.
I’m not sure how to hide one’s address in Yahoo Groups. Yahoo is notoriously tricky! One option is to set up an account just for the group and use that to access the information.
All my best,
Baden
I have been reveiwing the book,,and cannot find anything relating to this,..
After 2 days on the diet Izzy wont poop. She freaks out if i try and give her an enema..I tried,..chocolate..movies..finally she did..then ran to the bathroom, and had a prolapse..had little poops with what looked like tissue paper attached came out.She said is was painful.
So I tried again today..same thing..prolapse and tears becasue it hurt..maybe she doesnt have the acids to digest the boiled meats?
Hi Baden,
I friend of mine is on stage 2 of intro with her 3-year-old son who has autism, and he is struggling with constipation. He always had a tendency to be constipated, but it has gotten worse on intro.
Last week she did an enema on him and it worked, but it was a very traumatic experience for the both of them (he was doing fine in the beginning, but once he felt the water going inside he started crying and screamed during the whole procedure).
My friend was desperate today, so she gave him a prune cooked on broth – which is not allowed on stage 2, but she just didn’t know what else to do. I was wondering if anybody would have any suggestions for her. She doesn’t seem to want to try an enema again anytime soon.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Paula
Hi Paula,
Has your friend tried all the tips listed under the ‘Constipation’ and ‘Die-Off Relief’ sections of her GAPS Guide book? There are many, and different ones -from squash to Vitamin C, etc- work for different people. One should try one at a time -each for a good four days- and see what that particular body likes. Should all the stage-friendly approaches fail, though, a cooked prune is just fine!
All my best,
Baden
Hello Again!!
So..my 3 year old seems to have an issue with all of the fats(i am cooking with prok fat, beef fat, usually adding a teaspoon to broths..or adding a teaspoon to cooked veggies) about 4 teaspoons a day. ..not being able to break them down. I have emailed you a bunch before..She is in such a bad state..I dont think she has whatever it is..stomach acid or enzymes to breakdown the fats properly..i notice after giving her a day of added fats..she turns a light yellow..
I started with enzymes CANDIDASE and TRI ENZA..dont know if these help with that. They have seemed to help her poop regulary.. Also what is exact ratio.(i looked in your book) for the pepsin dosage..based on weight? 30 pounds..
she is also highly reactive to Fish oils..any ideas for efas or dha?
We relapsed on intro..she was loosing to much weight..I got scared..so we just went to modified FULL gaps..just veggies fruits and meats..but that now is dwindleing with her recent new reactions to avacado..lentils..(i know we need intro again, just hard with inlaws and holidays).
Also she ate some beets and had bright pink urine..and the stool came out and it was if i had just chopped the beet and put it in the toilet! Is that stomach acid lacking? Beacuse when i eat beets, my stool is a bit pink,but my urine is still normal..
just wondering..
ok thanks BADEN…can we start a charity to send you money for doing all this?
how do you find time?
Best,
Cassiel
Hi Cassiel,
I strongly recommend you connect with a health practitioner familiar with GAPS. Even over the phone from far away they can be wonderfully helpful!
While some people do indeed having trouble ingesting large amounts of fats, reacting to four teaspoons of fat per day is a different matter.
For the correct dosage of Betaine with pepsin, please contact the manufacturer of the Betaine you are using (or your health practitioner).
A person reactive to fish oils will avoid these until further healing has taken place.
Yes, intro is challenging with inlaws, holidays, school, work, etc. Each of us must prioritize healing in order for these to become less important than health.
Pink urine and pink stool are common with beets. The beet coming out undigested, however, indicates what you already know -that your daughter’s digestive system is not yet working properly. Healing will come!
I do appreciate all support toward my work -to find the time I’ve recently had to hire a part-time nanny!- and various ways to do so are listed on this blog’s page ‘Support This Site’ found here: http://gapsguide.com/support-this-site/ This said, where a person is experiencing extra challenges, I prefer you spend money on a consult with a health practitioner, because the whole point of this site, of course, is to get people like your daughter well!
(You can still help this site through the non-monetary support ideas listed, and that will be much appreciated.)
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden,
I have been introduced to the GAPS diet after being on the BodyEcology diet for 3 weeks. I have had amazing results. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 17yrs old and after extensive vitamin therapy and allergy testing (which showed I was allergic to all meats except fish) I have had remission with flare ups after child birth. I have not eaten meat in 30 yrs.
My husband and I have been married 27 yrs and have 10 children – ages 3 to 26. I have a hysterectomy last year and have problems with my arthritis since that time. I have also been plagued with gallstones. Which is why I am writing.
In the past, I have used an epson salt/olive oil/ lemon juice mix to pass them and it works great. About a month ago before beginning the BodyEcology diet I did it again and past a bunch of gallstones. After that night I have had some pain in my gallbladder area so I did another treatment last night and past 3 large stones. The largest was about 6-8cm. They are always bright green and do not hurt to pass.
We eat healthy – I make most everything from scratch and minimize sugar. We have a family milk cow and I make our own cheese and kefir. I now ferment my own veggies. I grind our wheat berries to make fresh flour and bake bread. I am 5’10″ and weigh 135lbs and normally active and exercise. I was wondering if you have any suggestions. I am a bit concerned about going on the GAPS diet with the broth and so much fat.
Any suggestions you have would be appreciated.
