The GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) diet was created by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, a neurologist and nutritional consultant from the UK, to treat her sons’ autism. The diet is not meant to be a lifestyle change, but a temporary eating plan to heal the gut and replenish gut flora and is intended to help a wide variety of neurological conditions – including autism.
Parents note they are seeing their children lose symptoms, find relief from gastrointestinal issues and regain emotional expression after adhering to the GAPS diet – although they note that recovery does not happen overnight and adherence to the diet is necessary.
GAPS healing protocol consists of comprehensive detoxification, dietary changes, and supplementation and is divided into the introduction diet and the full GAPS diet.
Introduction Phase
In the introduction diet phase, people start their day with a room temperature cup of still mineral or filtered water and a probiotic. They then can have meat or fish stocks. Chicken stock is recommended for being particularly gentle on the stomach. It is important to make the stock from joints, bones, meat on the bone, or a whole chicken – do not use bullion cubes or commercially available soup stock granules. In fact, the gelatinous soft tissues around the bones and the bone marrow provide necessary nutrients to heal the gut lining and the immune system. It is recommended to consume the stock daily.
As you progress along the introduction phase of the GAPS diet, vegetables, probiotic-rich foods, ginger tea, raw organic egg yolks, fresh pressed juices, nut flours and eventually raw fruit are all gradually added. How slowly or quickly you progress through the introduction phase of the diet is based on stool changes and it is stated that after the completion of the introduction phase that your stools should be more or less normal. Once that happens, you are ready to move onto the full GAPS diet.
Full GAPS Diet
In this phase, you start your day with a glass of still mineral water or filtered water with lemon and it can be any temperature you desire. If you have a juicer, the freshly pressed juice is also recommended. For breakfast, pancakes made with nut flours, eggs or pure minced meat sausages without MSG or commercial seasonings are good options.
Lunch and dinner consists of homemade vegetable soup or stew with meat stock, avocado, meat, shellfish, raw or cooked vegetables,
Common Mistakes Made on the GAPS Diet
Not taking a probiotic. Eating foods that are helping you to detoxify is only part of the plan. It is necessary to reseed your gut with beneficial flora that will help you heal is essential.
Not consuming enough broth throughout the day is also a common pitfall. The broth is soothing to your body and you need to be having a cup with each meal.
Find out more about GAPS
If you want to learn more about the GAPS diet, I recommend reading Gut & Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Campbell-McBride and schedule a consult by calling our office at (800) 669-0358 to work your way through the diet. I incorporated the GAPS diet into my practice as it complemented CEASE Therapy and homeopathy so well and to date, I am seeing positive results with patients of all ages.