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marysdaughter1
Guest
Not sure where to put this one… . Has anyone tried this diet? Any suggestions about getting started?
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cjmclark
Guest
Just looking over what I see on the internet, it looks like it puts heavy emphasis on fresh foods, especially eating lots of vegetables and using natural fats (in other words, avoiding processed foods).
My wife and I have had success with eating lots of fresh foods (high vegetable, low meat and moderate carb) and tracking what we eat through Weight Watchers. Eating fresh foods definitely helps, but it’s still important to regulate your intake, because in the end the calories in have to be less than the calories out to successfully lose weight. The vegetables help a lot because they contain a lot of dietary fiber, which helps mitigate the caloric value of the food. Eating fresh instead of processed also helps because it reduces your sodium intake, which will give you good short-term weight loss by reducing the amount of water your body retains.
Another important thing to consider is what makes you eat what you do, when you do. If you can identify the psychological triggers that make you want to throw caution to the wind and order that large pizza or eat that pint of ice cream, you can avoid them or re-teach yourself.
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TheRealJuliane
Guest
The website says it is based upon the Specific Carbohydrate diet, which says we humans must eat the foods we ate before agriculture began. Since we can’t digest the cultivated foods properly, they cause disease, according to the SCD.
There are a lot of claims being made about what this GAPS diet can do - claims which seem to be rather outrageous. I have found in life, that if something sounds too good to be true, such as that a simple dietary change can cure autism, ADHD, depression and even schizophrenia.
There’s a lot of reference to pro-biotics. Perhaps an opportunity to sell them to people on the diet? That seems a conflict of interest to me.
I am very skeptical of these fad diets.
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exoflare
Guest
Where does the SCD mention anything about blood type? Are you sure you’re not confusing it with something else?
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TheRealJuliane
Guest
Sorry, yes I was, Eating Right for Your Blood Type is another fad diet. I will correct my post.
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Nec5
Guest
Blood Type? What? hahaha.
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TheRealJuliane
Guest
Yeah, that was another fad diet that was big about 2 years ago. It’s kind of faded off the scene though.
Blood type diet
People will believe just about anything, or as PT Barnum put it, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
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marysdaughter1
Guest
Thank you all -I’ve been trying to eat more “local” for a bit now. More fresh (in season) veggies and just more balanced. I’ve also been trying to include probiotics in my diet - supposed to be very healthy.
Juliane - I’m with you on diets that claim to cure everything under the sun. I’ve heard of people having good results with the Gap diet, but mostly they do it for a set time and not forever.
Juliane - I’m with you on diets that claim to cure everything under the sun. I’ve heard of people having good results with the Gap diet, but mostly they do it for a set time and not forever.
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cjmclark
Guest
This is the problem with most “diets”. Most people don’t need a diet to lose weight and be healthier…they need a change in lifestyle. That’s why when folks who were on a diet stop, they often regain weight quickly. Instead of learning healthy eating habits, they relied too much on just following the diet, or eating the ready-made mail-order food (yuck!) or whatever. So much of weight loss is about making the psychological change, to determine once and for all that you are going to develop healthy eating habits and stick with them.
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TheRealJuliane
Guest
I don’t think probiotics are necessary for most people. Your gut actually contains everything it needs to and does everything it needs to and if you are having GI issues, then go to the doctor instead of trying to supplement it away.
I think fully 80% of what is advertised as the solution to our problems through diet is bogus. The main thing is, eat as much fresh food as you can, eat lots of fruit and vegetables, eat less calories or the same as you burn, and get more exercise. Oh, and of course…Don’t use food like a drug! (To soothe you, to calm you, for emotional problems.)
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jbehme8
Guest
It doesn’t look like anyone else who has replied has actually done the GAPS diet. I and my family have. It’s no fad, but an honest way to heal the body from the damage we’ve done by eating processed, genetically modified, pesticide laden, etc. foods, while breathing and drinking polluted air and water, along with taking in plenty of other toxins. In other words, we’ve greatly damaged so much of what God has given us, and our bodies are suffering the consequences. Notice how much more prevalent autism, allergies, mental illnesses, cancer, all kinds of diseases, etc. are today?
Anyway, I’ve seen amazing results by following this way of eating that allows the body to heal. It takes us back to how most traditional cultures of people used to eat, including fermented foods (to balance our gut bacteria - which effects all areas of our health), bone and meat broths, in which we use all the parts of the animal, drawing minerals from bones to heal our guts, and eliminating starchy foods (until the gut heals).
In our family (of 7) alone, we’ve been healed of depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, chronic headaches, severe eczema, ADD, night terrors, Raynaud’s disease and are in the process of healing celiac disease. Many of our friends have seen incredible results, too. So you think it sounds too good to be true? God says that with faith, all things are possible.
