The Gut and Psychology Syndrome, GAPS method was developed by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride and first published in 2004. It includes a ground breaking dietary protocol aimed at healing the gut lining and restoring a healthy balance of gut flora.

The GAPS diet is a development of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), which was developed by Dr. Sidney Valentine Haas in the early to mid-20th century. It was designed to manage conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and celiac disease by eliminating complex carbohydrates that are difficult to digestion. Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes chronic inflammation of the digestive tract.

Dr. Campbell-McBride adapted and expanded upon the SCD diet and called it the GAPS method. It has been practiced all over the world often involving GAPS coach which have been trained to offer this service. The key principles are operating on the premise that many chronic health conditions stem from intestinal permeability and an imbalance of the gut microbiome.

Some of the key dietary components are elimination of Irritating Foods. This includes all grains, processed foods, refined sugars, and many starchy carbohydrates, such as potatoes.

By having an out of balance diet this can lead to gut dysbiosis (an imbalance of gut bacteria in the microbiome). The gut bacteria that like sweet foods communicating their desired to the brain, in what is called the gut-brain axis. This means we are often eating to maintain an imbalanced gut microbiome because gut bacteria are broadcasting what they want to eat, which keeps the gut out of balance.

The GAPS diet emphasises easily digestible, nutrient-dense foods like:
Bone broth, Fermented foods, e.g., sauerkraut, sprouted foods, low amounts of starch and animal fats, which are high in collagen (with the option for vegetarian alternatives), meats, vegetables.

A Phased approach:
The GAPS method is implemented in stages, starting with a very restrictive “introduction diet”, in 6 stages for about 7 weeks in total. Then a phase called the Full GAPS phase, with much wider range for 6 to 24 months depending on the individual. Then a stage called the Reintroduction Phase. However, many people who do that GAPS diet find some foods, like gluten, remain difficult to digest and are not needed anyway.

In summary:
By restoring the gut microbiome with a very different diet, one can restore the integrity of the small intestine wall and prevent partially digested food, toxins and alive and dead bacteria from entering the arteries and doing damage by traveling all over the body