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Thank you so much for supporting me to continue this work!
Excuse me but, who is Baden? Is she the author of GapsGuide the book? And forgive me if your bio is right in front of me somewhere, but I can’t find it on the site.
Thank you.
Hi Jeanne,
I (author of this website/blog, and the GAPS Guide book, and all responses to the comments posted here) am Baden.
The website and blog are one and the same thing, so you’re at the right place!
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden
I have not purchased, though I would like to, as from the US the postage made it too expensive for me -I am in the UK and have Dr NCM’s book but would love some help on getting ready to start intro. So for now will be sticking with the website, unless you ever decide to do a downloadable version of the Guide…
Hi Katherine,
I know postage can get wildly expensive, and the cost of a niche book is always already higher than a mass-produced one. My recommendation is to view it as ‘many hours of consult’. Paying, say, $38 USD for a book with shipping which eliminates or reduces the need for multiple consults is actually a huge savings. Further to this, the tips in the book directly save a person that much more (shopping, preventing expensive mistakes, etc). The final consideration is, “How much time does one want to spend hunting for information?” If a person feels their own research time and effort is worth more or less than the cost of a book with shipping, that can help them determine whether a purchase is ‘worth it’. It’s definitely up to you whether to use the book or not, I just wanted to share with you these points for consideration.
In the meantime, be sure to read all posts from start to finish under this blog’s category ‘intro’.
All my best,
Baden
i know this is a pathetic question; if a person can’t stop smoking would it be useless to try GAPS?
Hi Rebecca,
Even if a person cannot yet manage to quit smoking, GAPS would be a great thing.
1. Everything we do to heal the mind/body helps it.
2. Doing something like GAPS can give us the physical and mental support we need to change another aspect of our lives.
3. Studies have shown that smoking cigarettes soothes the brain. By soothing the brain through GAPS, it may resolve much of the need for cigarettes.
All me best,
Baden
Hi Baden,
I purchased both books including the guide book and they have just reinforced my belief that we are on the right track.
My son who is now almost 8 yrs. old was diagnosed at 2 yrs. old (very high functioning) on spectrum. We have been doing biomedical since age 2 GFCF but his diet is really close to the GAPS other than the grains and sugars. Our cooking is pretty close to the GAPS other than I wasn’t using coconut oil. I was using cold pressed grapeseed oil and EVOO. He has been on a bottled probiotic since 3-1/2 months old and EFA/Cod Liver oil. He also takes a TON of supplements all under the direction of medical doctor (one of the best DAN in the country) he has helped our son tremendously.
That being said we can not get a handle on his yeast and I know that grains and sugars arent helping. He has been on Nystatin for 4 yrs. on/off dyflucon. Recently his DAN doctor suggested GAPS diet. So I purchased the books and started.
We are now into the INTRO day 5. At day 3 we experienced die-off with symptoms of fatigue; vomiting; headache from 8 am – 2 pm. then he snapped out of it. Day 4 I did not give him his probiotics (2 caps in morning) and as I said he is very used to this as he has been on this for several years. Which by the way is why we don’t have the typical sleep problems, or problems with his stools. We are now mostly dealing w/ADD symptoms; social issues and I cyber school him which has made a HUGE difference in his education.
Anyway back to day 4 he didn’t get probiotics but I did give him all of his supplements. He didn’t have any die off symptoms. Today, day 5 he woke at 7 am moaning and did vomit a little and again very fatigued. This last from 7 am to noon. At noon I decided to wake him and get some more water into him and I added a little organic blueberry pomegranate juice (no sugar added) to the water he drank all of it and sipped some of his chicken broth. I tried to get him to eat a few bites of chicken and after he did he threw up again. I waited 1/2 and tried again just with sucking chicken broth through straw. He kept it down this time and has since perked up. Still fatigued but I got him to go outside for a little while.
A couple of things I could use some help with is…should I back off his probiotic and only give one capsule w/supplements and when should I move on to the next phase. I should also mention that on day 3 in addition to his chicken soup w/chicken, onion, garlic and a little carrot I gave him boiled hamburger. He had that also on day 4.
I have not done the epsom salts baths because I don’t want to make the die off any worse. Also because his candida is an issue in your book I was wondering if the S Boiulardii would help. I haven’t given him the homemade sauerkraut because of the die off and not knowing about his probiotic.
