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Gerald G has an amazing story of healing with food following the GAPS diet for the past several years. He has seen healing from depression and alcohol and drug abuse through dietary changes. Read his powerful story.
I chose the image for his post and chose a resting gull. Gulls are very active birds, flying and moving constantly. Gerald was a man who was not settled until he changed his diet and then found his way to calmness and freedom in many areas that he had not known before.
1. How long have you been on the GAPS diet?
37 months
2. What was going on that made you decide to pursue the diet?
I had reached a plateau in my healing on the SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet)..
3. Did you start with Full GAPS or Intro first? How long have you been on each?
I started with anti-Candida Full GAPS. I’ve done a couple of real GAPS Intros, and I never get past Stage 2/ 3 or so. I am doing much better with plant foods now than at any time in the past, but still what is “a lot” of plant food for me would be very little for someone else, but I am happy to be able to enjoy this variety in my diet nowadays.
4. What kind of progress or healing have you seen?
I have seen more progress over the SCD. Candida, or whatever-it-is-that-is-addressed by the anti-Candida diet was really holding me back on the SCD. Plus the GAPS additions of 1) a diet high in animal fat, 2) milk kefir, and 3) daily enemas together have made me much healthier than I was on the SCD.
I was a depressive all my life from my earliest childhood memories till 36 hours after removing the Illegals. I haven’t spent a moment depressed in nearly 4 and one-half years. I am a recovered alcoholic and drug user, sober 1993, twenty years of continuous sobriety now, but I didn’t really beat depression till the SCD. (AA’s co-founder Bill W. had a similar experience with sobriety, depression, and nutrition: vitamin B3, which he was introduced to some 25 years after getting sober and founding AA.) I was sick and weak as a child. Nowadays at 40 I am healthier than I was at 14!
5. What other strategies have you implemented along with GAPS? Why?
- Daily coffee enemas (feel cleaner & healthier; initially to address fats digestion)
- A few Hulda Clarke liver flushes (fats digestion)
- Lugol’s Iodine as per the Yahoo! Iodine group’s protocol (*WOW*, what Iodine does for me!)
- Vitamin B complex, multi-vitamin with C and Zinc (seem to need it; resolves the detox problem from Iodine),
- Attention to histamines (post-nasal drip, other mental problems like feeling agitated) & fructose malabsorption (FM) (gas & bloat)
- More sunshine and fresh air
- HCl w/ pepsin (six 640-mg pills per meal: I still don’t have much stomach acid apparently …)
- 5 or 10 BioKult (probiotic recommended by Dr. NCM) first thing in the morning (seems to have some positive effect on me) and the occasional serving of Custom Probiotics first thing in the morning
- Eating only two meals per day (breakfast and supper, 12 hours apart: aids in digestion, plus I am more aware of how each meal/ food affects me because there’s a twelve-hour space between meals. Eating three times a day is no longer necessary: it’s too much food. Apparently I’m digesting foods better (with HCl) and I’m not so terribly malnourished as when I started with the SCD in March 2009).
- Break a good sweat at least once every day: walking to work/ working in the garden before and after work, etc.,
- Nnot much soap/ shampoo
- Brush with olive oil & baking soda
- Raising my own organic veggies.
- Take Natural Calm (magnesium) daily
- Eat a lot of Celtic Sea Salt.
6. Are you off the GAPs diet?
No
7. Are there areas where you have not seen healing so far?
Still constipated and do enemas every day.
8. What has been the hardest thing about following the GAPS diet?
Eating is social, but eating as I do, which is basically pre-agrarian with the exception of milk kefir, is pretty anti-social 🙂
9. What has been the best thing about following the GAPS diet?
A big improvement over the SCD alone. Although a physical death was not far off for me, the worst symptoms were mental & emotional, ever since I was a little boy. I was 35 years old when I got on the SCD. I just turned forty this year. That’s four good years I wasn’t going to have, that’s for sure. Plus our first born (2007) might already be dead too. We put him on GAPS in November 2010.
