Gut & Psychology Syndrome

[Serephina]

I thought I would start putting up some resources for the GAPS diet for those that are interested. I have found this book invaluable in understanding and treating my own digestive problems.

Here's an except from the book:


We live in a world of epidemics

Fifteen years ago, autistic spectrum disorders affected one in 10,000 children. Today in the West, on average one in 200 children are diagnosed on the autistic spectrum.

Millions of children are taking brain altering medications such as Ritalin to combat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD/ADD) and depression while many millions more are being diagnosed with other learning problems with labels like dyslexia and dyspraxia.

How many families do you know personally who complain of being plagued by allergies, eczema, and asthma?

Other epidemics include schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), which was unheard of only a few decades ago and now affects 2 million people in the United Kingdom alone.

Many other neuropsychological and psychiatric problems in children and young adults are becoming more and more common.

Chronic degenerative diseases afflict over 120 million Americans with 50 million more suffering from one or more auto-immune diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, MS, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and a host of other syndromes.

Cancer is now close to being expected to develop in 1 out of every 2 people in their lifetime.

Antibiotic resistant infections are increasing at an alarming rate.

Approximately 90% of medication can only suppress symptoms of disease with no ability to fix or cure the diseases.

Possibly most worrying is that the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta has stated that for the first time in history those born after the year 2000 are expected to die before their parents — a truly frightening prospect.

We have created different diagnostic boxes in which to fit these "diseases." But often we do not fit into any one of them neatly. The modern westerner in most cases fits into a rather lumpy picture of overlapping neurological and psychiatric conditions. This picture leads us to the fact that these conditions are related to each other by similar underlying causes.

85% of the body's immune system can be found in the gut

Not many people know that an adult on average carries 2 kg of bacteria in the gut. There are more cells in that microbial mass than there are cells in an entire human body. It is a highly organised micro-world, where certain species of bacteria have to predominate to keep us healthy physically and mentally. Their role in our health is so monumental that we simply cannot afford to ignore them.

A typical modern mother was probably not breast-fed when she was a baby, because she was born in the 60s or 70s when breast-feeding went out of fashion. Why is it important?

Because it is well known now that bottle-fed babies develop completely different gut flora compared to breast-fed babies. This compromised gut flora in a bottle-fed baby later on predisposes her to many health problems. Having acquired compromised gut flora from the start, a typical modern mum had quite a few courses of antibiotics in her childhood and youth for various infections. It is a well known fact that antibiotics have a serious damaging effect on gut flora, because they wipe out the beneficial strains of bacteria in the gut. At the age of 16, and sometimes even earlier, the modern mum was put on a contraceptive pill, which she took for quite a few years before starting a family.

Contraceptive pills have a devastating effect on the beneficial (good) bacteria in the gut.

One of the major functions of the good bacteria in the gut flora is controlling about 500 different species of pathogenic (bad) and opportunistic microbes known to science. When the beneficial bacteria get destroyed the opportunists get a special opportunity to grow into large colonies and occupy large areas of the digestive tract. A modern diet of processed and fast foods provide perfect nourishment for these pathogens and that is a typical diet a modern mum had as a child and a young adult.

As a result of all these factors a modern mum has seriously compromised gut flora by the time she is ready to have children. The most common health problems in mothers are digestive abnormalities, allergies, autoimmunity, PMS, chronic fatigue, headaches and skin problems.

Whatever microbial flora the mother has she passes to her new-born child. And indeed clinical signs of gut dysbiosis (abnormal gut flora) are present in almost 100% of mothers of children with neurological and psychiatric conditions.

Read the rest here:
http://www.loveyourbelly.com/resources/gut.html

Interesting article by the same author
Does MMR cause autism? (http://www.dietarysupport.com/mmr(art).html)


Getting Started
Get yourself a copy of the book. I've found Book Depository (http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/WEBSITE/WWW/WEBPAGES/showbook.php?id=0954852001) to be the cheapest and they ship worldwide for free. Alternatively many local libraries have copies available.

While you're waiting for the book to arrive check out http://gapsdiet.com. This site is the most comprehensive resource I've found. There are foods lists, FAQs, stool charts etc.

Get into the kitchen and start preparing meat stocks, homemade ghee and sauerkraut. It will make life so much easier later if you have these things prepared in advance.

[Wonder-Full]

We're on this atm. I've been dragging the chain on a few things for the past few weeks, but not anymore. We're just starting from the allowed foods list rather than just broth (can not imagine getting my kids to go for that).

My mum's been on it a week (broth/veges only) but is stuck on it! She can't introduce any of the introductory foods without breaking out in hives (foods she had no supposed issue with before). She had some long term candida going on, so after the die off symptoms for a few days she's now ready to start introducing new foods but within 4hrs the hives appears.