Any suggestions would be so helpful. I feel a little lost…but I know we can do it any sites you would suggest to that would be helpful for into meals would also be welcomed. He again isn’t like most…he isn’t a picky eater. He eats lots of vegetables, fruits, lamb, meat, loves the chicken soup…although he keeps asking when he can have other food.
Many thanks!
Hi Tracy,
Thanks so much for picking up the Guide as well. That helps me very much to be able to reply to queries here.
I’m going to reply in a different order than you presented the questions in.
1. The epsom salt baths -and other baths as listed in the book- will relieve die-off. That is, the supplemented baths will make your son feel much better. It is very important to do a different one every day.
2. Intro will largely attack candida. So, carry on as you have been doing and it will do this important work.
3. Only if he still seems to be struggling with candida after three months on GAPS -including intro- should you consider adding boulardii.
4. How many capsules of probiotic to give depends on how much live bacteria is in each capsule. This differs from bottle to bottle (manufacturer, dose, etc). For amounts of live bacteria to give, please see the probiotics guide in the GAPS Guide book. Give your child just 1/10th (or less) of the therapeutic dose indicated there for his age. Note: This recommendation holds true even for children and adults who have been taking a large dose of probiotics for many years.
5. Don’t worry too much about how much food he’s eating right now. He’s doing great! Do ensure he stays hydrated. Please do a search on my blog for ‘surviving die-off’ and click on the ‘electrolyte drink’ link found there.
6. As noted in your GAPS Guide book, please give him no other supplements (including GAPS ones) -except those required to preserve life or limb- for now.
7. Move on to the next food/preparation every four days. In this site’s navigation, please see the ‘Book Updates’ page for more info.
8. For meal ideas, please do a search in this website for ‘recipes’. I have one page with a link to lots and lots, most online and free!
Tracy, welcome to our community!
All my best,
Baden
Baden,
Wow…I have to correct some things immediately like his probiotic it’s 25 billion CFU’s and I’ve been giving him 2 capsules in addition to all his supplements. No wonder he’s going through die-off. You mentioned not to give any other supplements including GAPS ones for now. At what point would I add those back in? Does this also include his liquid EFA and Cod Liver Oil? This is hard but I just keep telling him that it will be worth it in the long run…he will be able to feel so much better and I’m already seeing a little difference after 5 days…not as much self stimulatory behaviors and a lot more pragmatic language. Thanks so much!
Tracy
Tracy: Right on! You figured out an essential piece about probiotic live counts! Well done.
For intro, I like to see people off of every supplement, starting just with unbottled foods. Each GAPS supplement (EFA, CLO, etc) can be added at any time after starting intro, but I recommend building one’s range of food to a satisfying variety (eg. Stage 4 or so) before using up ‘new food’ days with supplements.
Yes, the beginning is hard -learning curve, discipline in food choices, etc- but it will be worth it! Awesome about your son’s success so far!!!
All my best,
Baden
Dear Baden,
Could you possibly give me some guidance with regard to kefir and the home made yohgurt. I’m feeling lost in this area. Also…the last pot of chicken soup I made I put in 2 Tbsp. of the organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar into the soup along w/peppercorn and I can’t believe how much darker the broth was this time. Last few pots I used the celtic salt but didn’t put the apple cider vinegar into it. He’s doing really well…although his stool has changed from stage 4 now to a 6 today very light in color and flaky. Also he’s cravy crewing on something crunchy so I did give him almonds as a little snack. We are now into stage 2. Eggs were a big deal because we thought he might be allergic to them. When he was 9 months and then again at 12 months he threw up and scratched his tongue when I fed him eggs so the pediatrician told me not to use eggs. I did however put them in a GF pancake mix and he was fine. But, I tried just the yokes and he was fine. Waited and then tried the whites and he’s fine. This is HUGE for this diet. Thanks for your help! Some people have already commented that he seems much calmer and his eye contact is much better. He already had a lot of language but the depth of his conversation and phrases that he is now using are different from before.
Tracy
Hi Tracy,
What guidance are you seeking regarding yogurt and kefir? Start with yogurt (one teaspoon), as it has a less intense impact on the body than kefir does. You can find my simplest yogurt and kefir recipes via a search on my site.
Absolutely wonderful re: your son’s progress so far!!! Well done!