Thank you
Dina-Marie
Hello Baden,
I see here that you are answering questions for people regarding GAPS and I am hoping you may be able to help me with some advice. I started GAPS about a year and a half ago, going through the intro into the full diet and I had great success with it. I had been having chronic diarrhea off and on along with many other digestive problems and difficulty digesting a large number of foods for years. The GAPS diet pretty much cleared up my digestive problems and although I have never been able to add dairy, my digestion was better over the past year than it has been since I became ill with lymes disease in my twenties. I was able to eat all kinds of foods I had been having trouble with before like nuts and fats and raw juices, and my health improved significantly although I did not recover from the lyme’s disease.
So things were going well until July of this year when I got bit by multiple ticks at once (19 actually – I had unknowingly camped in a tick nest), and my doctor put me on a six week course of doxycycline. I finished the doxy at the end of August and the diarrhea and nausea that I had the whole time I was on the medicine never went away. I was having trouble digesting fat as well so I originally tried eating soaked grains and soups, but the diarrhea was not letting up so I decided to go back on the GAPS intro. I have been on the intro for weeks now with varied success, meaning that I no longer have diarrhea every single day, but I do have quite a bit of nausea and stomach pain still. However as soon as I try to add more vegetables to my soup or move beyond stage one in any way my diarrhea comes back.
I just ordered the revised edition of the GAPS book and I read there that in cases of persistent diarrhea Dr McBride recommends to avoid all vegetables at first and just eat the meat broth and meats. I tried to do this for a day but I had to eat way more fat to keep from feeling starving, and I developed extreme nausea. I took ox bile and it helped a little bit but not much. I know Dr McBride also recommends doing coffee enemas and juicing when there is a lot of nausea, but I am wondering if these two things will upset my stomach/trigger more diarrhea so I have been afraid to try them.
Right now I am eating soup with squash only and sometimes some onion, and cautiously adding egg yolk. The problem is I feel extremely undernourished and I have been getting attacks of dizziness and faintness. I feel like it would be better to avoid even the squash for awhile until the diarrhea improves, but without it and a lot of fat my blood sugar seems to drop too much and I start to feel dangerously unwell. I am wondering how long one can stay on this simplified of a diet and also if you have any other suggestions of how to get through this period so I can move on and eat more.
Thank you so much for your informative website and any help you can give me, Sita
Hi Baden,
I just started the Intro diet on Sunday, ordered both books and am on my third day, so far, so good. Books should arrive tomorrow or the next day.
My issue is histamine intolerance, which could very well be or genetic origin. We have been a WAPF family for five years now, but as I made and ate more fermented foods, my condition became worse and worse. Eventually, I quit eating any fermented products, we sold our goats and chickens, and I constrained myself to a very limited, histamine-free diet, which was very hard to do and not at all satisfying or nourishing.
My big question for you is: How do I begin introducing fermented foods into my diet? I am afraid that the histamine content will cause issues (presently I am dealing with severe eczema, which is usually how the histaming overload presents itself). I am well-versed in making bone broths (have some chicken broth simmering right now) and making all kinds of fermented products (have lots of those on hand, as well, just not eating any of them for many months.)
I am taking probiotics before each meal (Standard Process Prosynbiotic) and also Standard Process Zypan, for digestive assistance.
There is a product called Histame, which I take regularly with meals which I suspect may contain histamine. Histame contains the enzyme DAO, which is responsible for degrading the excess histamine in my small intestines. If I begin introducing fermented products, should I also take a Histame along with my meals?
Also, it is necessary to make the chicken broth from raw chickens, or can I roast them first? I find that roasted chickens make for better-tasting broth, but whatever is best I will follow.
Hi Katy,
There does appear to be a link between a compromised gut/bacterial imbalance and histamine reactions. Several people coming to GAPS have come with this. (You might be able to find some of them through the email support lists -set out on my blog’s ‘Support for You’ page- and check in with them about their experience, journey and tips.)
An approach that might work is to follow the ‘low and slow’ method presented in your GAPS Guide book, pages 58-59 (‘phenols…’ and ‘sensitive to…’).
When your books arrive, you will find that Dr Natasha references histamine briefly on pages 43 and 94 (November 2010 Edition).
While the early stage *meats* are to be boiled, not roasted, it’s fine to make the broth from roasted bones.
All my best,
Baden
I am about to start the GAPS diet and am wondering if you know anything about using Stevia as a sweetener. I use it a lot in tea and want to know if it is okay to use on GAPS
Hi Rebecca,
The only sweeteners permitted on GAPS are honey and fruit (fresh or dried).
This said, a number of people sensitive to sugars have opted to include stevia in an “otherwise GAPS” program, and have reported good results with an absence of cravings.
All my best,
Baden
Rebecca, I had this same issue. My son takes many supplements, but can’t swallow capsules. So I open all the capsules and put in water then sweeten with Stevia. If you look at the SCD website, it does list Stevia as illegal — but the reason given is that the Stevia plant has natural steroid like properties which have not been studied rigorously enough, not because it is made from grains or has gluten or is an artificial ingredient. Go and read this page, and then make your own decision. Otherwise the safest bet is to just honey in your tea
http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/knowledge_base/kb/stevia.htm
Thank you so much! This was really really helpful. I think I will have to break my stevia addiction…
Thanks, Baden. Got the books and am reading both simultaneously…
I’m just starting the 2nd Stage of the Intro diet, doing very well, and have
opted to very slowly introduce liquid from sauerkraut. And I’ll delay introducing yogurt as I have a big problem with that, too. I’ll check out the Support site and try to connect with others with my histamine intolerance issue.
