GAPS Diet

Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAP Syndrome or GAPS) is a condition establishing a connection between the functions of the digestive system and the  brain. This term was coined by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD, MMedSci (neurology), MMedSci (human nutrition) in 2004 after working with hundreds of children and adults with neurological and psychiatric conditions, such as autistic spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD/ADD), schizophrenia, dyslexia, dyspraxia, depression, obsessive –compulsive disorder, bi-polar disorder and other neuro-psychological and psychiatric problems.

Gut and Physiology Syndrome includes chronic physical conditions which stem from an unhealthy gut, such as all autoimmune conditions (celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes type one, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, autoimmune skin problems, Hashimoto disease and other hormonal problems, etc.), asthma, eczema, various allergies, food allergy and intolerance, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple many endocrine disorders (thyroid, adrenal and other), chronic infections, many neurological diseases and all chronic digestive disorders (such as irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, colitis, etc).

The collective bacteria that reside along the GI tract is referred to as your gut microbiome.  Clinical research continues to reveal how significant the health and function of the gut flora are to every physiological action in the body including metabolism, digestion, nutrient production and absorption, neurotransmitter production and transport, inflammation, detoxification, etc.  Through dietary intervention, targeted supplementation, detoxification, and lifestyle changes, the nutritional protocol is designed to restore digestive function, brain function, and overall health.

This is one of many interviews with Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride. I highly recommend her books about healing the gut-brain connection. This not only heals the brain, but also the immune system, cardiac system, and more. Both of these books are very good and do have some overlap. If you suffer from mental illness of any kind, I suggest the yellow book. If you have chronic or autoimmune conditions, I suggest the blue book. If you want to know it all…well….get both if you are all in.

The GAPS diet has been around for so many years, and has such a cult following, that you could watch videos and listen to podcasts all day and still not see them all. Dr. Campbell-McBride is the creator of GAPS, which stands for Gut & Psychology Syndrome and Gut & Physiology Syndrome.  Dr. Campbell-McBride holds a degree in Medicine and Postgraduate degrees in both Neurology and Human Nutrition. I will link to her GAPS books, and an equally helpful Nourishing Traditions. The Nourishing Traditions book isn’t completely GAPS, but is full of knowledge and info on corporate farming compared to traditional methods of raising food.

Even if you do not follow the GAPS diet 100%, just implement as much of it as you can into your diet. The more you use, the more good it does. I cannot recommend this knowledge highly enough.