In the previous two articles we have learned about what GAPS™ is and how gut health plays into our health problems. At this point you may be willing to admit, or even agree, that all of this makes sense and is correct. But this is the article where the rubber hits the road.
Because, simply put, food is our sacred cow.
Please don’t touch my food.
I don’t know about you, but from my experience Americans don’t let others touch a couple of things their guns, their rights, or their food. Personally I remember hating the first Doctor that suggested I take dairy out of my diet.
How I made my Mother miserable moping about the house! All I could focus on was that my precious food was taken away.
Because of that I feel that I can safely tackle telling you what the general guidelines are for GAPS foods. (This is by no means a full list. For that read Gut and Psychology Syndrome™ by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride.)
But what’s left!
Now you may be freaking out after I said all of the no’s there.
“But I can’t survive without bread!”
“Not eat chocolate? Sorry I’m out.”
“I can’t have dairy? Until I what?”
“I can’t make it without my potato chips!”
I’m going to be hard for a minute here, because I’ve said all those things and more myself. What tends to keep us from doing this diet is one simple thing – laziness.
I’m not a lazy person.
When it comes down to it the top 3 reasons people don’t start this diet or stay with it is because they don’t want to:
I know it sounds hard to leave all those foods behind. Not to mention a lot of work to come up with things you can eat, but the truth is it’s not only possible to survive and thrive off of all those foods — it’s delicious too!
And at the risk of sounding mean the #1 reason you should decide to do this diet is because your health or the health of a loved one is important.
I already think their/my health is important.
If you’ve already taken the time to read these articles that is probably true. But the reason I mention that our health needs to be important is because we suffer from chronic problem give-me-a-pill-itis.
People seem to think that healing ourselves should be as simple as popping a pill. I’m sorry but it doesn’t work that way. Healing yourself is hard work, and sometimes it means denying yourself something. But I promise you it pays off.
Now. If I haven’t completely chased you away lets look at the wonderful foods you CAN have on GAPS.
Delicious foods you CAN eat.
Allowed foods on the GAPS diet are (mainly) easily digestible foods which is handy for people who have bad gut health. Basically by keeping foods that are hard to digest or are bad for you out of the diet healing your gut is just a matter of time.
All that is available to you on the GAPS diet!
Food wonderful food.
I love food. It’s never been any surprise to my family that my day revolved around what was for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! I’ve been off of one food, two foods, Gluten free, or Gluten and Casein Free. And now I’m on GAPS.
Until GAPS I felt deprived, but now I get to eat food that I love all the time! The best part is after I eat I feel good. No gas, bloating, or discomfort. The same can be true for you.
So don’t fear going on the GAPS diet, yes you’ll probably give up several things you like, but in the long run you’ll feel like royalty. So eat wonderful food, and respect your gut!
If you have any questions or want to comment please drop me a line I’d love to hear from you!
