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GAPS nutrition – principles, phases, ingredients and restrictions

Max Müller

Max Müller

2026-03-18
4 min. read
GAPS nutrition – principles, phases, ingredients and restrictions
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The psycho-intestinal syndrome refers to various mental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism, which may develop due to gastrointestinal dysfunctions. Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, the creator of the GAPS diet, emphasizes that digestive health directly impacts mental well-being. By restoring gut balance, it is possible to enhance psychological functioning in affected individuals. How does the GAPS diet work? Learn more!

The GAPS diet

The body's resistance to pathogens that come from the internal environment into the body or are produced in the body depends primarily on the state of our gut. The gut is contained in the gut until about the answer is simple! Why? 80% of all immune cells that fight against harmful microorganisms. GAPS author Natasha Campbell-McBridge, after years of work with hundreds of patients struggling with mental and neurological disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, ADHD, dyslexia, spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression), developed a program that she published in her book Psychological Eating Disorders, Autism, Depression, and Metaphysical Disorder.

The GAPS diet is based on assumptions

The GAPS diet is similar to the SCD diet (special carbohydrate diet) in that it is a modification of it. The basic assumptions of GAPS are almost identical to those used in the SDC diet. The differences in both programs can be seen by going deeper into the detailed guidelines. The GaPS diet consists of a series of stages spread over time, and each is accompanied by a list of products that should then be consumed. The second difference is the possibility of also consuming food on a diet used in a psycho-dietetic complex, which has been restricted or purified from the food of a person on the diet of SCD products. The remaining ingredients of all of these ingredients are used in SCDs.

The GAPS diet is in stages

Natasha Campbell-McBride's program involves three stages: a diet that allows the regeneration of the damaged gut mucosa supplementation selected individually for the patient. At this stage, specific strains of probiotic bacteria are used to populate the gut and restore lost homeosis to the organ. detoxification and lifestyle changes forever. After going through the first two stages, we get to the point where, according to the author, our body clears itself of the accumulated toxins, and applying probiotics throughout life is recommended to protect the patient from recurrence of the disease.

The GAPS diet products

Good quality, unprocessed meat of animals and lean and fatty fish, meat offal e.g. liver, kidneys.. occasionally rice, rice compote.. all types and species of vegetables are permitted except for high-carbohydrate (they are a source of complex carbohydrates) eg. potatoes, potato, pastry, yogurt, peas.. fresh fruit and dried peas are sources of animal carbs (we also use bananas these are only allowed for mature seeds), we give up these preserved and highly processed vegetables in the form of coconuts, cherries.. as long as the vegetable oil, vegetable fats, vegetables fats and vegetable oils are a natural source of energy, we can use vegetables's fats such as olive oil, oils of olive oil and vegetables, which are made up of vegetable greases such as fats.

The GAPS diet is contraindicated

The GAPS diet is an elimination diet, so it may be deficient in certain nutrients found mainly in eliminated products, e.g. B vitamins are the most abundant in cereals. The diet may also sometimes be low in dietary fiber (provided with vegetables may be insufficient). The use of GAPS in justified cases may be effective, but the products should be eliminated gradually. Particular caution should be exercised by adolescent girls, pregnant women, expectant mothers and breastfeeding mothers.
Max Müller

Max Müller

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