All my best,
Baden
Hello, I am so happy to have found such an informative blog because I really do need the help. My son is 6yrs old, diagnosed with autism. I started giving him the homemade meat stock 2-3 weeks ago before taking any of the bad foods away (he was still attending summer school) and since then he has developed really big, red pimples with white tips on his bum. I wanted to know if this was a die-off reaction, even though I haven’t given him any probiotic and he was still eating grains. Five days ago I took all bad foods away and he has been lethargic, started wetting the bed(he has been potty trained), warm to the touch at times, jumps in the tub and sits under running water at odd time of the night (we have since installed a tool that prevents him from being able to open the tub doors), lost lots of weight since he is refusing the meat from the stock and any carrots offered. I have been giving him the stock via medicine syringe and yesterday and today gave him scrambled eggs because he is not eating anything else (I know this is not part of the intro diet). I have not given any probiotics at all. What can I do to improve his food intake? How will I know to move to the next stage? The pimples are hard to the touch and they are very slow to heal, any suggestions? I gave him a baking soda bath this morning and now he is just laying. He starts school in 3 days and I doubt he will be able to go. What is the best way to approach the school regarding this matter of diet…even if he was feeling well I wouldn’t know what or how to fix his breakfast/lunch. I didn’t realize how much weight he has lost…so much so that his looks have changed. It’s truly unbearable to witness. Please help! Any advice or suggestions would be sincerely appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Ginene
PS I did order your book, The GAPSguide book and I can’t wait until it arrives!
Hi Ginene,
Thanks so much for ordering the book! That’s what makes it possible (on several levels) for me to answer comments posted here.
Yes, pimples like you describe are quite common in healing. The body is removing toxins.
Die-off can definitely happen just with removing or adding specific foods, even before adding probiotics or going whole hog on the program.
The lethargy, bedwetting, warmth, weight loss, and refusal of food are very common in early healing. Jumping into the tub at odd hours I’ve never heard of, but perhaps he’s just trying to cool his body or perhaps his body intuits the healing power of baths. The die-off relief remedies will help. While waiting for your GAPS Guide book to arrive (it’s best to read it before starting the program), please see: http://gapsguide.com/2009/10/01/surviving-die-off/ As you will note there, your move to give him a baking soda bath was perfect! Keep giving him 1-2 die-off relief baths (a different one each time) each day.
The most important thing at the food refusal stage is to keep a child hydrated. This will not only prevent serious issues associated with dehydration, it will help trigger appetite. Commonly, at the beginning of intro, a child (or adult) will refuse food for 3-4 days then start eating a wide range of foods.
Scrambled eggs are part of the intro progression, just a little bit later.
Where there is bleeding, cramping or true diarrhea (not simply three or fewer “looser stools” per day), stay on Stage 1 until that resolves, or a maximum of 7 days, whichever comes first. Other than that, simply keep moving forward with a new prep, amount or food every few days unless you get an obvious reaction to one of those new foods. If obviously reacting to newly introduced food, take that food out, allow a few days to recover, skip the reactive food and move on to the subsequent one.
School – Write a short note to the school explaining that your son is currently on a temporary healing protocol prescribed by a neurologist. Send him GAPS foods (stews, pancakes, etc) in a hot thermos.
I believe you will find your GAPS Guide book very helpful!!
All my best,
Baden
Baden,
I know juice concentrates are forbidden on the GAPS diet, but when I researched Bionaturae fruit spreads, it seems that the apple juice concentrate in the product is not the average. The company’s website says there is no added sugar to the fruit spreads and also posts this:
A nutritional analysis1 conducted against other leading “100 percent” strawberry fruit spreads found that the bionaturæ® brand contains fewer calories from simple sugars on a per-serving basis, and does not contain refined sugar or even white grape juice concentrate. The organic apple juice concentrate in bionaturæ® fruit spreads is a more natural and complex sweetener with a lower caloric content. Apple juice concentrate also has fewer simple sugars than white grape juice concentrate, the most commonly used natural sweetener in 100 percent fruit spreads. The bionaturæ® spread, made from real fruit, contains more complex carbohydrates, which are metabolized more slowly by the body than refined sugars. In addition, the bionaturæ® product has organic strawberries as the first ingredient.
What do you think? Safe or not?