Hi Baden
Do you know why GAPS does not allow Gruyere cheese please? I bought some this week not realising that it was a no, no food. This is a very mature Swiss cheese made from animals grazing in the hills in Summer. I have been assurred that while it is not organic the animals are not fed any supplements. The cheese is made by the locals in chalets using traditional methods. I am still trying to find out if this cheese is raw and unpasteurized. Apparently it is heated over a wood fire but I have been given some conflicting info.
Any knowlege that you have of this would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
H
Hi H,
Alas, I do not. I suggest following the research steps offered here: http://gapsguide.com/2009/02/16/how-to-find-answers/
Also, raw and unpasteurized is not essential -primarily each food just needs to be one that digests quickly, leaving nothing for the baddies to feast on. Hopefully that widens your cheese options.
All my best,
Baden
Can anyone give me info on where/how to get funding to start this diet? I lost my job last year due to illness and unemployment is not even enough to cover my rent and car payment, much less food. I applied for ssdi, but they denied me. They told me I receive too much to qualify for food stamps. I am hurting both physically and financially and I have no idea what to do. I want so badly to be a healthy and productive member of society again. I’d really appreciate any information anyone has. Thanks, Sarah
Dear Sarah,
I’m so sorry you are so low on funds.
If you’re familiar with my story, you know I was homeless in the past (and was without a car for 17 years, but that was the least of my concerns, as you probably understand).
Might there be any disability benefits available to you?
Outside of that, the only funding source I’m aware of is listed on my ‘Support for You‘ page, under ‘Loans’.
Many of us have given up our vehicle, home ownership, cable, internet, etc, in order to fund dense nutrition, moving into smaller, cheaper, or shared spaces, walking, using libraries, etc, to focus our money on health. Some people volunteer on organic farms, receiving free food in exchange for various types of work (everything from bookkeeping to booking guests to cleaning to digging).
Let me know about the above thoughts, and let’s keep brainstorming as necessary.
All my best,
Baden
Dear Baden,
Thank you for your reply. I checked into the loan, but they are currently not accepting requests. I filed for disability and was denied. I contacted an ssdi lawyer and they said there was nothing they could do for me because I was not currently seeing any specialists for my conditions. I haven’t had insurance for a year and definitely can’t afford to see a gastro or endocrinologist. I am in California and have no idea where I can get help. It seems every where I’ve turned I don’t qualify. I am selling most my possessions on ebay little by little. Any more ideas for those of us who are sick, stuck and losing hope?
Hi Sarah,
I’m so sorry you’re bumping into so many barriers!!
Re: SSDI. I didn’t know what that was, so looked it up. I would have suggested exactly what you did: see a disability benefits advocate. So often we’re denied benefits until we get a pro to step in on our behalf. That is the work I used to do. Where I live (not in the US), the criteria is similar to those presented online for SSDI. When I look there at the SSDI eligibility requirements, I don’t see a requirement for the involvement of a specialist. Is it worth seeing another advocate for a second opinion?
Are there associations in California specific to your diagnoses? Peer groups are often excellent sources of strategies for accessing benefits, transitional funding, healing programs, etc.
Can you make a pitch to KIVA? I keenly await the day they facilitate loans for healing -maybe your request will spur the first one! They do support folks in the US. [ETA: After writing this, I contacted KIVA about whether they do already facilitate loans for healing programs, special diets, etc -in case I had just never noticed this. They haven't yet replied, but in the meantime I did notice a loan category called 'personal use', which some folks are using to purchase a vehicle, etc. If you contact KIVA, please let me know what they say to you. If your loan request is approved and posted, please let us know that, too, so that anyone here can chip in.]
What about the other possibilities mentioned, that several of us have applied, such as moving to a cheaper region or apartment, selling our vehicles, volunteering on an organic farm in exchange for room and board, etc? What about trading with a GAPS family, caring for their household or child while they provide your room and board?
Please don’t lose hope! Many of us have been in your situation and found our way. I know I really resisted the idea of having to sell my house (after refinancing it three times), for example, but doing so proved incredibly beneficial in so many ways! Sometimes that which we most fear or resist doing ends up benefiting us in ways we could not have imagined!
Please let me know how things progress, Sarah. You are important.
All my best,
Baden
Baden – I just found your blog a few days ago and I am loving it and learning so much! Thank you for sharing your story! I have been reading about GAPS for several years now, but recently am heavily researching it on behalf of my sister in law. She is young and struggling terribly with autoimmune diseases. She was diagnosed with lupus almost two years ago, and it has since added sjogrens and now some sort of blood disease as well. She currently has not tried any sort of alternative medicine or healing, but she is open to it. The thing is, she is a bit of a skeptic, not to mention she is terrified to get off her drugs for fear that she would feel even more terrible than she does now. So, I’m asking if you know of any success stories, or better yet, blogs dedicated to stories of using GAPS to heal autoimmune diseases – specifically lupus? I think if she could read in detail a journey like yours, but one that pertains to her diseases specifically, or even be put in touch with someone, it would be very beneficial to her! And would give her the faith and hope to leave her meds behind and give this a real try. I just thought I’d ask if you have any ideas on this topic? Thank you so much!
Hi babybakermaker,
Great to have you with us!
Your sister-in-law’s concerns totally make sense to me, and your idea for linking her to real results experienced by real people -and the exact steps they took along the way- is fantastic.