She has dropped 3kg in that time though. We're just hoping that if she continues with the broth for another week or so that more gut healing happens and she won't be so sensitive to the other foods.

I have the book hopefully coming in the post this week for her, but we just watched the DVD presentations to get the guts (:eyeroll:) of the what to do and they're fairly thorough. Does the book mention about being allergic to everything for a while if there is longterm gut damage to repair?

She's wanting to do the Ultimate Cleanse (a herbal cleanse) as well but I hope I've convinced her for now to leave it be.

[Serephina]

I'm not bothering with the introduction diet either but then my issues are pretty mild compared to some. I'm doing the gradual intro with the dairy as I already know it doesn't agree with me.

Hopefully your mum will be able to introduce some new foods soon. Is she taking probiotics and probiotic foods? How are her bowel movements?

In terms of the Ultimate Cleanse I don't believe it would be GAPS friendly due to the psyllium husk. The GAPS book doesn't mention psyllium specifically, but GAPS is based on the SCD and in the SCD psyllium is illegal.


Psyllium husks are loaded with cellulose and lignin which some bacteria thrive on. We accept that the cellulose in vegetables and fruit can be handled OK but a concentrated form such as husks would not be in order. It is illegal.
From http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/knowledge_base/kb/psyllium.htm

[Lexie]

Nooo...my okra... :disbelief: Say it ain't so! The humanity! I guess I can get over it. :( *sniffle*

Gotta tell DH not to buy anymore black eye peas--he'll be up in arms over that one. :D At least his precious lima beans are safe.

Doesn't mention red/black beans. Any clues on that?

Aside from those things, I'm not eating anything on the no-no list.

My DD is 8 months now and my bowels are still recovering from the antibiotics they forced on me. They had the gall to tell me I would be constipated due simply to labor. Really, for 8 months, huh? I knew that was horse manure.

ETA:

Approximately 90% of medication can only suppress symptoms of disease with no ability to fix or cure the diseases.
And yes, a thousand times, yes! Thank goodness someone said it. My DH needs this book. :giggle:

[Serephina]

Lexie as far as I'm aware the only legumes allowed are lentils (all types), lima beans and navy beans (sometimes called haricot beans).

I was quite disappointed as I'm quite fond of hummus and I have a killer curry recipe with adzuki beans in it. But seeing as I feel normal on this diet for the first time ever I think I can live with it.

Speaking of constipation... forgive me if this is too much information for some, but I feel it's really important so I'm going to post it anyway ;)


The Bristol Stool Form Scale

The Bristol Stool Scale or Bristol Stool Chart is a medical aid designed to classify the form of human feces into seven groups. It was developed by Heaton and Lewis at the University of Bristol and was first published in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology in 1997. The form of the stool depends on the time it spends in the colon.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Bristol_Stool_Chart.png

Type 1 has spent the longest time in the colon and type 7 has spent the least. Stools at the lumpy end of the scale are hard to pass and often require a lot of straining. Stools at the loose or liquid end of the spectrum can be too easy to pass - the need to pass them is urgent and accidents can happen. The ideal stools are types 3 and 4, especially type 4, as they are most likely to glide out without any fuss.

What type of stools are best?

The feeling you need to go is definite but not irresistible
Once you sit down on the toilet there is no delay
No conscious effort or straining is needed
The stool glides out smoothly and comfortably
Afterwards there is only a pleasant feeling of relief
All this is most likely if the stool is Bristol Stool Form Scale, type 4
From http://gapsdiet.com/Stools.html

[Wonder-Full]

Ha! I was looking at the stool site earlier on today before your thread appeared (some synchronicity going on I think) and found it really interesting (even called dh over to rate himself :giggle:)! I was going to post it here but chickened out lol. Convinced me to include DD in the diet (she's between a 1 and a 2 and has a big pot belly which could be due to this I'm thinking) - unfortunately the man is selling his product to fix the problem (ETA: I found it on his own website and he is selling his product, not on the GAPS site). DS oscillates between 3 and 6. Me, i'm normal. :giggle:

My mum is taking probiotics as well and I think her BM are returning to normal.

[Lexie]

I used to always have 4s. I would go 3-5 times a day. Sometimes 3 times before I could even have breakfast. Since the hospital messed with me, it fluctuates. I finally started having some 4s maybe a few weeks ago. Still more 3s, but very rarely 1s or 2s anymore. I could have sped it up with probiotics but I never looked into them, honestly. Amazing that it takes this long naturally to get back on track. I never agreed to their antibiotics. Bastards.

I see string beans, green peas, and split peas on the good list too. Not much into string beans, but love the other two. I'll cry for my red beans though...they're my favorite. :( Uhh...wait lima beans are on the good list, but butter beans are on the bad. Those are the same thing as far as we know though. 'Butter beans' being more a nickname really. Any ideas on that one?