Hi Cazzie,
While we know it’s preferable to eat only homemade, unprocessed foods, I personally think trialing something like this should be fine. Watch your body for its responses. My son and I use, on occasion, a jam made by Crofters, sweetened with fruit juice. It seems totally fine for our bodies.
Thanks for your note on the ‘Psychologist’ post, too!
All my best,
Baden
Baden,
Just curious about stool color. My son’s stool were pretty consistent at stage 3
& 4 prior to starting intro. but the color is really light almost a very light beige color. Is this pretty typical. We at or around stage 4. Also needed to give him some type of snack “very minimal amount” of almonds and cashews. However, he really seems to be craving them for some reason. I’m always suspicious when he starts “craving” foods, Also, we are dealing with as a primary issue…candida “yeast” so i’m holding off for 1 month before introducing any fruit. Any suggestions? Many thanks!!!
Tracy
Hi Tracy,
It’s very common for stools (consistency, colour, etc) to change a lot during the first few months. Except in the case of blood or true diarrhea, I would generally ignore these changes.
Craving is tricky -sometimes indication of a specific need (mineral, vitamin, fat, etc) and sometimes of yeast overgrowth being triggered. You might consider which nut he craves most, look up its nutritional strengths, then find another food that offers that same strength. This said, fat is very often the craving and often resolved by offering butter, etc, by the tablespoon.
All my best,
Baden
Baden,
I thank you so much for addressing each one of my concerns! I just have a few questions. Is it okay to continue giving him the eggs even though we are at the very beginning stage of the Intro diet? The majority of his diet is protein (chicken/eggs), which is a concern. So, I started introducing carrots and he has been reluctantly eating them, are they okay to give so early on since they have sugar in them, and can he eat pancakes so early on as well? Is broccoli okay if it is really soft when served?Lastly, Is palm kernel oil acceptable as a fat?
I just recently received your book and only had time, so far, to read your story and it has truly inspired me, even more, to move and to do so with confidence. The beauty of your experience is that it’s moved you to share your knowledge to help others, and this is really what having a profound experience is all about. I am grateful for your service! I am excited to finish the book!
With sincerity,
Ginene
Hi Ginene,
If you’re doing intro, you should simply follow the progression as outlined in your GAPS Guide book, which means no eggs in Stage 1 (but shortly after), no pancakes until the correct stage, etc.
It’s fine to have the majority of the diet protein initially. In Stage 1 of intro, we eat boiled meats (including fish), broths, fats. People without true diarrhea also include well-cooked, low-fibre veggies such as carrots, broccoli florets (not stalks), etc. Most people are fine with the sugar content in carrots.
All fats are fine.
I’m so glad my story has inspired you! And I’m really grateful that you ‘get’ where I was coming from in sharing it
Awesome!
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden!
Just got your book, and it has been super helpful. I am about to start our family on GAPS, and have seen a few ways to make bone broth….I just picked up a whole chicken and some beef bones (that have meat on them)from our local farmer…they are frozen, and i am wondering if i need to thaw them for 48 hours in the fridge as your book says, or can i cook from frozen?
any tips that you have would be great!
thanks again!
Gina
Hi Gina,
Thank you so much for getting a copy of the book! Therein, right above the detailed section on bone broth, I note that Dr Natasha recommends meat broth, with specific cooking times per type of meat. I recommend starting with that, as some people react to bone broth. Meat broth is a simple place to start. All this clarified, when I include bones, I cook them from frozen, just grabbing one from the freezer and popping it into the pot. Meat I cook from thawed. I’m not certain this is necessary; sources seem to indicate the most important reason for doing this is so that we have opportunity to gauge -via scent- if the meat is bad/off before cooking it.
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden,
I’m in the process of preparing to do the GAPS diet for the first time. In the GAPS Guide, you recommend having a large pot with lid. Can you tell me what size pot would work best, i.e. 16 quart, 20 quart, etc?
I’m taking your suggestion of starting the program slow and steady. I plan to start the Intro at the beginning of next year, which is ~ 6 weeks away.
Thanks again!
Pam
Dear Pam, I’m so sorry I missed your comment in an earlier session of replying! While out and about yesterday I thought, “Wait! Someone asked me about pot size… I need to go back and reply!” In the meantime, I measured mine. The pot I use most in GAPS accommodates 8 quarts/litres of water. This allows me to make large broths, soups, stews, etc, for my son and I -making enough of a hearty dish to last one (hungry) intro day or 2-3 non-intro (less hungry) days.