10. Do you have any advice for a person considering going on the GAPS diet?
I know people who are familiar with GAPS and need it (or SCD or Paleo or _something_) but are unwilling to change their diets. From personal experience, I don’t know what it’s like to have a choice in the matter. I was lucky, I had a very positive, immediate, and life-altering reaction to the SCD just 36 hours after I removed the Illegals.
These other people who are sick and, invariably, addicted to carbs – just as we all are when we’ve spent a lifetime on a carbs-centered diet, even the healthy carbs-centered diets, not necessarily the junk food, processed-carbs-centered diet (Standard American Diet). I don’t know what it’s like to have a choice in the matter. I was going to die, and I was liberated by the SCD. I heard angels singing. Everything about my poor mental and emotional and physical health did a 180 just 36 hours after removing the Illegals from my diet. GAPS has improved greatly upon my SCD experience, and I’ve mentioned above many of my GAPS “Cherries on Top” that have improved my GAPS experience.
11.. Is there any you would like to add to the above comments?
What the MD’s think they know about nutrition, food, disease, and medicine gets people like me killed!
The Staff of Life, those basic staples of age-old agrarian diets, is the Kiss of Death for people like me. Although GAPS is very clearly a pro-agrarian diet, my future, I believe, will be more or less Paleo dieting for the rest of my life.
If you would like to communicate with Gerald he is willing to answer emails. His email is sundaesandapplepies@yahoo.com .
This is awesome :). I think I remember Gerald from the yahoo group from when I first started. I started intro November 2010.
Yes you do. Same man. Very inspiring isn’t it.
Yep!
Wow! Eye opening. I hadn’t heard of GAPS before. For those that are new to it, was there a book or a website that got your started with the basics? Is there such a thing as a GAPS coach to help newbies? Thanks for sharing your experience.
I don’t know if you noticed but there is a link to a post about what is GAPs at the beginning of the post. But yes there is a book by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride called GAPS – Gut and Psychology Syndrome. There are certified GAPS practitioners which can be found through one of the GAPS websites- http://www.gaps.me These coaches can be very helpful. There are also a number of social media groups which are very helpful on FB, yahoo, etc. My oldest dd is on the GAPS diet for much less severe issues, mostly irritable bowel syndrome and seeing healing as well.
Like Kimberly, I’ve not heard of GAPS either. It was very interesting to read how it was working for someone.
This is a diet that I had not heard of before. Very interesting to hear how it is working for someone.
I’ve never heard of GAPS but I know it can be beyond frustrating when you reach that plateau! I love the tips! I especially love the getting more sun… I think it just makes you more happy… therefore eliminating the need to stuff your face… at least thats what it does for me. I eat when I’m bored, stuck inside, watching tv.
Wow, I’ve never heard of this diet, but it sounds like it’s worked wonders for this man. His experiences make me want to check more into this, so I’ll be heading there now through your link at the top. Thanks for sharing!
We have made dietary changes because my daughter was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes this year. It is amazing what diet changes can do for our bodies. I’m pretty sure I’m not down with the enemas.
Yes you get it because of what you have had to go through. My oldest dd is on the GAPS diet so we have had many many diet changes. But she is getting better and so it is all worth it.
Wow, I had never even heard of GAPS before. This was definitely an eye opening post. I’m glad that he found something that works for him so well.
– April
I haven’t heard of the GAPS diet, but enjoyed your post on it! It’s nice to get a break down of how it is working or not working for you. A first hand look! I am also fascinated with your blog in general as I am trying to eat healthier and cook healthier for our family. Food is a powerful thing and I want to use it for good!
Thanks for visiting.
I’ve definitely heard of GAPS and thought about trying it, but have been unsure whether I should or not. It’s great to hear how it’s working for Gerald! I’ve tried low carb eating and high fiber eating, but I’ve felt that there was more or something different I should be doing. I’ve been leaning toward Paleo, but perhaps GAPS is more what I should try. Thanks for sharing Gerald’s story!
I would recommend starting with Paleo and see how that goes. GAPS is not easy and it seems to be better if you work into it gradually. As you can see with Gerald’s story he did SCD (which is close to Paleo) for awhile and then needed something more.)