I discovered this diet when I was at the lowest point of my life, about 4 years ago. My fourth daughter was 18 months and barely slept. She wanted to be consoled around the clock as she suffered from severe reflux (including vomiting), eczema, hive breakouts, and extreme underweight. It also appeared that her brain was not functioning properly, as she did not focus, play, or communicate. One night, in tears, as my body ached from lack of sleep and holding her, I went online. I prayed God would tell me what to do, as the doctors only continued giving her medications that only seemed to compound her problems.
On the first page I opened, someone else had described some similar symptoms to my daughter’s, and a mom had replied, “try the GAPS diet.” Within only a week of following the diet, my daughter was sleeping through the night and even taking a daytime nap. Her hive breakouts were gone and she seemed to have no more symptoms of reflux. Within a month, she was happily playing and talking, with no more signs of eczema. After two months, she had shot up and out of 2 clothing sizes while showing that her hair had a growth spurt, too. By the time she was 2, she had no signs of all that she had previously been suffering, and had gained a great appetite for a wide range of healthy, healing foods.
So before you dismiss the GAPS (or the SCD diet which the GAPS diet stems from), you may want to see what it can do for you or your family members. I, for one, am overjoyed that I did.
Joan
Anyway, I’ve seen amazing results by following this way of eating that allows the body to heal. It takes us back to how most traditional cultures of people used to eat, including fermented foods (to balance our gut bacteria - which effects all areas of our health), bone and meat broths, in which we use all the parts of the animal, drawing minerals from bones to heal our guts, and eliminating starchy foods (until the gut heals).
In our family (of 7) alone, we’ve been healed of depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, chronic headaches, severe eczema, ADD, night terrors, Raynaud’s disease and are in the process of healing celiac disease. Many of our friends have seen incredible results, too. So you think it sounds too good to be true? God says that with faith, all things are possible.
I discovered this diet when I was at the lowest point of my life, about 4 years ago. My fourth daughter was 18 months and barely slept. She wanted to be consoled around the clock as she suffered from severe reflux (including vomiting), eczema, hive breakouts, and extreme underweight. It also appeared that her brain was not functioning properly, as she did not focus, play, or communicate. One night, in tears, as my body ached from lack of sleep and holding her, I went online. I prayed God would tell me what to do, as the doctors only continued giving her medications that only seemed to compound her problems.
On the first page I opened, someone else had described some similar symptoms to my daughter’s, and a mom had replied, “try the GAPS diet.” Within only a week of following the diet, my daughter was sleeping through the night and even taking a daytime nap. Her hive breakouts were gone and she seemed to have no more symptoms of reflux. Within a month, she was happily playing and talking, with no more signs of eczema. After two months, she had shot up and out of 2 clothing sizes while showing that her hair had a growth spurt, too. By the time she was 2, she had no signs of all that she had previously been suffering, and had gained a great appetite for a wide range of healthy, healing foods.
So before you dismiss the GAPS (or the SCD diet which the GAPS diet stems from), you may want to see what it can do for you or your family members. I, for one, am overjoyed that I did.
Joan
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exoflare
Guest
No, but apparently that’s enough knowledge/experience for them to declare it a “fad.”
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KellyPalmer
Guest
GAPS is based on sound science. I do think most people need probiotics in their diet, as this has been a regular part of people’s diets since the beginning of time. I doubt we’ve evolved to the point of no longer needing them, especially given how they work. So much disease begins in the gut. Today’s standard American diet is what the true fad is…and it needs to die!
Any who, to answer the OP, I do not do GAPS specifically but aim for something that is similar. I do ferment and culture my own foods and beverages and avoid most grains and dairy. For me, it’s been a long road of tinkering with things to heal my gut and work with my own specific food intolerances.
Any who, to answer the OP, I do not do GAPS specifically but aim for something that is similar. I do ferment and culture my own foods and beverages and avoid most grains and dairy. For me, it’s been a long road of tinkering with things to heal my gut and work with my own specific food intolerances.
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jbehme8
Guest
Sounds like you’ve got a good plan, Kelly. I agree, once you’ve established a healthy balance of good bacteria in your gut, eating fermented foods and avoiding foods that feed bad bacteria should keep you healthy without any pro-biotics. I view the pro-biotics as a way to help us “jump start” the process. But sounds like you’re already well established in good food habits.
Someone said: *apparently that’s enough knowledge/experience for them to declare it a “fad.” *
Fads come and go. The GAPS diet takes us back to how people ate for thousands of years. I’d say the fad is our poor “American Diet.” Now that people are rediscovering what our ancestors knew, along with traditional cultures, right up until about 50 years ago, the GAPS style, along with the Weston Price style (very similar), have been coming back at an incredibly fast rate, and it’s here to stay.