[Serephina]

Oops, yes I forgot about the split peas. I kind of see peas and green beans as vegetables more than legumes. With the butter beans I think they must mean the smaller variety. What are red beans BTW?

Probiotics are great, drs should really be prescribing them along with every script they write for antibiotics. Or just stop prescribing antibiotics.

Alternatively foods like yoghurt (homemade is best), kefir, sauerkraut and other cultured vegetables like kim chee are natural sources of probiotics.

[Lexie]

I think red and kidney are one in the same. Hmm...small...well we get the large limas cause that's what DH prefers, so I guess we're good on those. :)

Lactose intolerant, so yogurt's a no-no for me... I was looking up vegan probiotics earlier and I found a brand. Looking into it more before I decide for sure... Doctors drive me batty, I swear.

[Janet]

I had my son on SCD and we're moving towards GAPS. GAPS is more in line with my own thinking around food but SCD was very useful and served a purpose for us. Between that and our probiotics, his gut has greatly improved. I love the poo pics. ;) I have a great interest in what comes out of his bum, unsurprisingly. :)

[Serephina]

Ah, kidney beans. I suppose as long as they are labelled as lima they would be fine.

I'm not sure what brands are available in the US. Most health foods shop here stock dairy-free probiotics - I would assume that being dairy-free they would be vegan? Although I dare say the GAPS diet would be near impossible to do as a vegan.

[Wonder-Full]

I have a great interest in what comes out of his bum, unsurprisingly. :)

:LMAO: Yes, we can be at other peoples houses and ds calls out "come and look at my poo muuuuuum!!!". :o

[Wonder-Full]

Oh, and I'm super glad we're homeschooling, certainly takes away the pressure of lunch-box comparisons. yikes, that could be difficult otherwise. Our lovely homeschool friends have even decided to alter what they bring along to our meetups to help us out.:D

[Janet]

I'm constantly glad we homeschool. ;)

[Lexie]

What would make it nearly impossible as a vegan? Do you need to have some dairy or meat? Confused... Most of what I eat is on the good list. I just don't eat everything on that list. Am I supposed to?

[Wonder-Full]

Lexie, the key component of the introductory diet is to drink meat broths (to get to the gelatin). It is the broths that heal the gut, so without them, you would just be eating other healing foods. I'm sure you could do that, but I'm not sure how you'd get the full benefit of what the diet is trying to do. The first food to be introduced on top of the broth is egg yolk, then ghee, fermented yoghurt etc, so all animal products.

[Lexie]

Ahh, I see. Now it makes more sense. I should have read more instead of just scanning it. Yeah...can't do the intro.

ETA: Not all probiotics are vegan because they're more than likely cultured in dairy. Natren seems to have truly vegan products though...looking at them now.

[3monkeys]

Wow I never thought I would find a poo chart so interesting.....

My DH is a 7 most of the time. And its caused by meat. I woild love to try this diet with him but how would he go on bone broths I wonder. I am a 2-4. I need some work, but I am aware of that so just need to make the change. I am totally stoked that my kids are all 3-4. YAY, makes me feel like I am doing something right. And although there diet isnt perfect I know that the effort I put in to it must be paying off.

DH was bathing our son and a friends son last night. He said our son has really clear skin and our friends sons skin was blotchy and asked me what causes that. I figure its something to do with diet. Any ideas.

Anwyay I think I am going to buy that book. Thank you.

[Serephina]

What would make it nearly impossible as a vegan? Do you need to have some dairy or meat? Confused... Most of what I eat is on the good list. I just don't eat everything on that list. Am I supposed to?

What Wonder-full said ;)

My other concern would be removing grains from an already restricted diet. You'd have to be very careful with food combining.

I tried to do GAPS as a vegetarian and it just didn't work. My gut wasn't healthy enough to be able to handle lots of legumes,nuts and seeds. My BMs were a constant 6 on the chart - not fun. I decided to add a in the chicken broth and a little fish occasionally and am now finding it a lot easier.

That said I do believe the vegan diet is the most ethical and can be very environmental friendly as well, but just not the healthiest for me right now.

[Lexie]

I know it's a lot easier for me having been vegan for 12 years. I hate grains, honestly. Never liked them, not even when I was a kid. Don't know why. They also make me dreadfully sleepy, so I may be intolerant? Don't know. I love root vegetables and eat them as my starch. I love them all...mmm...so good.

My stool is getting better again with time, at least. I had a 3 and 4 today, yay!

Combining, actually, was more of a theory than a fact and has since been disproven. But most people don't know that.

[Serephina]

I know what you mean with feeling sleepy with grains - I get the same thing, plus terrible bloating and cramps. Most of the starchy vegetables (potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn) are also out under GAPS which makes things a little bit trickier.

