What is the GAPS Diet?

“Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.” - Hippocrates

Hippocrates, often referred to as the father of modern medicine, said, “All diseases begin in the gut.” Hippocrates also said, “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.”

One might say that these are the founding principles upon which Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride based the GAPS Diet upon. GAPS stands for Gut and Psychology Syndrome and is a term coined by Dr. Campbell-McBride. GAPS is focused on precise diet based upon an evolution of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet or SCD, supplementations, detoxification, and lifestyle changes for healing digestive disorders and other subsequent issues.

These subsequent issues reported include diseases such as autism, hyperactivity and attention deficit, dyslexia, dyspraxia, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and others (statement not evaluated by the FDA). Many people report the diet has healed them of digestive diseases, auto-immune disorders, and blood sugar issues. While it may be hard to digest (pun intended) this list of serious disorders can be linked to the gut, consider Dr. Campbell-McBride’s credentials.

Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD, and the GAPS Diet

Dr. Campbell-McBride established a connection between the functions of the digestive system and the brain. She holds a Master of Medical Science in neurology and a Master of Medical Science in human nutrition. After practicing as a neurologist for 5-yrs and a neurosurgeon for 3-yrs, she started a family. When her son was diagnosed autistic, she began an intensive study into causes and treatments of autism. It was during this time that Dr. Campbell-McBride developed her theories on the relationship between neurological disorders and nutrition, and completed a second Postgraduate Degree in Human Nutrition.

Having treated her son off the autistic spectrum, Dr. Campbell-McBride returned to practice in 2000 and to run the Cambridge Nutrition Clinic. She has specialized in using nutritional approach in treating children and adults with learning disabilities and other mental disorders, as well as children and adults with digestive and immune disorders.

Weight Loss and the GAPS Diet

The Gut and Psychology Syndrome book can be ordered on Amazon here.

Although the GAPS Diet is not promoted as a weight-loss diet, people do lose weight and gain vitality and good health by following it. GAPS is one of a number of diets such as SCD, Paleo/Primal, Weston A. Price Foundation, Wheat Belly, and Bariatric, which eschew the principals of the Standard American Diet (SAD) in favor of the following principals:

-          Eliminate processed foods, most or all grains, and sugar or all non-natural sweeteners