GAPS is reported to potentially heal lupus, yes, and I have met (online) people who have recovered from it while doing SCD or GAPS plus adjunct, lupus-specific therapies. I believe (though am not 100% sure) that Jodi was one, and she was excellent about observing, recording and reporting her recovery progress. (Then she got so much better she moved on from the lists and went to live her life!) Unfortunately, I don’t know of anyone blogging their experience with lupus recovery through GAPS. I Googled ‘lupus GAPS’, ‘SCD lupus’, etc, and found some references but no specific, personal accounts of recovery. Hopefully someone will read your note and respond with a story or link. In the meantime, I suggest joining one of the email support lists, doing an ‘archives’ search (especially within the list presented under ‘Implementation’, as I believe some of the lupus folks did post there), and also posting ‘lupus – helped by GAPS?’ in the subject line of a new post.
All my best,
Baden
Hello,
I have a six year old son on the spectrum and have been implementing special diets since he was 3 1/2 . We did gfcf for a year before switching to scd for a year. While on scd he developed horrible reflux; so much that I began rotating his foods for the last six month hoping to avert having to scope him. He has had mild eczema since he was an infant which greatly improved while on scd.
However, I was so concerned with his constant reflux that I gradually weaned him back to gfcf while continuing a full rotation diet. He was doing really well for a time but recently started to complain of stomach aches. His eczema has returned and is now on his face. (In the past it was on his wrists and ear lobes.)
I started him on the gaps intro diet three weeks ago. We are at stage five and will remain on intro for a few months. His school is nut-free and so I had to progress to coconut and seed butters faster than I would have liked as I needed to be able to send snacks in his lunch. I am concerned now because his eczema has become quite bad particularly on his cheeks and chin. My question is is this common? Will the eczema get worse before it gets better?
His eczema seemed somewhat better in the first week of intro. I can’t go back a few stages as he is constantly hungry and I need a variety of foods to give him (he was always ravenous on scd). I’d appreciate any input you might have. By the way, his reflux is returning so I’m adding more probiotic foods in addition to his probiotic. Also, I’m looking for a grain-free, nut- free pizza dough recipe if such an enigma exists! Thanks , Ellen.
Hi Ellen,
I’m so sorry for your little guy’s symptoms.
Eczema is a tricky one and, yes, it’s quite common to see it emerge as the body reacts to various elements and/or attempts to heal. You might find this post helpful: http://gapsguide.com/2010/07/15/eczema/ I agree with you about not taking him back to Stage 1 over this symptom. The eczema will indeed ebb and flow while it heals, often regardless of stage.
Increasing probiotics too quickly can exacerbate eczema. For your son’s reflux, you might find these tips helpful: http://gapsguide.com/2011/05/14/heartburn-reflux/
For my seven year old’s school snacks, I send cheese and raw veggies. Earlier I used to send boiled eggs, etc. (His lunch is usually stew or something along those lines.)
I don’t know of a nut-free pizza dough yet, though I do make a pizza crust (of sorts) out of sunflower seeds. See the ‘Sunflower-Carrot Pizzazz’ note here: http://gapsguide.com/2008/12/11/a-week-of-winter-dinners/ I suggest also posting your request to one of the email support lists presented here: http://gapsguide.com/about/support/
All my best,
Baden
I am not sure if this is the right place to ask my question. There is so much information on the net and is a little overwhelming on the gaps diet.I suffer from depression,anxiety,myofascia pain.I am about to start the gaps diet,is there any special instructions for me ?Do I just follow the gapsguide page by age in order?
Hi Ari,
Yes
Read the GAPS Guide all the way through once, then start your steps on page 28.
All my best,
Baden
Hello,
Can anyone explain to me if they know about a doctor in southern Ca that can fill out Family medical leave act papers? I would love to follow this diet but I am hesitant since I have read about the intensity of die-off. I believe that if I could take a few months off of my job and concentrate on dealing with the die off that I would be able to heal myself more effectively. I have a job that requires alot of driving and I spend about 5 to 6 hours a day working with children in their homes or at their schools. I have been reading this blog and have found a lot of valuable information and I am very grateful! What do people do to deal with die-off while they are at work? I would appreciate help from anyone? A little history on me, I have had IBS for 11 years, PCOS (Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome), hyperactive thyroid, fertility issues, food allergies and sensitives, used oral contraceptives from 11-33 years old. I use to be active, healthy and energetic and I will do whatever it takes to get back to what I use to be!
Thanks!
Carmen
Hi Carmen,
Hopefully someone in your region will be able to answer your question about paperwork. In the meantime, I just wanted to let you know that the die-off, well managed, should last just a few days each round, so it shouldn’t leave you unable for several months to work. In the GAPS Guide book I suggest a transition of 8-12 weeks to full GAPS, then enjoying full GAPS until you are ready to begin intro. You could plan to start intro during a week off work, for example. This transition not only allows you to plan for rest and self-care during an intense healing phase, it also reduces very much the intensity and duration of any discomfort.
I have great hope for your return to full health!
All my best,
Baden
Baden,
Thanks for much for the information. Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. Listen, I wanted to let you know that I did just start the GAPS intro- diet as well as the probiotic on Saturday April 7th and although I have experienced die-off I have been able to handle it even while I am working. I feel so happy that I am able to come to this website for support and questions and it helps me not to feel so alone!
Blessings to you and yours Baden!
Carmen
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, Carmen!! Great news! Thanks so much for letting me know!
All my best,
Baden
Goodness Baden. How do you keep up. Congratulations on your passion to share your knowledge. Paula
Hi Paula,
Well, I don’t really keep up! But I do return -whenever I have gathered enough time, energy, and quiet again- to answer posts, etc. I sure appreciate people’s patience!