There are 2 other GAPS stories on the website which you might enjoy as well.
thanks for visiting.
Thanks for the advice, Jennifer! I’ll look into those other 2 GAPS stories you mentioned! 🙂
I’ve never heard of this diet either. I’m glad it is working for Gerald.
Thank you to bringing this to light. I have never heard about it and don’t know if I ever would have if it wasn’t for this post!!! I will send this to my sister because it sounds like she could benefit from this!
Great idea.
Interesting story! I had not heard of GAPS before, but have heard a lot of research about how gut flora really influences our immune systems and even our ability to lose weight. This makes me want to learn more about this diet. But yeah, coffee enemas… not so much.
My daughter is on it but no coffee enemas. I have a feeling only the sickest people need the enemas. And yes gut health is critical to the health of the rest of our bodies. I recommend you read the book even if you don’t want to do the diet. You will learn an incredible amount about gut health.
This is such a fantastic testimony! I’ve done a bit of research on the GAPS diet for my husband and I, and was just talking with a friend about it two hours ago. I’m always moved when I hear about someone experiencing healing by changing their diet. Food can either hurt us, or heal us. Thanks for sharing this interview! I’m going to pass this along to my friend.
There are 2 other stories on my website of healing with the GAPS diet. I plan to put up one/month for awhile to encourage people and help us see how important food can be to healing.
Geralds story is very interesting. I also have never heard of the GAPS diet but it certainly is interesting.
There are a number of interesting diets out there all of which can bring real healing. Food can be our medicine.
I haven’t heard of this diet before either but it’s great that it’s working for this person and helping him in many different areas of his life. It sounds like he’s very dedicated to the plan.
One does become very dedicated when you see the kind of healing he has. It is easy to take good health for granted until you lose it.
I had never heard of the GAPS diet before – thanks for helping me learn something new today
You are welcome. Thank you for stopping by.
I had never heard of GAPS before. It sounds like it is a ton of work but it looks like it is working for Gerald. Kuddos to you both for your research and his dedication.
I am glad this is working for Gerald. It sounded like he was in a place in his life where he needed a change.
For me though, I think food is social. Food is a wonderful part of life. It’s meant to be enjoyed. I think too many of us worry about a pesky few pounds. One of my co-workers is 53, gorgeous…flawless skin and a lean build. She works out every day, she eats well but she also really enjoys food. Yet is still not happy with herself. She always says she needs to lose 5 or 10 pounds.
I think as women especially we set unrealistic expectations. I know women who are stick figure skinny and eat twice as much a day as I do. Everyone is different. Every body is different.
If you eat healthy and exercise regularly…I think you should find joy in that.
I personally would never be interested in this diet. I really enjoy going out to dinner with friends. I love family get togethers where we share laughs and different foods.
But it’s wonderful that it works for Gerald. It sounds like it’s a lifestyle he needs. And he feels better…that is an awesome thing.
The GAps diet and other healing diets are not for women who have a poor body image. These diets are for people are who are really sick. My 15 year old is on this diet. She had irritable bowel syndrome, migraines and asthma and she was on the road to an autoimmune disease.
I know the people you are talking about and I totally agree. Food is to be enjoyed and the nice thing about many of these healing diets is that there is much food that can still be enjoyed.
The GAPs diet is certainly not for everyone. I have no plans to go on it but I feel pretty good. Yes I am about 30 pounds overweight but you know that is not such a big deal to me anymore. I am pretty comfortable with who I am.
I have never heard of the GAPS Diet! Thanks for sharing this…it was very illuminating and I will definitely be looking into this to learn more. This might be just what I need!
Take a look at my article on What is the GAPs diet in the top bar and continue your research.
Very interesting! I have never even heard of the GAPS diet before, but do fully believe in eating healthy & participating in regular exercise. Hope that it continues to do the job for you.
Thanks for stopping by.
