Healing with GAPS

biokult is the one I'm looking for but can't find it locally, I might need to call a distributor or something. The banna bread was the classic bread in the GAPS book with those added extras.

:o gotta run... back later

Just watched this interview with NCM. Great overview of why everyone should be on GAPS. Good, clean, healthy food :D

Pasture Promise

(Pretty sure this link is okay as it looks like a video blog youtube type channel- I hope so!)

Hi ladies, I've decided to start GAPS in an attempt to solve DDs 'sore tummy' issues that have been hanging around for months.

I don't know much at all about where to start - can you give me some ideas of websites, books, whatever I need to read to throw myself in the deep end? I need to do groceries today so theres no better time to start than today right?


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Fantastic! Your poor little daughter :( You are giving her and her children the gift of life long health by tackling this for her now!

I love enthusiasm but starting GAPS will most likely take more planning. It's a huge shift. But by all means you can start easing your way in and slowly stop relying on non-GAPS foods.

The GAPS yahoo groups are awesome for support and questions. GAPSdiet or GAPShelp.

The official website is gaps.me

You will need the book, Gut and Psychology Syndrome. It has a lot centred around how this diet cures psychological issues obviously but the basis of the diet is there and the reasons why it heals all gut conditions. The cheapest place to buy it seems to be bookdepository.

Thanks for the info Meow - my local library has a copy available so I'm going to pick it up soon.

I'll have a look at the sites when I get home lol. I'm going to have to do shopping today so should I just aim fresh to give us a start before planning it more for the next shop? Is the anything in particular I should avoid?

Thanks again!!


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GAPS is low starch, refined sugar, grain and lactose free. So you need to avoid all grains (wheat, corn, rice etc etc), anything with sugar, potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnip and dairy other than home-cultured yoghurt and sour cream. You also can't eat refined oils such as canola oil or any processed foods.

You'll possibly need some new kitchen equipment as everything is cooked from scratch to avoid all harmful food processing so take your time. Perhaps just don't stock up on lots of cooking oils, flours, pasta etc.

How's everyone going? Still GAPSing?

We're still trucking along here. My older son is doing amazing things- his language, engagement and play are just phenomenal compared to when we started! He still only eats soup, the food anxiety is still there. I'm not pushing it though, he gets all the good stuff in his soup so we'll just be patient for now. We've started to push his healing with supplements. He's on Lutimax now, which is immune support and we really saw huge changes in his attention on that. We've also started s. boulardii to try and keep pushing out the candida- he's getting die off so that's going well.

My little son is getting really picky with his food. Wont eat soup or ferments or much of anything good. His candida is getting out of control- he would just eat fruit all day if he could. So I'm pondering going "no fruit". Arrghh! My candida doesn't like that idea! I'm going to be much stricter about low fruit for a while at least. He is also getting black rings under his eyes and I think he may be reacting to dairy so we might pull that out. *sigh* My older son is on no dairy, but I like it!!

I've made some appointments for our naturopath and family doctor next month. Plus we're going to see a homeopath who often treats autistic children... we should have a bunch of blood tests, supplements, dietary changes and homeopathics by this time next month!

Hi Meow, After all of my research and preperations we are not GAP'ing it!!! I purchased a herd share to have access to the raw biodynamic mik, purchased a yoghurt maker, learnt how to make the basics such as the almond bread, saurakrout (sp?) I make some stocks and was all set to go. I made some butter from raw cream and yoghurt which were both beautiful but even with a very small amount ds had a bit of mucus and smidge of blood in his stool. When I say blood I mean pin head in the mucus, nothing serious. Apparenty this is a sign of him reacting to that dairy so I stopped having it. I think ds is fine anyway, his diet is fantastic, he eats organic meats and grains, loves his fruit as snacks and he will eat his vegies and salad too. Basically anything that is on our plate he wants some of. He doesn't eat sugar so that's a good thing. I still haven't purchased the biokult probiotic though which I am going to do right now after I post! I think of it every day but never get around to it!! I think what I have gotten from the GAPS is to take away all of those fantastic principles and to implement them into our daily life, such as having homemade stock in the freezer to use when we are making soup or risotto etc. I still purchase organic butter so we use that or coconut oil for spreads. Soaking grains properly before cooking etc You know just all that good stuff which we can without having to be strict (unless there is a problem). Which leads me to my original problem eczema.... It's calmed down a lot, I'm pretty sure the massive flare up was due to extreme stress and with that easing it's not so bad. I know that if I want to get rid of it (which I do) I will eventually need to be strict on GAPS. When ds has weened I will do properly.

One other thing that is happening in our house is that after all the can/jar stuff is gone that we have we will be making everything from scratch like what I already do for DS. We've planted a huge veg and herb garden and I am back making our own bread again :D

Meow it sounds like your little one isn't doing too well, I hope with all the new suppliments etc he will also be on the healing track.

Do you have the Nourishing Traditions book? It's awesome and I think it would be perfect for where you are at. All that wonderful food sounds amazing! :D

We're visiting all the different doctors and things for my older son. The little one isn't doing that badly, he's developing well but there are a lot of little things bothering me. I think he needs to be doing more serious GAPS so it's time to knuckle down with him too. I don't think he needs anything more than that at the moment as he just has to fight the candida rather than also heal a leaky gut, or restore his brain health like my older son.