Thank you for your kind words, for understanding my heart
All my best,
Baden
which probiotics do I use in the Gaps intro diet and how much?How long do I stay on each stage,I dont have digestive problems.I have a pain condition,depression,anxiety and add.Thanks
Hi Ari,
The questions of which probiotics to use, when to start them, how much to start with and increase by, etc, is not a quick answer but is detailed very well in the GAPS Guide book. Ditto for the matter of how to determine when to move forward on each food/stage.
Pain, depression, anxiety and ADD are well-served by GAPS! My strong recommendation is to not jump in to the program, though. Please see this post: http://gapsguide.com/2012/04/11/move-but-dont-rush/
All my best,
Baden
On page 33 of the gaps guide,number 18 says “aim for one gaps meal per day and then number 19 says increase to 2 gaps meals per day.My questions are,Do you do this before the intro diet?2 where do you get these recipes from as the recipes in the abck of the book are for the intro diet and not for the regular gaps diet which is number 17 and 19.Also how long do you have these 1 to 2 gaps meal per day before you go into the intro diet.Thanks
Hi Ari,
For the ‘Preparing for GAPS’ section (starting on page 28), there is no specific timeline. The idea is just to slowly transition your body from your previous diet to full GAPS. Once you’ve been on full GAPS for at least a few weeks, feel free to move to Intro at any point after that.
Recipes for Full GAPS can be found in many places, including online. Here is a list of links: http://gapsguide.com/2009/03/06/scd-recipes/
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden,
I am slowly moving into the full Gaps diet and I am having alot of mucus in my throat after I eat anything now, I don’t know what to do. Is this normal or not? I have not had this problem before GAPS diet ( but, I had terrible mucus in my throat years ago when I discovered I had candida and I did resolve that on a anti-candida diet).
I have not begun the Introduction GAPS because you suggested that it might be better to start with Full GAPS first. I know I still have Candida issues and have been doing more to tackle this before GAPS like with vegetable juicing and staying away from sugar, Now that I have been starting slowly with full GAPS, doing the cultured veggies and minimal meat broth (which I can barely tolerate) the mucus in my throat after eating is just not going away, but, my eczema on both arms is starting to clear up, (which I relate to candida). Seems since I started juicing this year is when this eczema started happening, and so that is why I am doing GAPS, to clear this once and for all.
Could you please ease my mind to let me know what is going on? and what can I do to about the clearing of throat after eating? is this die off and the toxins being taken out through mucus?
I would appreciate any advice
carrie
Hi Carrie,
It’s relatively common for people to see mucous upon changing the diet. The mucous can be in the sinuses, from the bowels, anywhere. This is temporary and, yes, believed to be part of the body’s attempt to remove toxins and general overload.
To relieve the excess, personally I might try things like: gargling with salt water, sipping Apple Cider Vinegar (one tablespoon per cup of room temperature water) during the day, increasing the rotated die-off relief baths and other die-off relief approaches. Bowel movements will be important, as this is the most direct and efficient way to remove toxins.
Broth tolerance – You are using meat (as opposed to bone) broth? Are you testing various kinds of meaty-bones?
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden,
Thank you so much for taking out the time to answer my question
this sure does ease my mind. I will do that then, take the detox baths and sip on a.c.v., salt water gargle, and bowel movements which are good.
Yes, I am doing the meat broth like you mentioned before(only one hour of simmering) and going slow with that and with the fat in it during eating and it is getting better to do when I keep doing it daily and find that it is helping me with the mucus at least while I am eating, I find I still clear my throat afterward and sometimes I take honey to dry it up it seems to work.
(I haven’t experienced too much with the other meaty bones yet, I find chicken broth to not work out for me yet, but the beef meat broth is working now)
Thank you again Baden! you help so many and am so grateful for this site
SIncerely,
Carrie
How Do I make gaps cake rise without using baking soda?
Hi Ari,
Many baked goods will do well without the soda, just as or almost as well as with.
Also, you might want to look at some of the GAPS-specific recipes. Many people in the community are amazing recipe-developers! Here is a link to many: http://gapsguide.com/2009/03/06/scd-recipes/
All my best,
Baden
Hello Baden, Well…I have “fallen off the wagon” as they say. I was up to stage 5-6 when I went out of town for a funeral. The entire weekend was filled with family meals, etc. and I began to “cheat.” Since then my cravings have returned, and I am in full-blown cheating although I am still drinking broth and eating some of my GAPS food…followed by non-approved foods! Some of my symptoms have returned (bloating, flatulence, gas, belching, etc.) How do I get back on the wagon? I really don’t want to start back at Stage 1. Should I move to the full GAPS diet or start somewhere again within the 6 stages? Any thoughts on controlling cravings? I hope that I haven’t “un-done” all the progress I’ve made so far.
Thanks!
Hi Susan,
Sorry for the delay in responding!
A funeral is a very emotional time, of course, and emotional events can be the most difficult times to stay the course. I would just start at the stage you left off at, and carry on. If symptoms persist at that stage, only then perhaps consider starting at Stage 1 again. Each time you start from Stage 1, though, your body will likely be able to move through the progression faster than the previous time. Each round of healing helps the body, and supports it to be able to do more each time. You haven’t undone your progress -you have developed in your body and habits a foundation for further healing. Your body will respond to each return to the program.
Cravings – The major keys are to: eat fatty protein at least every hour or so, and eat a stage-friendly food that addresses your craving. For example, if you crave chocolate, a stage-friendly food containing lots of cocoa’s magnesium will likely relieve the craving. If cravings are intense, Dr Natasha suggests adding a bit of honey to some coconut oil or butter and eating a few spoons of that every twenty minutes or so.