Wow, first congrats to Gerals for being sober for so long! Amazing!!! I am glad to hear that the GAPS diet is working well for him and has helped him so much with his depression. I have heard a little about the diet before but never knew a lot about it. Thanks for sharing his post.
I agree. I love reading stories like this of people who overcame their problems and made something good out of their lives.
I’ve never heard of this before. I love to hear about healthy diets!
Come back again as that is the purpose of this site. Check out the blog hop from Friday which is called Healing With Food Friday; some great posts on there.
I’d never heard of the GAPS diet until I read this post. I follow an 85/25 vegetarian diet (vegetarian 85% of the time, with occasional small servings of meat with ONE meal). This was very informative; I’m always happy to learn more about healthy eating. Congrats to those who found success with GAPS!
I, too, have never hear of GAPS. Glad it’s working for you.
I have never heard of this diet before. I am happy to hear that Gerald overcome his ailments. I am interested to read more about the GAPS diet. Thank you for sharing!
Start with the article I reference in the beginning. also take a look at the blog hop Healing with Food Friday that is at my site as well- some great articles and recipes here.
It’s pretty amazing how food can change things in our body. I need to get back on a stricter diet again so I’ll feel better.
Yes it really is. I am amazed at this all the time.
I haven’t heard of GAPS before but I think this Gerald you’re talking about is amazing! When it comes to dieting, fitness and health, I really suck at it. Maybe that will be the reason why I will never get rid of these belly fats again. 🙁
If the motivation gets high enough most people can do anything. I think that was what happened for Gerald. It is a fascinating story.
Never heard of this before so this was fascinating to read. Enjoyed his take on this diet.
thanks. There are 2 other interesting stories on the site right now as well.
It’s always good to hear different perspectives and health opinions to consider. Thanks for sharing.
Jennifer @ The Jenny Evolution
http://www.thejennyevolution.com
This is my first time hearing about this diet. Glad that it is working for him.
It is amazing how a change in diet can really change someone. I went from eating the Standard American (i.e. very SAD diet) to a whole foods plant based diet and my whole life has changed. It’s truly amazing! So many people just eat what they think is healthy b/c of all the deceptive marketing out there, and they are really sick. Most people don’t even know it….I know I didn’t.
So true. I think we are on the edge of a health epidemic related to how we eat. Hence the name of my site – Purpose Nutrition: Healing with Food.
I had never heard of this diet before- I am glad to hear that his health is improving. I agree that nutrition is the key to so many illnesses. I had also never heard of a coffee enema before. I learned a lot from your post.
I hadn’t heard of this diet before, either, but it sounds very interesting. My husband follows a somewhat Paleo diet [modified to allow everything he absolutely can’t live without, lol…]
I guess you could call his a personalized paleo plan. :))
Very interesting. I’ve never heard of this diet before, but it sort of reminds me of the diet that is recommended in a book called The Maker’s Diet. Have you read that book? Thanks for the inspiration. I need to eat more “living” foods (which I think is what they call them in the book).
I read The Maker’s Diet some years ago so it is kind of fuzzy in my mind. I remember I liked some of it but not all. Nonetheless I certainly agree with Mr. Rubin that more living foods are necessary for a healthy diet.
I have never heard of this diet. After going through Colon cancer, I personally need to be very careful about what i eat and I would Never ever do an enema.
Enema’s are not really a part of the diet . they are something Gerald added in for his own health choices.
Just like some of the other comments I had not heard of the GAPS diet, however, it was very interesting to read the journey and have information to store for a later date. I have struggled with my weight on an off for years, so I truly understand the ups and downs of learning your body and food. I have learned that diets are about educating yourself and being completely honest and with that there should be accomplishment as well as fulfillment. Thanks for sharing!
-FS-
It’s amazing what changes to your diet can accomplish. I really find that even just moving away from processed foods makes a huge difference. This is an awesome example. Thanks for sharing Gerald’s progress.
I have never heard of GAPS diet…..Hope all works out well with this one for you:)
It’s nice to hear stories of how food changed a person’s life for the better. I think that the majority of people would do well just to eliminate processed foods and sugar. Great testimony.
Thx for this tips