Dr. Maurer on the GAPS Diet.

Natasha Campbell McBride offers the thesis that chemical by-products from our digestion of certain challenging foods, such as gluten, and the response from ones’ immune system to various digestive compounds contribute to and can cause psychological conditions, childhood developmental conditions and numerous other non-gastrointestinal disease.

I have been to several conferences where Natasha speaks on her GAPS program and for every three good points she makes she drops a bomb of pseudoscience into the mix. Because of this, I cannot swallow the GAPS theory in entirety. It has parts that are well-founded and like many “systems”, it will work for many people, and often for reasons other than what are explained.

What are the parts of the GAPS diet that ring true?

1. A diet rich in quality animal fats will help protect the gastrointestinal lining from becoming weakened or leaky. Much of the gastrointestinal mucosa, which is where our protective probiotic flora thrives and where our first line of immune defense works, is made of saturated fat. And this layer gets partially removed every time we eat, especially as we eat fibrous foods. So dietarily we must include butter fat, poultry fat, fatty fish, and other stable animal fats in the diet. Fat soluble vitamins such as A, D and K also need to be adequately represented in our diet and if needed, supplementation.

2. Fermented and cultured foods help regulate the immune system of the gut. Without them, the immune system of the gut will be at risk of over-reacting. This sets up inflammatory disease, such as Crohn’s and Colitis and Allergies. Quality, proven probiotic supplements are helpful in these conditions but a diet rich in traditionally cultured foods is a basis of health.

3. Much of the mucosal gut layer gets sloughed off when we eat. These mucosal fats and proteins need to be replaced daily. So our diet needs quality proteins and fats at each meal. A vegetarian diet does not contain all the macro and micro nutrition required for this daily task. Therefore a diet rich in quality traditional protein-rich foods is essential. This does NOT include processed new-fangled foods like peanut butter and soy protein powder. Broth has tons of nutrition (It is pure alkaline nutrition – loaded with minerals) and no fiber to get in the way of the absorption. Therefore, bone broth is probably the most gut-restorative food to include in the diet.

4. Some foods that are evolutionarily new on the block such as gluten grains [wheat, rye, barley] cause certain compounds to be formed that alter the psychological state and function of our body. These foods best avoided in certain people, not just the those with celiac disease.

5. Excess sugars cause problems. Period. This is hard to disagree with, and whether the author of the moment is claiming theories of yeast overgrowth in the gut, or effect of fructose digestion on the liver, or insulin resistance, the conclusion is the same. Sugars need to be reduced in most if not all modern peoples’ diets. Some more strictly than others.

I would add that people should not eat more than three times per day. The 4-6 hours between meals allows the gut to recover and prepare for the next digestive feat. Whether the GAPS principles, Specific Carbohydrate Diet, Body Ecology Diet, or my FatBack Diet principles, each author points to similar end guidelines. At Coastal Naturopathic Center - Dr. Sarah Kotzur and Dr. Richard Maurer blend the principles that best meet the individual, rather than sticking one system to everyone.

Enjoy and be well,

Dr. Maurer