All my best,
Baden
Hello Baden, Me again. I have another question. I have a tape worm and am taking Biltricide for it. Will this interfere with the healing program of GAPS? I know that there are a lot of natural supplements that I could take for this, but it’s just much easier to use a prescription. I will probably be on it for about 3 – 6 months. Also, I assume that the GAPS diet will help rid my body of the tapeworm. Please advise.
Many thanks!
Susan
Hi Susan,
While you are taking it, it may hamper healing to some degree, but it will also bring benefits, and the balance of healing can take effect after the course of medicine. I wouldn’t worry about it at all.
GAPS may or may not help relieve your body of tapeworm. Ultimately, with sufficient healing we don’t need to worry about parasites (likely present in all of us) unless they are specifically causing issues (symptoms), in which case we would indeed take something to resolve the issue.
All my best,
Baden
is canned tuna fish and canned peaches in 100 juice allowed on gas?Is Turkey cold cuts allowed without nitrites.Thanks
Hi Ari,
For foods recommended and not recommended, please use the lists here: http://gapsdiet.com/The_Diet.html
For any food not listed, please follow the steps here: http://gapsguide.com/2010/06/10/questions/
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden,
I have my doubts about the high fat content of the diet. Since starting the introduction over a week ago I haven’t noticed any improvements at all. My biggest fear is the fat malabsorption issue I have. The GAPS diet requires alot of good fats to digest, but what I’m finding is that I still have fat in my stools. Does the GAPS diet heal fat malabsorption or not?, Dr. McBride doesn’t say much about fat malabsorption in her book, What’s your take on this issue. Justin
Hi Justin,
Some people experience noticeable improvement within the first 1-7 days. Many, though, do not notice improvement until (a) more time on the diet or (b) testing the results by returning to their previous diet and comparing their states on and off GAPS.
Regarding the fats – Many people have had excellent success in resolving fat malabsorption via GAPS. Some need to start with very small amounts (a teaspoon) per day, and work up slowly. For additional information straight from Dr Natasha, please see Dr Natasha’s FAQ (new info) document here: http://gapsdiet.com/uploads/FAQS_Listing.pdf and search for words or phrases such as ‘gallstones’, ‘fat malabsorption’, etc.
All my best,
Baden
can one eat any other oil besides olive oil like canola oi thank
Hi ! I have started the GAPSdiet since 9 days now. I have started introducing veggies after the 3rd day but followed everythng else quite strictly. My problem is that I have diarrhea regularly every day since I started this diet.
I have had frequent periods of Diarrhea since quite a few years . And inbetween again rather normal stools. The last 6 months however have been quite “liquid” stools. I am already a rather skinny person by nature so the frequent loose stools and the Gaps diet made me loose even more weight.
I had many tests done for my gastric situation, but none indicated any bacterial infections. My HDL level is at 23 and a test done in USA indicated
a fat intollerance tendency but improved after taking probiotics a whole year. Maybe I shld not have stopped taking probio. I started again 2 Kyodophillus daily with the Gaps diet. Can I continue the Gaps diet even with frequent liquid stools ?
Hi Charles,
Diarrhea is common in healing crisis, as well as in a damaged gut. People with diarrhea are suggested to:
-Avoid vegetables
-If not taking a probiotic source, do so. Be sure to start it at a tiny dose and work up slowly.
-Remove high-fat dairy (e.g., ghee, butter, and sour cream)
-Incorporate high-protein dairy (e.g., whey, yogurt, and kefir).
If these do not remedy the issue sufficiently, you might consider the temporary use of Aloe vera juice. Although not recommended for general GAPS usage, even one or two doses can provide emergency relief, preventing further issues like dehydration or soreness and allowing one to move forward with the healing progression.
All my best,
Baden
Thank you dear Baden for yr very useful reply ! I will follow yr advice.
Wonder if you cld indicate me any certified GAPS Practitioner in Bali, Inodonesia? Or Singapore ?
Hi Charles,
On one of the four lists is a practitioner in Malaysia.
It is also effective to contact a practitioner from anywhere in the world. They can be very helpful by phone, email or Skype.
Please see: http://gapsguide.com/about/practitioners/
All my best,
Baden
I’m considering trying this diet but am stunned to see raw egg recommended. I’ve contracted salmonella several times from undercooked, organic, pastured egg and can’t even conceive of trying raw egg no matter how high the quality.
Hi Erica,
This is interesting to me, to hear you contracted salmonella several times from organic eggs from pastured chickens! It is worth knowing that anything in the list of recommended foods and Intro that one is not comfortable taking can be omitted. So, you can definitely try GAPS without the raw egg.
All my best,
Baden
Hi.
I’m looking at GAPS as I am coming off of years of remicade treatment. I have been on the SCD for a while. I’m wondering about bio kult probiotics recommended for GAPS. It contains B. bifidum which I believe was SCD illegal as Elaine G. said it would take over and cause problems. Any thoughts on this or new findings you know of?
Thanks!
Fionn
Hi Fionn,
No, there is no new information that I’m aware of, but I can share a few things: Elaine was unsure about bifidus, so to stay on the safe side declared it illegal. Dr Natasha recommends including bifidus, among many other strains. Some SCDers have reported that bifidus was indeed a problem for them. Others have been fine with it. There is no specific probiotic brand recommended for GAPS. (Historically, BioKult was and so it is often used.) You should feel free to try any, including SCD-legal ones, etc. The one you choose initially can exclude bifidus but over time, it will be beneficial to include as wide a range of strains as possible. I present more detailed info on probiotics -recommended starting doses, etc- in the GAPS Guide book.
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden!
