Oh hello there. You’ve found some very old content. Please read the disclaimer on this page before thinking I’m still a total sheep who has been sucked into a bone-broth worshipping fad diet. Been there, learned from that and am now a much less rigid human.

Dear ones, we meet again!

The sun is up, the breeze is mild and I am inhaling the luscious scents wafting from the bone broth keeping warm in my slow cooker. I get the feeling it’s going to be a beautiful day.

Before I get too Pollyanna on Prozac, I’m going to get straight to the point. I’m embarking on the GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) Diet; a gut sealing and healing diet, formulated by Dr Natasha Campbell McBride.

This diet is not a fad, nor a weight loss protocol … it’s not even really a ‘diet’, but rather, a (for lack of a better word) “journey” … nope, I can’t, this word is overused adventure to optimal health.

Dr Natasha used the diet to heal her son from the autism deemed incurable by her own profession.

I know, I know. You’ve been told that autism isn’t a condition that can be put into remission. You’ve also likely heard that …

• the sunscreens which are bleaching our coral reefs can be safely applied to human skin
• that the herbicide Round Up is harmless when ingested
• and that injectable aluminium isn’t toxic.

Why am I using such examples?

• How can something  powerful enough to destroy a marine eco-system be safely applied to the skin.
• Round up contains glyphosate, an ingredient linked to a disturbance of gut microbiota – our health is determined by the robustness of our gut bugs. Do we not see the issue here?
• Injectable aluminium is designed to stick around and hyper stimulate the immune system. Does this sound safe?

Anyhoo … (insert ‘minding my own business’-style whistles here)

Since then, she (Dr Natasha) has published the book Gut and Psychology Syndrome (which has been recently revised) and helped many individuals overcome their own health challenges; autism, schizophrenia, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, dysbraxia and autoimmunity (just to name a few).

The diet is based on Hippocrates famous quote “all disease begins in the gut” , and works to seal the damaged gut lining and then restore a thriving ecosystem of beneficial microbes. If the gut is no longer leaky and nasty pathogens no exist in large numbers, then (in theory) there is no cause for disease. Hells yeah!

The book goes into a lot more science than I care to in a humble blog post and it is a must read for anyone that wants to know more. I would explain the whole biochemical process in greater detail but I a) it’s probably best explained by Dr Natasha herself and b) I have freshly simmered bone marrow that needs consuming.

What am I looking to heal? Autoimmune hepatitis and (likely liver dysfunction-induced)  food intolerances. I can’t even eat a grape without writhing in pain and transforming into a human wind tunnel. A TOXIC human wind tunnel.

When I was 14 and first diagnosed with CAAH (Chronic Active Autoimmune Hepatitis) I was told that there was no known cause, no cure and I’d be on drugs for the rest of my life. “Well, that escalated quickly”, was my initial reaction to the diagnosis. There I was thinking the doctors were going to tell me I had a wheat allergy or something mundane (in comparison) like that.

No hard feelings towards the medical profession (well maybe just a few, but now’s not the time to open such wounds) but there is emerging evidence that gut health (not just genetics and viral infections) plays a role in both the progression (if the gut is disturbed) and regression (if the gut is thriving) of autoimmunity. You’d think doctors would constantly be referring to the wisdom of Hippocrates, I mean they take his oath and everything.

Let’s look at what might’ve damaged my gut and/or disrupted the function of my dependable immune system

• I was a born via C-Section – I didn’t get my fair share of vaginal microbes that were supposed to set up immune-building camp in my gastrointestinal tract.
• I took antibiotics as a child for ear infections, which would’ve destroyed at least some of what beneficial microbial colonies I had established via being breasted and playing in the dirt.
• My childhood diet included an abundance of; white bread and margarine, croissants, hot chips, chicken nuggets, pancakes, ice-cream, chocolate, flavoured milk, pasta with cheese, pizza, hot dogs, 2-minute noodles, cookies and cake. Holy effing fuckballs what could possibly go wrong here. Sense the tone.
• At the age of 9, our home life was disrupted when my Pa had his first stroke. Then my Nanna got sick and passed away. Then Pa had another stroke. Then Pa passed away. Then my other Nanna passed away. Then my dad had a brain aneurysm and almost passed away! One word; stress. Two words; intestinal permeability.

I’m likely forgetting to list several other factors – but that list is a comprehensive start.

I’m over playing the walking gas tank whenever I so much as eat a berry. This isn’t a dietary faux pas. It’s called TRYING to nourish one’s self. Bottom line: me and my berry-loathing microbiome need help. We’d also like me to eventually come off my medications because …

WE’RE PRETTY SURE I DIDN’T GET SICK DUE TO A DRUG DEFICIENCY! 

(as such) DRUGS CAN’T BE THE LONG TERM ANTIDOTE.

WE WANT GENUINE HEALING NOT BAND-AIDED SUPPRESSION DAMMIT!!!

Would the loud yeller shut up already. Oh, it’s me. So that’s why my throat is growing weary. Which reminds me, I really must attend to my slow cooker. Are we done here? Oh, right, it’s ME that’s waffling.

Let’s wrap this up.

I am now on stage 1 of the GAPS introduction diet.

Each of the stages deserves a post of it’s own, so stay tuned.

Yours in gastrointestinal and immunological obsession,

Rachie xxx

References

Aitbali, Y., Ba-M’hames, S., Elhidar, N., Nafis, A., Soraa, N., and Bennis, M. (2018). Glyphosate-based herbicide exposure affects gut microbiota, anxiety and depression-like behaviours in mice. Neurotoxicology and teratology, 67, 44-49.

Campbell, A. W. (2017). Autoimmunity and the Gut. Autoimmune Diseases. 2014: 152428.

Danovaro, R., Bongiorni, L., Corinaldesi, C., Giovannelli, D., Damiani, E., Astolfi, P., Greci, L., … Pusceddu, A. (2008). Sunscreens cause coral bleaching by promoting viral infections. Environmental health perspectives, 116(4), 441-7.

Exley, C. (2014). Aluminium adjuvancts and adverse events in subcutaneous allergy immunotherapy. Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, 10(1), 4.