I love that you’re doing the gentle approach to starting!
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden,
I recently bought the set of the GAPS books and started implementing the GAP Diet and would like to make the following clarifications. I will be glad to receive your advice.
(i) Can one achieve good result if using non-organic meat and vegetable with recommended supplements.
(ii) If there is no pupu in the first 2 days of Introduction, can one use enema with Bio-Kult added to water every day?
(iii) What can cause oily pee always.
(iv) What vegetable is good to start with for chronic constipation.
Thank you.
Hi Aji,
(i) Yes, many people heal very well using non-organic meat and produce. Some people, however, are specifically and clearly sensitive to the pesticides, antibiotics, etc, found in non-organic foods. You can start with non-organic and if, after a few months, you’re finding you need more healing, try all-organic for a few weeks and see if there’s a difference. (This tip is listed under the ‘Progressing Further’ section of the GAPS Guide you’ve ordered.)
(ii) Yes, for every day there is no stool, please proceed with an enema. Your GAPS Guide book will give detailed instructions for an enema -including specific tips for children- as well as many other options for resolving constipation. Moving the bowels daily is key to healing!
(iii) Oily pee – Alas, I do not know. I suggest asking about this on one of the support groups listed on this blog’s ‘Support’ page.
(iv) Any GAPS vegetables should be fine where there is chronic constipation. (And butternut squash often triggers bowel movements in my son.) The important thing for CC is to heal the gut and build your gut flora. Start by including then increasing the juice of fermented veggies, in the meantime using the constipation remedies listed in the GAPS Guide book, each one for four days until you find one that works for you.
Aji, my primary recommendation is to wait for your GAPS Guide book to arrive -in the meantime practicing any of the GAPS recipes linked to from this blog’s ‘Support’ page- then read the Guide before taking any other steps. This will help prevent unnecessary problems, frustrations, etc.
All my best,
Baden
Hi Baden,
Thank you so much for the reply, i was only trying not to make another mistake, i’ve tried it before with no success .
Aji
Hi Baden,
I want to know if it is ok to start juicing from stage one of intro., and how long should i cook apple and prune for chronic constipation? I have a two year old son with chronic constipation from birth and all effort to relieve this was abortive. I want to go slow and steady as stated in gaps guide! Lastly, how do i make sour cream? it is not clearly stated in gaps book
Many Thanks,
Aji
Hi Aji,
Ideally one would start juicing in the stage presented in your GAPS Guide book. If constipation persists even upon introducing the juice of fermented veggies, and applying the non-food or otherwise stage-friendly tips for moving the bowels found in the book’s ‘Constipation’ section, and you need a break from enemas, then you can start carrot juice + Cod Liver Oil as early as Stage 2. Carrot juice is very high in sugars and can aggravate other symptoms, though.
To make sour cream, follow the instructions for yogurt but start with cream instead of milk.
Everyone: I hope to get to some earlier comments/questions at my next opportunity!
All my best,
Baden
Hi, I want to share with you that I have started a GAPS Sweden Facebook site. We are growing every day and our members are very active and enthusiastic. GAPS is pretty unknown in Sweden som we hope to spread the word : ).
https://www.facebook.com/groups/245938265462333/
Gapalicious greetings
Jeanette Keteli, admin
Thanks, Jeanette! I have now loaded the info to two places on the ‘Support for You‘ page.
All my best,
Baden
HI Baden
Please can you let me know how Tracy has done as we are about to start my friends son on the diet.. he is severely autistic and is already 9 years old!!!!
Is it too late to cure him?
Hi Julia,
Different people will have different results with GAPS. One can’t know in advance which manifestations of dysbiosis will resolve and which will prove more stubborn. We also don’t know how each person in the community approaches GAPS (eg. strictly, more loosely, for a short time, for the full two years, etc), and there are so many variables that will impact healing.
This said, we’ve seen incredible recovery in people of all ages with a wide range of diagnoses, including autism. I don’t know how Tracy, specifically, has done as I have no more information than that which she’s posted here. To connect with families who’ve done GAPS to support the healing of autism’s symptoms, I recommend joining one or more of the email support lists posted under this blog’s ‘Support for You’ page. You might also appreciate the story of Kevin, found toward the back of the GAPS Guide book, the videos of Sam linked to here, etc.
