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What is the GAPS Intro Diet?

What is the GAPS Intro Diet?

All GAPS Diets are a major part of the GAPS Nutritional Protocol.

The Full GAPS Diet typically follows the GAPS Introduction Diet (Intro Diet).

The very name Introduction Diet implies that we begin with this diet. It is helpful for most GAPS clients to go through the Intro Diet at some stage in their healing, because it gives them the best chance to optimize the healing process in the gut and the rest of the body. However, not everybody has to start from the Intro Diet and starting with the Full GAPS Diet (see Dr. Natasha’s books or my blog on the Full GAPS Diet) is beneficial and there are reasons you may need to start there first.

Here’s the GAPS Intro Diet, summarized, courtesy of Monica Corrado who is a teaching chef, certified nutrition consultant, Certified GAPS Practitioner and author of The Complete Cooking Techniques for the GAPS Diet :

  1. Stop the injury to your gut
    1. NO fibrous vegetables (celery, etc.)
    2. NO fiber from grains (bran, breakfast cereals)
  2. Stop feeding pathogens and start starving the pathogens
    1. NO refined and processed foods
    2. NO sugars
    3. NO grains including wheat, rye, rice, oats, corn, maize, sorghum, barley, buckwheat, millet, spelt, triticale, bulgur, tapioca, quinoa, cous-cous, etc. This means NO pasta, bread, crackers, bagels, pizza, muffins, cookies, cakes, etc.
    4. NO starches or starchy vegetables
  3. Nourish and heal the gut lining
    1. CONSUME healthy fats, particularly quality sourced animal fats
    2. CONSUME meat stock
    3. CONSUME soups made with meat stock
  4. Consume probiotic foods to replenish your gut with good bacteria
    1. CONSUME lacto-fermented beverages, tonics, and vegetables such as cabbage tonic, beet kvass, sauerkraut
    2. CONSUME cultured dairy such as yogurt, crème fraiche, raw sour cream, and kefir

Dr. Natasha has since added variations of the GAPS Diet to follow the Introduction Diet based on her clinical experience with many patients.

For more information on all the GAPS Diets, go to GAPS Diet at gaps.me

You may need a coach to navigate the Intro Diet or to choose which GAPS diet to start with. My experience can help. Book a free initial consultation for answers to your questions.