We have heard several times that “we are what we eat”. While the concept that our mental health can have a direct impact of the food we eat, a new eating plan termed as GAPS diet has been starting to claim that it can treat mental conditions like depression, depression, and others. The obvious question that comes into picture is – is the claim genuine?
GAPS Diet – Meaning
Let us first give you the full form of what we hear as GAPS – gut and psychology syndrome. The diet, which was developed by a UK-based nutritionist, is built on the theory that a leaky gut is a cause of several conditions that affect your brain in an adverse manner. It works in a way that lay emphasis on healing the gut issues with the help of food, specifically by eliminating certain carbs that are hard to digest for some people.
Now, it may sound interesting, however, the eating plan doesn’t happen to be that easy to practice. In fact, it is an extremely restrictive diet that excludes starchy vegetables, grains, refined carbohydrates, and pasteurized dairy.
It starts with an introduction phase that is further divided into 6 different stages, and if you manage to complete all these, you start with the actual GAPS diet. Sweating already? Well, we already told you it’s not easy at all. That’s not it – you also have to follow weird rules like not consuming fruit and meat together, and including cold-pressed coconut or olive oil as well as bone broth with every meal.
Does It Really Work?
So, what’s the payoff of following such a difficult diet? The nutrition expert who prepared this eating plan claims that it’s an effective cure for mental problems ranging from dyslexia, autism, and depression to bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and others. Although it’s correct that there is a connection between our brain and gut microbiome, it is still not known how.
Having said that, the major concern surrounding the GAPS diet is that it is not yet backed up by science. However, with an eating plan as strict as that, it is always suggested to be under the guidance of a professional dietician while following it.