I have been thinking, researching, and talking to people about the GAPS diet for the past 8 months. I finally worked up enough courage to start the diet. We officially started the GAPS Introduction diet May 2nd 2012.
You are probably wondering what the GAPS diet is..................it is refined sugar free, lactose free, and grain free. The diet is done in phases based on how you are feeling and what your stools are looking like. Here is a link for more information about GAPS: http://www.gapsdiet.com/
Hayden has been on a very strict diet for the past two years and has made great improvement both mentally and physically but he still has a lot of ups and downs in his behavior and I feel that it is diet based. Basically we just eliminated foods that he was sensitive to and allowed him to eat what we thought was healthy.
I use to let Hayden eat organic fruit with out any question. I thought I was feeding him the best nutrition out there. I was SUPER wrong. Yes fresh fruit is better than chowing down a candy bar but, it is still loaded with sugar.
Sugar is an absolute enemy to Hayden's sick little body. He has a huge problem with yeast over growth and what does yeast feed off of??? Yep, you guessed it sugar!! In order to kill the yeast we have to make their environment in Hayden's body less then ideal. That means getting rid of all sugar. Which also means getting rid of all grains. Grains (carbohydrates) when broken down by the body become sugar.
The GAPS diet will heal Hayden's gastrointestinal tract and all his food sensitivities will be healed. I predict that we will be on GAPS for 2-3 years. I am not in a hurry and want to make sure that we take our time and do the diet properly.
I have committed to this diet with Hayden and Ruby will eat it while she is home. Brandon will eat the diet when he is home with the exception of having pop and cereal. Which he eats the cereal in the garage and I have asked him to hide the cereal so I am not tempted by it.
I have not ate chocolate or consumed coffee for three days now. I thought I was going to have a hard time giving up chocolate and coffee but I feel pretty good. I don't even have a headache today and have my normal amount of energy :) The kids on the other hand are not feeling so well.
Hayden has woken up the past two days vomiting (a normal reaction to starting the diet) and Ruby joined him vomiting at 5am today. Hayden and Ruby are both pale today and just want to lay around. I keep remind myself that I am doing this to help Hayden become healthier and to give him every opportunity in life. It is harder than I thought to see my kids like this :(
What are we eating??? We are eating cooked broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, squash, garlic, onion, chicken, beef, and lots of broth. That is seriously it!! I have made some yummy squash soup and hamburgers that I simmered in chicken stock with cauliflower and squash. Once the hamburgers were cooked I removed the chicken stock, cauliflower, carrots, and I purred them. I poured the puree over the top of the hamburgers and it was yummy!
I have been making everything from scratch. We are eating NO processed foods. I will be making my own yogurt once I get some raw milk which I found a source to get it. I am also fermenting foods. This is a new concept to me and honestly kind of grosses me out. Fermented vegetables are a great source to restore good bacteria into your gut.
I know in my heart that I am doing the right thing. I just hope my kids eat soon!!
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