I am a part of the generation of modern women that Dr.
Campbell McBride talks about.
I was not breastfed as an infant. As a child, I developed
food allergies that progressed to environmental and mold allergies. As a teenager, I was on and off antibiotics
for months, if not years, for acne, as well as other infections. In my late
twenties, my gynecologist prescribed birth control pills to regulate my period.
I was on birth control pills for three years until I became pregnant with my
first child. Through these years, I developed eczema, chronic constipation and
PMS. And all through this time, I never took probiotics. (I think they were
unheard of back then!)
In my late thirties, I was sickened with Chronic Lyme Disease. I was on long term antibiotic therapy for about 10 years. By this
time, I was taking probiotics – but the damage was already done. Tests showed that I had an abnormally high
range of candida , not only in my digestive tract, but in my BLOOD! I also
tested positive for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Hypochlorhydria, (low stomach acid), and Leaky Gut Syndrome. I was prescribed Nystatin to reduce the candida overgrowth. It took 3
years for my test results to come back in the normal range.
But my guts felt far from normal. Even though, I had been
faithfully taking good quality probiotics for years and had been off
antibiotics, my digestive tract was still a mess. I was recommended to go on
the GAPS DIET by Dr. Gurevich a few years ago. So I bought the book, Gut and
Psychology Syndrome, read the first chapter and said to myself –
FUHGETTABOUTIT!
In my mind, there was no way I could emotionally commit to
the diet at that time. Even though I stayed away from sugar, gluten, and dairy,
I still saw starchy snack food (and there is no starch in this diet!), as a
reward. And my numero uno worst culprit was potato chips! Sweet potato chips
would also rank up there as a close second and, of course, who could live
without corn chips?
I had to have chips every day. But with each day, my guts weren’t getting
better. So after two years had gone by, I picked up the book again, read the
Introductory Diet and realized – I can
do this! I can heal my damaged gut. I can return the beneficial flora back to a
healthy state. I can do this – on my own! I can heal… with the help of THE GAPS DIET.
So what is the GAPS DIET?
First of all, it’s the elimination of foods that are known to stay in
the gut, damage the gut wall, and feed on pathogenic bacteria, viruses,
candida, and fungi. This would mean all grains, all starchy vegetables, sugar
and anything made with it, starchy beans and peas, and lactose. Soy is to be
avoided also.
The GAPS DIET is also made up of Three Stages:
- The Introduction to the Gaps Diet
- The Full Gaps Diet
- Coming Off the GAPS DIET
Dr. Campbell-McBride recommends starting with the
Introduction Diet first.
Presently, I’m on Stage 5 of the Introduction Diet. This
consists of making homemade stocks, soups and stews out of (preferably organic,
antibiotic and hormone free) whole chickens, duck and other fowl, meat (with
bones and marrow), and /or fish. Non-starchy vegetables are added to the stock
to make soups and stews. Probiotic and fermented foods and drinks are gradually
added and eaten with the soups. Ginger tea with some honey is for in-between
meals. Adding raw organic egg yolks and fresh garlic to the soup promotes
healing.
Scrambled eggs with cooked onion, “GAP pancakes and bread”, freshly pressed juices, roasted meats, are introduced in Stage 3 and 4. Stewed apples and select raw vegetables are introduced in Stage 5, if all the previous foods are well-tolerated.
Foods that are permitted are gradually added to the diet.
For the complete diet and outline of the program go to The Complete Guide to the Gaps Diet
I will keep everyone updated on my healing progress on the
GAPS Diet in future posts.