My 3 children and I have been on GAPS for 2 years now. I am wondering how you know that you are well enough to start trying GAPS illegal food. We all still have bloated bellies in the evening, but when we wake up it is flat and most of the day. We have started to buy yoghurt in the store that is pasturized and homoginized and it seems to work well for us. Is it okey to buy yoghurt like this? We tried a tiny bit of potatoes and I didn´t see any reaction.
When is it okey to try bread? Is it okey to have sourdough bread soon?
My 10 yo daughter does have rashes on her arms and I still need a lot of rest, but sometimes I am afraid that we still have problems because this diet has caused us a lot of stress in different ways and stress can cause a lot of these problems too. My 5 year old seem to have completely healed and my 4 yo doesn´t want to try anything new. He doesn´t like fermented milk or berries. He did eat cheese a while ago but he doesn´t like it any more and that is when he took a leap forward in healing. I gave him a lot of banana a week ago and he didn´t seem to react badly to fruit anymore. That has been the biggest issue in my family. He only eats his ground beef stew all day long with grean peas and fermented carrots and in between the meals he eats muffins that I made of eggs, zucchini, ghee, cinnamon and now I have added banana. Could it be that my 4 yo is not well enogh since he is so picky with his food.
Are you still on GAPS yourselves?
Hi Mindy,
Congratulations on completing two years of GAPS!
What can now be introduced and eaten (and how often) will be determined by each body’s reactions.
Homemade sourdough is one of the items Dr Natasha recommends starting with. If that is tolerated, one might eventually transition to excellent versions of commercial sourdough. New potatoes, fermented buckwheat, fermented millet, etc, are also good transitional choices. Some people see distinct benefit and additional healing in adding starches (new potatoes, sourdough bread, even pseudo-grains like quinoa) after the intensive two + year healing period.
Yes, stress can certainly cause its own problems!
When someone becomes or remains very picky in their eating, this is an indication that the gut flora is off. It can also, though, be a behavioural/habitual thing. What I do when this issue comes up in me or my son is return us to Intro for 3-30 days. Regardless of the source of fussiness, this resolves it.
We did 2.5 years of strict GAPS, then began incorporating any other food (and non-food) in the world. What we’ve found is that so long as our diet is about 90-95% GAPS, we can have whatever else no problem.
All my best,
Baden
Thank you for your reply!
I think we have decided to keep on going for a while longer on full gaps, but we will sort of cheat with new potatoes and cocoa a few times and we are going to try a homemade sourdough to just see what happens. You said you did strict GAPS for 2,5 years so we will probably aim for that.as well. It is so wonderfull to see the kids so happy and acting like normal kids, but they do have less great days, but I am not sure it is a GAPS thing or just a normal kid thing. My kids hate being bored and they get very winy when they do. This is mostley when I notice their bad behavior. I tend to overreact when they are like this and I try to figure out what food might have triggered it, but I never see a consistent reaction to a specific food.
Mindy
Baden,
wonder if i can request a personal telephoen consultation for my family of 4- (you probably dont do them but wondered if youd make an excepion for a family who have so many different issues between us i cant work out what to do?) esp my baby of 7 months who soudn ssimilar to yours? your ethe only person ive found with similar experience. ive ordered your book online, but would love to speak and desperatley need help and v happy to pay for yoru time? could you pls help ? ive read gaps and tried to implement once before. many thanks, mischa x
Hi I was doing intro stage 4 (I did full gaps previously for 2 months), and getting constipation, I added carrot juice and got better although sometimes I got diarrea, I eat salmon at a a friend’s house and got severe diarrea for 2 weeks (12 people eat the salmon but I was the only one that go sick). My gp sent me for blood test and came back with extremely low iron this was just before the “food poisoning”. Took some iron got constipated again and suddenly last Monday I waked up with a throbbing pain on my right side (appendix) I was so scared of a surgery, so I checked on the internet and found a protocol. I did it and the pulsing pain subsided, now is only a very mild tenderness (chronic appendicitis) My inner voice tells me that I caused this to myself due to all the diet changes I have been going through, constipation, diarrea etc. Also, I have electrolyte imbalance and getting leg cramps wich in turn has made my peripheral neuropathy worse.
I’ll appreciate any feedback.
Thanks!
Ps: I’ll do an ultrasound, however chronic appendicitis might not show.
Can you tell me what stage baking soda is allowed?
Hi Julie,
Baking soda is not used as a food ingredient in GAPS. It is used only as a remedy (internally for reflux, externally for fungal infections) or in a detox bath.
All my best,
Baden
Thank you so much for sharing and supporting like you do:)!
Is ground fennugreek ok? It’s a spice but I think also a legume, we would be eating it on daily basis.
thanks, rebecca
As a great admirer of Dr. Natasha, I bought her book even though I knew that I wouldn’t e able to read it, myself, due to an autoimmune disease that affects my retinas. I can, however, read still on a computer screen because I can enlarge the font. Is there any likelihood that the GAPS book or the GAPS Guide will any time soon be available in e-book format so that I can use them?
Hi Bayden,
Dr. Campbell-McBride is no longer able to accept new patients. Which leading experts in the field are available for consultation?
I have checked the available lists. I have consulted with a local provider. However, my condition continues to deteriorate. 3 months into Intro Stage 1 my mind is still willing but I am expending all my energy trying to defend an untenable position. Physically I am struggling to cope. I feel the support of someone with expert knowledge could help to turn things around.
Thank you for what you do to help others.
James.
In the making of bone or chicken stock, Sally Fallon uses 2 T. of cider vinegar to help them break down to release the minerals. There is no mention of vinegar in stock with the GAPS diet. Vinegar is a vital element to stock.