Joan
Someone said: *apparently that’s enough knowledge/experience for them to declare it a “fad.” *
Fads come and go. The GAPS diet takes us back to how people ate for thousands of years. I’d say the fad is our poor “American Diet.” Now that people are rediscovering what our ancestors knew, along with traditional cultures, right up until about 50 years ago, the GAPS style, along with the Weston Price style (very similar), have been coming back at an incredibly fast rate, and it’s here to stay.
Joan
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blueshells
Guest
Michael Pollan’s food rules might also be a good thing to keep in mind:
(1) Eat food.
(2) Not too much.
(3) Mostly plants.
He encourages eating raw or unprocessed foods as the healthiest way to eat. He goes into more detail in “In Defense of Food”.
Good luck! I hope it helps.
(1) Eat food.
(2) Not too much.
(3) Mostly plants.
He encourages eating raw or unprocessed foods as the healthiest way to eat. He goes into more detail in “In Defense of Food”.
Good luck! I hope it helps.
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TheRealJuliane
Guest
Just a word of common sense.
The reason lots of diseases seem to be more prevalent now is that we have the means to live long enough to die of a disease like cancer, instead of dying of an infection when there weren’t any antibiotics. The food industry has also made a lot of what we eat SAFER instead of making it more dangerous.
The reason lots of diseases seem to be more prevalent now is that we have the means to live long enough to die of a disease like cancer, instead of dying of an infection when there weren’t any antibiotics. The food industry has also made a lot of what we eat SAFER instead of making it more dangerous.
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KellyPalmer
Guest
Well, there are many reasons for the higher prevalence of disease. I don’t think we can discount the harm we have done to our food sources though. I think by far, the food industry has made our food more dangerous, not safer. I mean, look at Monsanto! We’ve actually changed wheat from what it once was into something very different, through cross-breeding. Scientists have gone back and tested blood samples from 50 years ago (after antibiotics had come into general use, I might add) and compared to new samples and found that the incidence of celiac disease has risen fourfold. So, it’s not just a greater awareness or better diagnosis. The disease is now effecting way more people than it used to and most believe this is due to changes in the food industry - check it out . Beyond that, we now know through scientific study that gluten sensitivity does exist, outside of celiac disease.
I guess I just kick it old school though so you can take what I say with a grain of salt. I research things way too much, spend too much time reading medical journals for fun. And I grow my own fruits and vegetables in my backyard, Biblical style. I’m not a fan of dairy especially considering that 75% of the world’s popularity have intolerance to cow’s milk but I’d rather see it raw than ultra-pasteurized.
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lindamarie40
Guest
I also have looked into this diet for health reasons for myself and children.
I really would not call it a diet, but a lifestyle change. You have to approach how you eat in a
different way, all natural, not processed. I am currently trying a ‘close as we can get’ version of the Paleo diet, very similar to GAPS, same concept.
I will admit that I have felt a major change in how I feel. From not having sinus problems to feeling less bloating and less joint pain. I think it is worth the try. You do have to be disciplined and keep working at it, not always easy.
Good luck with whatever you try and don’t give up.
I really would not call it a diet, but a lifestyle change. You have to approach how you eat in a
different way, all natural, not processed. I am currently trying a ‘close as we can get’ version of the Paleo diet, very similar to GAPS, same concept.
I will admit that I have felt a major change in how I feel. From not having sinus problems to feeling less bloating and less joint pain. I think it is worth the try. You do have to be disciplined and keep working at it, not always easy.
Good luck with whatever you try and don’t give up.
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TheRealJuliane
Guest
Again, “higher prevalence of disease,” but the average lifespan only increases and we are healthier overall than we have ever been. The food companies try to improve foods, not in sinister ways, but to make the plants more resistant to disease in order to feed more people (and of course, make profits).
That’s a pretty good article about celiac disease. But it’s pretty well accepted that CD has always affected about 1% of the population in the US and Europe. That’s not really a huge percentage but amounts to quite a few people. It may be that wheat and barley are added to many foods and we eat more processed foods, not so much the changed structure of the wheat. Juries are still out on this.
I admire the heck out of people who can make things grow!
If you ever need a plot of land cleared of vegetation before you plant, give me a call - anything I touch, dies.
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threecats123
Guest
Hi!
We have also done the GAPS diet. I read the book Gut and Psychology Syndrome (which I highly recommend) and read lots of GAPS blogs, too. The Gut and Psychology Syndrome book is fascinating. I began learning about this diet while researching ways to help my son. One thing that made me gasp as I read the Gut and Psychology book (which is where the acronym GAPS comes from) was how when the mother takes antibiotics while nursing that can affect the baby’s internal flora. I had never even considered the 70 Diflucan pills I had taken while battling yeast in my milk ducts as antibiotics, but they surely are. My son was exposed to those for 5 weeks straight when he was three months old. That is not the only possible cause of the difficulties he has, but it could surely play a part.
