04 Mar What is GAPS™ and why would I need it?
Do you suffer from food sensitivities and intolerance’s?
Are you feeling frustrated with what to eat that won’t exacerbate your symptoms or have you running to the toilet? Or are you struggling to find something to put in your child’s lunchbox that won’t send them into afternoon meltdowns and temper tantrums?
GAPS™ (The Gut and Psychology Syndrome) is a nutritional and detoxification program designed to heal the gut. Your digestive system is a finely tuned mechanism responsible for digesting and absorbing your food. When it is not functioning well, instead of providing nutrition, it becomes a source of toxicity and any cell, organ or system can display symptoms of distress such as:
- Bloating
- Flatulence
- Stool fluctuations – diarrhoea/constipation or a combination of both
- Joint pain
- Brain fog and memory problems
- Fatigue
- Food sensitivities/intolerance’s/allergies
- Anxiety and depression
- Atopic conditions such as eczema
- Autoimmune conditions
- Neurological and learning conditions
As part of your digestive system, your gut contains around 1.5-2kg of beneficial, opportunistic and transitional bacteria. You cannot live without these bacteria and it is a highly organized micro-environment with certain beneficial bacteria predominating and controlling others to maintain balance. This micro-environment provides a natural protective barrier against invasion from harmful substances and micro-organisms. They also play an integral part in immunity as approximately 80% of your immune system is located in the gut wall.
When these bacteria are damaged or out of balance, this barrier is compromised and can allow toxins and maldigested foods to “leak” out into the bloodstream and cause symptoms often not related to digestion, confusing you even more!
What can you expect on the GAPS™ protocol?
The human body is amazing at healing itself given the right tools and support. The GAPS™ protocol aims at removing the source of toxicity and promoting optimal nutrition to your body. Removing foods that are damaging to the gut and difficult to digest, promotes the healing and sealing of the gut wall preventing this leak of toxins.
A specific dietary protocol is recommended which includes nutrient dense foods like bone broths and fermented foods. Detoxification practices are also encouraged to promote the release of stored toxins that contribute to your symptom picture.
Overtime the GAPS™ dietary protocol establishes a healthy connection between gut, neurological and immune function which aims at a better quality of life. If you would like to find out more about the GAPS™ protocol and if it is right for you, please contact the clinic on 9339 1999 and book in with Michele Grosvenor for a free 10-minute consultation.
