what is the gaps diet

The GAPS diet is a therapeutic diet that is commonly used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, leaky gut syndrome, autism, ADHD, depression, anxiety, and autoimmune disease. The term "GAPS" stands for "Gut and Psychology Syndrome," and it was invented by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, who designed the diet to treat her sons autism. The GAPS diet is an elimination diet that involves cutting out grains, pasteurized dairy, starchy vegetables, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods. The diet theory argues that eliminating certain foods, such as grains and sugars, can help people treat conditions that affect the brain. The GAPS diet emphasizes vegetables and fermented foods, both of which have been linked to a healthy gut. The GAPS protocol is made up of three main stages: the GAPS introduction diet, the full GAPS, and a reintroduction phase for coming off of the diet. The full GAPS diet can last 1.5-2 years, and during this part of the diet, people are advised to base the majority of their diet on fresh meat, preferably hormone-free and grass-fed, animal fats, such as lard, tallow, lamb fat, duck fat, raw butter, and ghee, fish, shellfish, organic eggs, and fermented foods, such as kefir, homemade yogurt, and sauerkraut. However, the GAPS diet may not be suitable for everyone, and it is not intended to replace traditional treatment for conditions like digestive disorders, autism, or depression.