A lot of folks come to GAPS with quite a bit of experience and knowledge in foods and reactions. From them, we learn that many children with GAPS symptoms display behavioural issues specifically upon ingestion of high-salicylate foods. Thus, the parents remove those foods, some following a formal low-salicylate program.
In her book, Gut and Psychology Syndrome, Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride discusses the matter of salicylates and phenols.
Essentially, she sees these as helpful. In NCM’s perspective, they actively detox the body (hence the reaction). Now, she recognizes that some detox reactions are bigger than a little body can cope with and suggests, in such a case, that the problematic food be removed for up to six weeks, then reintroduced in a minute amount and progressively increased. This way, the body can detox gently and the person can progressively build in a whole new range of foods.
My favourite method for introducing powerful foods is this:
Day 1: 1 tsp
Day 2: None
Day 3: 3 tsps
Day 4: None
Day 5: If no problems, eat this food freely. (Very ill or sensitive people might opt to continue a slow increase.)
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Hi Baden,
I’d like to ask you something. Natasha Campbell advises to avoid salicylates (& oxalates) in case of urinary infections.
Do you have an explanation for this ? I don’t get the science behind. She doesn’t say why it’s not recommended for this condition.
As the diet is quite limited especially in the beginning (see Stephany in “Food allergy”) I’d like to understand, this will give me a support to do it properly!
I’ve heard that salicylates and other substances found in “healthy” foods can be treated as poisons for the liver and can be harmful for this reason. But don’t see the link with bacterial infections in the bladder.
Thanks !
Hi Vera,
I totally understand how background information can make all the difference in one’s ability to ‘do the program just so’, yes!
To clarify first: Do you have a urinary infection? If not, definitely feel free to include these elements in your program from the start. If you do have a condition contraindicating the inclusion of these, you can start with meats, fats, low sal and low oxalate veggies, etc, and still be well fed.
Unfortunately, in terms of the science behind this recommendation, I don’t have any more information than what is set out in Dr Natasha’s book and website. For more background, you might want to contact Dr Natasha, or another GAPS practitioner, directly.
If you find anything out, please do share with us all here!
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden,
Thanks for the suggestions.
Yes, I’ve got chronic urinary infections since I’m a baby and was given lots of antibiotics against e.coli, pseudomonas aeruginosa, klebsiella, proteus mirabilis, etc. on a regular basis for several years. Every urinary test shows a bacterial overgrowth and a recent test confirmed it was still there.
I understand why oxalates has to be avoided in this case. It’s currently recommended to avoid oxalates because they can be problematic for the kidneys. They also can disturb the gut. In a healthy gut, we have specific bacteria that help to digest the oxalates molecules so they are less harmful. Unluckily these bacterias are easily destroyed by antibiotics. I’ve heard the probiotics VSL#3 was helpful for this oxalates issue but never tried yet.
I will do some research about salicylates and urinary infections and I’ll share that if I get some answers! Do you know how I could contact Natasha Campbell ? Is there a possibility to ask her some questions ?
Thanks again,
Warmth,
Vera