Thank you, Carol
Hi, I’ve read the GAPS guide and GAPS and would like further clarification on the few exeptions when probiotics and ferments don’t work for people. We’ve been on GAPS for a year now and I’ve consistently muscle tested negative for probiotics and ferments. I have never felt worse than when on GAPS (exhaustion, stomach pain, migraines, horrible temper). I have started feeling better since starting coffee enemas in November and we stay on GAPS because I can see the improvement in my son. We’ll restart intro tomorrow because my son continues to have issues, but I’m wondering for myself if maybe something else is going on and maybe I shouldn’t do probiotics/ferments. I’ve spoken with doctors, nutritionists and other GAPS people but no one can seem to figure out what is going on. The only things recently that have seemed to really help are the coffee enemas, HCL & Ox bile.
Thank you,Sarah
I have been on the gaps diet for 1 year. The first month was a struggle of course but after that it was amazing. I felt great, had energy, my pain went away, my gassy problem went away, I could think and recall, and my moods and emotions were under control. At about 5months I went through the intro again to start my sister on it {stage IV cancer
} and since then I react terribly to dairy (home made yogurt and sour cream which I was so enjoying at first) and progressively more sensitive to things. I can’t tolerate any juice or even some whole fruits at all or symptoms return, butter has even started making me gassy now. Is this normal? I went through the usual occasional symptom returns that she said may recur in cycles; but, this doesn’t go away. And my abdominal pain and bloating seems constant again. Why do I seem to be more sensitive now? Any advice?
If someone feels good on GAPS at first (intro) and later gets worse… you should know that GAPS can be very high in histamine, glutamate, thiols(sulfur), and protein which can be a major problem in those with methylation mutations especially for those who have CBS SNP’s. Furthermore, epsom baths have sulfur which can make someone with CBS SNP’s worse. If you felt great on Gaps INTRO but now that you’ve had enough healing you’ve added in a lot of thiol rich veggies and long epsom soaks, and you are starting to have symptoms return or you are feeling worse… research CBS and other methylation pathway mutations.
http://www.heartfixer.com/AMRI-Nutrigenomics.htm
Sherlee, thank you SO MUCH for sharing this information with this blog’s readers! I appreciate that, as I’m sure many others will too.
All my best,
Baden
Baden, your book and blog helped me to heal my gut, thank you! When I first went on SCD/Gaps I couldn’t even digest lettuce. As my gut healed, I felt better at first, I had less brain fog and eventually I was able to eat many more vegetables. I lost weight I needed to lose and felt better than I had in years. Later after having the swine flu and being forced to be on antibiotics so I wouldn’t die, I devised a cross of SCD/Gaps to heal my gut bugs with lots of 24hr yogurt, parmesan cheese “crackers”, bowl after bowl of long simmering broth, and TONS of ferments which meant I devised a version of SCD/Gaps exceedingly high in histamine, glutamic acid, thiol rich veggies, and protein. I didn’t know I have CBS gene mutations making excess sulfur (thiol) from foods and epsom salt baths and too high of protein a problem for my body. I didn’t know I have methylation SNP’s making being glutamic acid AWARE critical for my glutamate/gaba balance. The SCD/Gaps hybrid diet, as I did it, was too high in histamine, glutamic acid, PROTEIN, and thiol (sulfur) for my SNP’s. I became very ill and had metabolic acidosis where my blood became acidic and I went into a catabolic state where I started losing leg, butt, and arm muscles. I became disabled with dysautonomia. I’ve recently discovered through private genetic testing, i have many SNP’s in the methylation cycle. Had I known of these, I could have “tweaked” my diet to eat for my genes. I could have eaten less protein, more lower-thiol vegetables, less higher-thiol vegetables, avoided leftover meat, eaten less protein, simmered my broth fewer hours, followed Dr. McBride’s instructions on tiny amounts of sauerkraut juice not ferments by the bowlful, and I could have monitored my urine sulfate levels to know if I needed to make diet changes. This new field of nutrigenomics offers us hope for personalized nutrition. I started a blog to share nutrigenomic research I find buried in articles on PubMed. My first blog post has info on options for private genetic testing and links for more information. I hope you and your readers find it helpful. My best, SherLee http://sherleeholmes.com/2013/04/07/methylation-snps-testing-options-and-information-resources/
Thanks for posting this info. I have been on Intro for 3 months hovering at stage 4or 5but with limitations on even what is allowed on those stages of Intro.
I have not felt much better and had to stop eating kraut, bone broth and probiotics and have to be careful with the amount of fats I eat. Still not including dairy. This has been very confusing. But I found out that I have two mutations for the methylation gene. And have just been reading about the histamine intolerance issue. Now it is making more sense. I have wondering how to adapt GAPs to work with these issues since I believe that at least the histamine issue has its root in gut health. I firmly believe that most of my health problems are rooted in my gut health. I just don’t know yet how to continue the gut healing with so many limitations. So I’m just going slow and trying to find enough foods to nourish me that are still on GAPS intro that don’t cause strong reactions and that help the healing. I feel hopeful that when there’s been enough healing in my gut that I won’t have the reaction to histamine and other substances that are in perfectly good foods.
I have found some help with the histamine issue from these sites:
http://roosclues.blogspot.com/2010/03/low-histamine-diet.html
And this one is good because it talks about GAPS and histamine intolerance:
http://www.judytsafrirmd.com/2013/02/
On mehtylation:
http://www.mthfrsupport.com/index.html
And
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5m2jfiSnN4