The hardest part for me was that it is, as someone said, a lifestyle change. It took months before we were fully GAPS, and I tried not be hard on myself for not transitioning faster. I went from spending less than 20 minutes preparing food each day (we lived on frozen meals) to spending hours in the kitchen each day, baking (with almond and coconut flours), preparing chicken and beef stocks, and making nourishing, whole foods meals. It felt like I was scaling a mountain in the beginning, but I got there! My whole family has benefitted. My children are learning all about different foods and how to prepare them, and when my youngest is hungry and can’t find a snack he asks me to bake something - he doesn’t think about boxed food anymore! We eat so much more healthfully than we did before. We are not fully GAPS now, but have maintained so many of the healthy practices. I still make homemade stock and now have a basement freezer to store all my stocks and bones (I buy them from our natural foods co-op)
. We eat lots and lots of delicious, healthy soup and have eliminated garbage foods almost entirely - food that has no nutritional value that we eat for the heck of it.
My son is much improved. He is sleeping better, eating better, and the main thing is that he has much more control of his emotions. He would melt down regularly and I could not bring him out of it or help him. Now he gets upset but calms down quickly and moves on - what I would call a more normal emotional response. Taking gluten out of his diet and healing his gut was clearly the right thing for him. He definitely has a gluten sensitivity - he ears were always red and he cried and carried on at the drop of a hat. Now his ears are flesh-colored and he is a much calmer, more balanced kid. He did eat a lot of wheat bread at an event and his ears turned bright red and he honestly started losing it - crying over nothing. After taking gluten out again his system again calmed down. For us, the connection between gut health and emotional health looks really clear. I don’t think it’s true for everyone, though - I don’t notice any difference in how I feel emotionally whether I follow the GAPS diet or not, so I think that my gut wasn’t “leaky” to begin with. If your gut is compromised, though, and you have neurotoxins leaking into your system and affecting your brain chemistry, then you will notice a big difference after doing the GAPS diet.
I hope this helps! Good luck in your decision.
We have also done the GAPS diet. I read the book Gut and Psychology Syndrome (which I highly recommend) and read lots of GAPS blogs, too. The Gut and Psychology Syndrome book is fascinating. I began learning about this diet while researching ways to help my son. One thing that made me gasp as I read the Gut and Psychology book (which is where the acronym GAPS comes from) was how when the mother takes antibiotics while nursing that can affect the baby’s internal flora. I had never even considered the 70 Diflucan pills I had taken while battling yeast in my milk ducts as antibiotics, but they surely are. My son was exposed to those for 5 weeks straight when he was three months old. That is not the only possible cause of the difficulties he has, but it could surely play a part.
The hardest part for me was that it is, as someone said, a lifestyle change. It took months before we were fully GAPS, and I tried not be hard on myself for not transitioning faster. I went from spending less than 20 minutes preparing food each day (we lived on frozen meals) to spending hours in the kitchen each day, baking (with almond and coconut flours), preparing chicken and beef stocks, and making nourishing, whole foods meals. It felt like I was scaling a mountain in the beginning, but I got there! My whole family has benefitted. My children are learning all about different foods and how to prepare them, and when my youngest is hungry and can’t find a snack he asks me to bake something - he doesn’t think about boxed food anymore! We eat so much more healthfully than we did before. We are not fully GAPS now, but have maintained so many of the healthy practices. I still make homemade stock and now have a basement freezer to store all my stocks and bones (I buy them from our natural foods co-op)
. We eat lots and lots of delicious, healthy soup and have eliminated garbage foods almost entirely - food that has no nutritional value that we eat for the heck of it.My son is much improved. He is sleeping better, eating better, and the main thing is that he has much more control of his emotions. He would melt down regularly and I could not bring him out of it or help him. Now he gets upset but calms down quickly and moves on - what I would call a more normal emotional response. Taking gluten out of his diet and healing his gut was clearly the right thing for him. He definitely has a gluten sensitivity - he ears were always red and he cried and carried on at the drop of a hat. Now his ears are flesh-colored and he is a much calmer, more balanced kid. He did eat a lot of wheat bread at an event and his ears turned bright red and he honestly started losing it - crying over nothing. After taking gluten out again his system again calmed down. For us, the connection between gut health and emotional health looks really clear. I don’t think it’s true for everyone, though - I don’t notice any difference in how I feel emotionally whether I follow the GAPS diet or not, so I think that my gut wasn’t “leaky” to begin with. If your gut is compromised, though, and you have neurotoxins leaking into your system and affecting your brain chemistry, then you will notice a big difference after doing the GAPS diet.
I hope this helps! Good luck in your decision.
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