All my best,
Baden
Hello, My 18 yo daughter has had chronic fatigue, Lyme, dysbiosis and candida. She has been on antidepressants for 5 yrs. She has been on Gaps for 6 months with great results. She is now decreasing her antidepressants and has so much more energy.
She will be starting university in Southern California in the fall. As she will be living in the dorm and it will be a challange for her to stay on the Gaps stricly, we are looking for a place that sells homemade beef/chicken broth. she really needs to have it 3 times a day.
Best regards,
Carol living in Japan
Dear Carol,
Wonderful about your daughter’s results to date!!
Hopefully you have found a place that sells homemade broth. If not, I would post an ad looking for a local person to do so out of their home. Alternatively, your daughter might be able to use a slow cooker in her dorm room, or request disability accommodations that include a kitchenette.
All my best,
Baden
also (sorry!)- ‘Body Ecology’ recommends cocnut kefir – young coconut water (good electrolytes) with culture to ferment good bacteria. think that we could use this in place of fermented veg juice? its just every time i do the fermented veg i dont seem to get it right? if not anywhere in uk can buy safe ready made fermented veggies or any foolproof tips? to know that i am not cultivating bad bacteria? i really want to do gaps and make it work – i have just had such bad reactions i am so scared of starting again! i am also a blood type A and meats not really v good for me….. thoughts? i have pain/ pressure in the bottom of my throat- do you know what this is caused by? can GAPS cure?
thanks,
Hello Baden,
Great site! myself my partner and 4yr old boy, Felix are on day 4 of intro diet. He was constipated for the last 3 days and really grumpy and distressed with it. He managed to go today after us giving him some prune juice and a pear. I dont want to stray too far from the protocol but we definitely dont want to give him an enema and he refused the carrot juice. I was thinking of continuing the intro but giving him a little pear and prune juice in the morning. What do you think?
Thank you
Hi Baden,
I found my original post to you regarding my son. Well, Tristen has been on the GAPS for over a year. However, as we added more fruits into his diet through the summer noticable signs of the yeast returned. He was stimming a TON again, seeking a TON of sensory input (oral, chewing on his shirt collars), extreme mood swings, not able to physically sit still in a chair or watch a movie, asking for a chewy tube (which he didn’t use last year), poking his finger into his eye and wanting to spin. All things he was doing prior to starting GAPS the first time. After GAPS he was noticably calmer and many other positive things. This summer he also made some huge gains like more body awareness and able to ride his 2 wheel bike for the first time on his own without training wheels. This is huge because at the beginning of summer he was on a bike attached to my husbands and terrified and clearly not comfortable with balance. All that being said with the start of school (I cyber school him at home…this is our third year) I had no choice but to return to the intro stage 1. He turned 9 on 9/11/12. The next day 9/12 I started him on the homemade chicken broth, w/chicken and that is also what he had for lunch, and dinner. The first day was a noticable difference in his classroom (he was sitting still in his chair not figeting and calmer). His focus is still off but all the stimming stopped. I noted that he had not had any fruit for 24 hour period. Here is where I need guidance…I KNOW this works! But he awoke at 4 am and started throwing up he has thrown up now 9-10 times and can’t keep anything down. What suggestions do you have and what would you give him to eat w/broth? I tried to get him to eat some boiled vegetables but he isn’t wanting to eat. Thanks in advance for your help!
Tracy
Hi Tracy,
I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to get back to you sooner. You will have figured out what to do by now.
What I would have said was that the vomiting is okay and the not-eating is also okay, and just to make sure he stays hydrated.
See: http://gapsguide.com/2009/08/05/but-my-child-wont-eat/ (Scroll down to ‘Cold Turkey.), and
http://gapsguide.com/2009/10/01/surviving-die-off/
You made exactly the right call on what to do, by putting him back on Stage 1.
The program is phenomenal in its effects! To stay with it, I suggest blogging your progress daily (this can help you feel accountable, as well as connect you with readers who can encourage you) or connect daily with an email support list for encouragement.