Hey Meow, yes I have nourishing traditions, I purchased them both together, I love it, it's got loads of food ideas and the health information is a much easier read than the GAPS book too. I'm sure you'll get your little one back on track, you know what you need to do which is the best start! I have finally ordered the probiotic and some other stuff form the gaps website for increasing my stomach acid for digestion. I think I'll also duck into the local health food shop tomorrow and get some other fish oil, they recommend eyeQ on the website so I might get that. At the moment ds has flaxseed but it's always on my mind to grab some fish oil for him too. Plus the anti-imflamatory benefits for me will be great. It's great to hear from you Meow and thanks so much for all of your help with GAPS and for offering me so much information, it hasn't gone to waste, I've learnt so much and our health is so much better for it! dh who has been vego for around 17 years I think is even eating organic meat!!! Take care :)

That is so lovely for you to say. At least now if you want to heal your eczema or your son's dairy intolerance you know what to do! Knowledge is power :D

I agree Nourishing traditions is much better laid out and really goes into detail better than the GAPS book. GAPS could do with some good editing :lol: But the principles of how to heal through diet are all there.

I'm not so sure your son would need fish oil. Just eating good fish every week should be enough I would think. But fermented cod liver oil is good for everyone :)

We had a fellow BBer stay last weekend and I may have converted her family to Nourishing Traditions... I think we need a Nourishing Traditions thread!

We're going well. E has been going through some heavy detox and has had a rough couple of weeks. I got a bit over excited about starting him on coriander to detox mercury and upping his garlic and I clearly put too much in his soup. He broke out with a burn type rash that is apparently a detox rash and he's very tired again, doing more scripting, less keen to engage. But detoxing is a good thing so I'm happy about that. I've cut down the coriander and garlic will build them back again slowly. It's exciting to know we have more tricks up our sleeve. There is still SO much to do and he has a LOT of healing to go but I'm confident he'll get there.

We're off to our naturopath this week, then our GP for his 4 year old check up so we might order some more blood tests and test for MTHFR mutation. Then the week after we're off to a homeopath who treats children with autism so she will hopefully be able to assist his body with more healing.

On a side note, I'm feeling pretty 'flat' and have done for a long time. I'm sick of it. I bought The Mood Cure and I think it's going to be perfect to help me get my body functioning better along with GAPS. I think I'm low in endorphins so I love the way this book guides you through trouble shooting and targeting your healing. I think GAPS would get you there eventually but this should speed me along a bit.

Meow, we are total converts lol! our stay with you has changed us irrevocably. i still dream of all that delicious, wholesome food...and then cry when i look in our cupboard lol. we have determined to begin the diet when we get back home. we just find it nigh on impossible with the options here in LA.

Hi Cass :hello: Oh how lucky to be treated to yummy GAPS/Nourishing Traditions food at Meows house!!!!

Meow That's all great news hon, detoxing with side effects is better than no detoxing at all. I have to say though that when my eczema is good I am reluctant to do anything to irritate it though! For example once I posted in this thread the other day I ordered the probiotics and sure enough they flared up my hands (no surprise there). I've been into the fish oil heavily and evening primrose and they have been great! I'm also meeting lots of mums out there who have their kids/family on GAPS or are eating a Nourishing Traditions type of diet which is just fantastic! As for the rest of our diet our pantry is nearly through with all the old stuff, we've got a massive vegie garden growing which is just the best thing ever!!! Fresh leafy greens and herbs etc every day is just fantastic :D

I've started a Nourishing Traditions thread HERE

That's so exciting Cassius! I'm just excited you weren't all half-starved and wondering where the pasta was :lol: It was also a huge pleasure to have a kitchen hand and have Mr Cassius show me how to roast a chicken and actually COOK US DINNER!!! Do you realise I have not had ONE SINGLE dinner that I haven't cooked myself since we started GAPS?! It was bliss. Truly, if a lame cook like me who came from 15 years of vegetarianism can learn to cook GAPS and manage to make every single dinner with no takeaway then ANYONE can ;)

I totally get that you can't start for a while but don't feel bad because no-one can jump right in. Take some time to read the book, research local melb WAPF (Weston A Price Foundation) chapters for people you can talk to about where to buy meat, milk etc., get your wish list of appliances together... there's plenty to do in preparation :D

So awesome you are having great things happen cherished! I've heard fish oil is great for so many things- I bet your body is loving all those EFAs you're getting in :D I love hearing about your family's healthy living. So cool to see the last of your old food leaving the pantry and the garden sounds lush!!

Let's hope for some NT converts in the new thread :D And hopefully we'll get some more GAPSters in this thread one day. Plenty of people around needing healing ;)

Meow, my DD1 has nut allergies and also just been diagnosed with lentil and chickpea allergies (foods which she used to eat with no issues so they are new allergies). I have heard that there is information regarding GAPS and allergy reversal but I can't seem to find anything. Do you know of any actual cases or sites that I can go to?

Nai I was heading down the GAPS path for allergies/eczema. There is information int eh GAPS book about it.

Do you know if it is more along the intolerance allergic response or the anaphylactic allergic response lines? She doesn't have intollerances, skin issues like eczemea or asthma at all - just the full blown allergies *sigh*

Yes, the GAPS protocol heals food allergies. NCM says there are a small group of people who have "true allergies" which you most likely wont be able to heal. Your daughter's nut allergy may fit this category, but I'd be very doubtful that her lentil & chickpeas allergies do. Given that they are new I would suspect she has a leaky gut and can heal those allergies, and perhaps the nut allergy if it was caused by the leaky gut also. There is some discussion of that in the book and you can join the GAPShelp yahoo group to talk to other people who are doing the diet. There are often people on there who share success with being able to eat foods they previously couldn't.