The Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) by Dr. Natasha McBride describes how essential the gut is in maintaining health in the body. When there is an imbalance in the gut microbials, this affects the breakdown of food in the gut. In the long term this contributes to a leaky gut that enables toxins and undigested food to escape from the gut walls and seep into our blood stream. Our body reacts to these molecules as foreign invaders and alerts the immune system. This is when allergies start flaring up and things that you were never allergic to before start appearing.

When toxins accumulate in the brain, psychiatric disorders manifest such as depression and schizophrenia. The key is to treat and heal the gut to allow for proper breakdown and digestion of food. The GAPS protocol is a means of healing the gut using a highly nutritious diet that creates a microbial balance in the gut. Once the gut is healed, toxins can be eliminated by the body and health is restored. Dr. McBride successfully treats children suffering from autism, ADHD, dyspraxia and a whole host of other problems manifesting from a gut imbalance (dysbiosis). The gut microflora is also responsible for synthesizing vitamins in the body. Vitamin deficiency is now common in modern society and there is only so much that the body can absorb through nutritional supplements. The importance of ‘looking after’ the gut microflora cannot be emphasized more.

Few people understand how crucial it is that mother`s and father`s attend to their inner ecosystem (the microbial balance in their bodies) as important preparation for conception and childbirth. The balance of good bacteria to bad bacteria is very important in keeping the body in a state of homeostasis. Animal studies have shown that the mothers body uses the fetus as a means of cleansing her own body of toxins. Toxins accumulate and are eliminated in a fetus. In a highly toxic state, this can cause miscarriage. Less toxicity can result in a less drastic situation than miscarriage but still very distressing developmental problems such as autism.

I am proud to have studied under Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride in the UK and have incorporated her nutrition protocol into my practice. My take on the GAPS diet is a little less extreme as I find it very difficult to adhere to in our modern world. However, certain recommendations such as bone broth, staying away from highly processed foods, enhancing the digestive enzymes and probiotics are extremely important and should be incorporated in our diet. With proper nourishment, your gut health will thrive and so will the rest of you.