GAPS or Gut and Psychology Syndrome is a diet, supplementation and lifestyle program that supports your entire body for better health.  This program was founded by Dr Natasha Campbell-Mcbride to help heal the digestive problems, which create many different health challenges and lead to behavioural and learning difficulties in children and phychological problems in adults too. Following the GAPS protocol helps increase your body’s ‘good’ gut bacteria, which in turn helps your body heal.

What health conditions can GAPS and Probiotics help?

• Autism
• Allergies
• Arthritis
• Inflammatory bowel disorders
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Auto-immune disorders
• Manic depression/Bi-Poplar, Schizophrenia and other mind related disorders
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

Why does GAPS Help?

GAPS helps by supporting your digestive system and keeping your good and bad gut bacteria balanced. Your digestive system is where food gets broken down, vitamins and minerals are absorbed and toxins are eliminated. If your body is under stress from a poor diet, medications and environmental toxins then your good gut bacteria are compromised and cannot keep you healthy. Good gut bacteria not only help your digestive system work well but they also help to keep the bad bacteria in check, have anti-viral and anti-fungal properties as well as helping your body create vital nutrients from your food.

What can make ‘Bad’ gut bacteria grow?

Many things can help the bad guys grow out of control. The most common causes are:

• Medications, especially antibiotics and contraceptives (especially when taken over long time periods)
• Excessive alcohol
• Poor diet
• Infection
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Candida
• Exposure to everyday chemicals and toxins

How can I increase my ‘Good’ gut bacteria?

GAPS suggests following a diet of both cooked (vegetables and proteins), bone broths and raw foods, taking supplements including probiotics and lifestyle changes such as using chemical free cleaners. Fermented foods help increase good gut bacteria. Try adding a few of these to your daily diet. Start with ¼ to ½ cup per day.

Fermented foods

• Sauerkraut and other fermented vegetables
• Kim Chi
• Yoghurt
• Kombucha tea
• Tempeh
• Miso
• Kefir

Supplements

• Probiotics
• Essential Fatty Acids
• Vitamin A
• Digestive Enzymes

Lifestyle Changes

• Maintain a healthy diet of vegetables, fruit, fish, and organic meat.
• Eliminate processed foods, artificial sugars, white sugar, white flour, and soft drinks
• Moderate your alcohol intake
• Reduce exposure to chemicals and outside toxins when possible.
• Choose natural cleaners and wear natural fibre clothing such as cotton and linen.

Keeping your digestive tract healthy is key to overall health and well being of both mind and body.   Come in to the Mr Vitamins store and ‘Ask a naturopath’ .