All my best,
Baden
Hi Braden,
we are now into day 6 and I believe he has turned a corner. Remarkable difference in his ability to sit still again in his classroom. It’s almost unbelievable. Really the only day he threw up was the 1st day as opposed to the last time day 3 and 5 had die off. The epsom salt bath made a huge difference the first day. I am I on track…breakfast hard boiled egg, soft cooked cauliflower, zuchinni, chicken broth w/bone pat’e hidden in broth also 1 tsp. of sauerkraut all sprinkled w/celtic salt. For lunch ground boiled lamb, beef broth, cooked cauliflower and cooked onion from pot of soup. For dinner…boiled lamb chop, cooked zuchini w/onion, chicken broth w/1tsp. of sauerkraut. I forgot…tons of water. After lunch he was really sluggish. Doesn’t have issue w/stool…no diarrhea. How quickly can I move him on this time through the INTRO that’s were I’m getting stuck and needing help. Also, I never did the homemade kefir or yogurt the last time. I didn’t understand how to do it so we never got to dairy. This time…I’m determined to do it. I found a trusted raw milk dairy farm. Any help would be so appreciated! I know this works I just need to keep reminding my 9 yr. old this is hard but in the end you will be so much better off. He just keeps asking me…when can I have my raw cashews back?
Tracy
Tracy: Beautifully, beautifully, beautifully done!! Right on, Mama!
I think at this point you can trust your intuition about how quickly or slowly to move through each point on Intro. I generally recommend about four days per introduction, but each time I do it, I have a better sense of what’s okay for my body and I modify it accordingly, such that I might take ghee earlier and delay almond flour longer, for example.
It’s totally fine (good, even) to do Intro without any dairy. Here is my simplest yogurt recipe: http://gapsguide.com/2009/09/15/gaps-yogurt/
Cashews are very sweet/high carb. He may be craving a hit of sugar, which would indicate the need for more healing. In this case, the irony is that he will be able to start eating them when he stops craving them! In the meantime, try giving him lots of fat, or even the blood sugar trick from Dr. Natasha (ghee, butter, or coconut oil with just enough honey added to it that he’ll accept the taste – at this point in Intro, a very tiny amount should feel satisfying to him). The fats really help with sugar cravings in many people. It’s possible he is seeking minerals that cashews offer, in which case you can do an Internet search for cashews’ strongest nutritional elements then look up other GAPS food which offer the same.
All my best,
Baden p.s. THANK YOU for taking the time and care to send such lovely encouragement to Michelle!
Hi,
Thank you for your response…as always extremely helpful! I never thought about the sugar craving w/cashews. I’ll try the ghee, or coconut oil. Would the butter need to be raw? Should this be liquid form w/honey like on a spoon? I feel very blessed that he is very accepting of eating the fat. I’ve been putting a LOT into his chicedken broth.
I started giving him avocodo yesterday and today he’s definately a little agitated or edgy. Trying to figure out what may be going on. Last night he asked for an epsom salt bath.
Thanks again!
Tracy
Hi Braden,
I currently have my son through stage 3 BUT…I believe I need to go back a bit because I was backing off broth just once a day BUT I know I made a HUGE mistake by not giving him the fermented veggies with every meal. I moved him too quickly to sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and a few cashews and started small amounts of fruit. As a result…TONS of oral sensory, stimming, not able to sit still again. I can’t believe how diet responsive this kid is. Anyway, I’ve gone back and picked up the fermented veg. slowly w/small amounts of juice in broth and working up slowly till I can give him the fermented veggies, kraut w/every meal. I am giving him more coconut oil and more broth with every meal. As a result its curbing his cravings for the nuts. Here is where I need help…I’m confused about making the fermented sauerkraut and whey? Should I keep whey out and when and should it be in my fermented veggies and or kraut at all? Need ideas for snacks at this stage. I’m trying to make squash chips fried in coconut oil and dehydrated, also avocodo’s but what about sunflower crackers at this point if I soak the sunflower seeds overnight? When do you think I could introduce yogurt? One more question…in your book the nut butter pancakes/crepes seem to be stage 3 but I’m confused about add as much nut (almond, walnut, etc) butter as mixture. If I’m keeping nuts out at this point is this ok because I’m cooking with the nuts? Also, his stool still light beige, floats and was full of the nuts until I stopped Thursday which may indicate he is not digesting properly? He’s not taking a digestive enzyme at this point.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
Tracy