GAPS

Our Journey with GAPS
My family has recently embarked on a new path that involves eating to heal our bodies.  The temporary diet we are using to do this is called the Gut and Psychology Syndrome, otherwise known as GAPS.  We will be doing this diet for 18 months and hopefully in the end we will be much healthier people.

What does GAPS do?
The individual who developed the diet, Dr. Natasha Cambell-McBride talks about how there is a connection between the functions of the digestive system and the brain.  If your digestive system is not working properly, your brain will not either.  And if you can heal your gut, your digestive system, then your brain can function appropriately.  And in many cases Dr. Natasha Cambell-McBride has seen Autism, developmental delays, depression, ADD, and many other disorders healed solely by healing the digestive system. 

Why GAPS?
My family and I recently, about 6 months ago, decided to do GAPS to heal each of us in our own way.  I have always dealt with digestive problems, My husband and daughter have milk protein issues and my son was recently diagnosed with Developmental Language Disorder.  We are hoping that this diet will help each of us be the best possible people we can be.  I have learned so much in the last six months and hope I can pass a much as possible on to you all.  We are currently doing the GAPS Intro diet, but prior to this we were doing the Full GAPS diet.  When we have completed all the stages of the Intro diet, we will move back into the Full GAPS diet.

What do you need to do GAPS?
GAPS is a very involved diet.  It takes a lot of work because you need to make everything from scratch....no more pre-prepared processed food!  When my husband and I talk to others about the diet we are doing, we often liken it to an old world European diet: Everything is made from scratch, you eat a lot of homemade fermented foods such as sauerkraut and yogurt, you do not eat any grains while on the diet (in order to re-establish good gut flora), the meat is bought from local farmers and homemade broth is a staple!  I don't  think there is a moment that I am not cooking! ;-)  That being said, I don't think I have ever felt better than I do now.  Yes, I miss my quick throw-in-the-oven Stouffer's lasagna, but what I like even more is that my family is receiving complete nourishment through the food I am making. That to me is the best feeling in the world.

So what do you need to get started?  Well, you can always work with what you have, but I have found the following items to be helpful while doing this diet.

The Gut and Psychology Syndrome Book:
This book sits next to all of my recipe books and is out daily for reference.  Before you do the GAPS diet, read this book.  It will help you understand how the diet works and what to do to be successful!

Internal Bliss:
This is a GAPS recipe book.  Aside from the blogs I follow, this is my go to recipe book!

Kitchen Accessories
I have found the certain appliances and accessories to be useful in the kitchen.  For a full list, click here.


RESOURCES
Through this journey I have found a number of websites very helpful.  Below are links to those sites:

Heath Home and Happiness (This website is an awesome resource.  She sells a 30 day GAPS intro recipe book that makes the process so easy.  I completely recommend it!)
Nourished and Nurtured
The GAPS Diet
GAPS Guide

For other recipes, I often like to convert Rachael Ray and Rick Bayless recipes to GAPS approved recipes.  When I am successful, I will post them here.