I didn't know about the food combining theory being disproven. Do you have any links for that, I would love to do some further reading. My nutrition lecturers really carry on about food combining for vegetarians, one would hope that that actually knew what they were talking about :rolleyes:

[Wonder-Full]

Yeah, I'm finding it strange to be back eating way more meat. We were down to eating meat 3 nights a week (and only vegetarian during the day) but have found it easier to bring meat/fish meals back up again due to the limited legumes and grains on the diet. Dropping the potatoes has been the hardest thing for all of us on the diet since we don't tend to eat rice much anyway.

I just feel that I've never healed DS's coeliac gut (even though we've been GF for 3yrs and cooked mostly from scratch). :(

I'm really hoping this works for him. I may need to go back to the broth stage with him at some point though, but for now, I'm happy to remain on just eating the healing foods which is not a lot different our usual (minus the grains) and incorporating broth in soups 3 or so times a week.

I'm going to make up some 24hr yoghurt today.:)

[Lexie]

Oh, my favorites are cassava and taro root...don't see them on either list. Confused again...

ETA: Nooooooooo...my taro...arrowroot. :( That's my favorite too. This diet is mean to me...

[Serephina]

Both cassava (yuka root?) and taro are not GAPS friendly as they are starchy like potatoes. This SCD website has a more comprehensive food list http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/legal/legal_illegal_t-z.htm

[Lexie]

Damn. So do you guys eat anything starchy at all then?

ETA: Also, how come tomato paste isn't allowed but tomato juice is? I usually buy paste specifically because they don't add a ton of stuff to it.

Nevermind, that last list specifically says starch is out.

[Wonder-Full]

LOL, that's certainly the hard part of the diet for me at least. But none of us go hungry on the diet at least. Pumpkin is ok though and so are nuts - so you can make nut flour foods and peanut butter is becoming a bit of a staple food around here.

[Wonder-Full]

It's the additives that are the issue I imagine - does paste have sugar or other stuff? I use a ton of tinned tomatoes and can't wait for my own to ripen.

[Serephina]

Little pancakes made with almond flour are my saving grace. And pumpkin.

With the tomato paste many brands have added sugar. I use an organic one that is just tomatoes and salt so I figure that is okay.

[Lexie]

Ahh, I've looked at the ingredients on all the tomato products in the grocery and paste is the only one without a bunch of additives. I guess it's different everywhere. I tried tomato sauce once in desperation--they were out of paste--but it was gross...and had way too many other ingredients.

Oh...my...gosh...pumpkin. I adore pumpkin. I'll eat it any way it's cooked. Delicious. Grew up on it. :)

ETA: Dammit...I always think of something just after I post!

About the nuts thing...my DH is allergic to it. I don't know about my DD. I've severely cut down on all nuts for her sake. Sometimes, in desperation, I'll have some peanut butter--because it's a quick grab as opposed to cooking. And that's usually once a month or so. The last time, it actually made me feel ill. Not sure what that was about. I'd hate to be allergic to nuts cause I adore cashews and almonds.

[Serephina]

I love peanut butter, especially the freshly ground stuff from the health food store. It would be awful to be allergic to nuts.

[Lexie]

It would make me pretty sad. :(

I wonder if I can make this work somehow...hmm

[Wonder-Full]

OK, so 3 days in and DS has been on the strict GAPS diet. Myself and DD are doing it about 90-95% and even DH just by default is mostly on it aside from him eating up other gluten free foods to clear the pantry and freezer.

I haven't started with fermented yoghurt yet, but might look into making some up in the next few days. Have been using a ton of broth in my cooking

DD's been the biggest surprise though - she no longer has her big pot belly (although yesterday we ran out of fruit bar bananas until tomorrow so that could be significant in itself...), is pooing a "4" :D and this should help work on any remaining glue ear too from my reading which then should help with her speech problems and perhaps even a desire to ask "why?" questions.

DS is still getting quite bulky poo rating a "6" - it's hard to know if it's from clearing out (I've reintroduced the probiotic powder in a small amount), or whether he's got some intolerance to something (even though there are no new foods than what he's always eaten unless it's from eating too many nuts and peanut butter) or whether it's from the steroids messing with him in which case maybe I just maintain the diet as is and just carry on. I just keep clinging to the fact that he did have one "perfect" poo over a week ago which has never happened and I so wish I'd had my food diary going to pinpoint what it was (I suspect it was at the end of the week before shopping day and we'd run out of something!). Most likely peanut butter so will try eliminating it, that will be sad though...

[3monkeys]

Do you think this diet could stop my DHs irritable bowel and help with DDs urinary incontience? I am so tempted to buy the book.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

Can I add a moan?

I'm so annoyed. For three days now, I've had one piece of bread, and a weak cup of coffee with one spoon of sugar.

and tonight, I've been hit by rosacea cluster bombs.

sigh.

So it's back onto the veges and fruit and protein only.

Every time I cheat, I pay.

[Wonder-Full]

I have come across many of these style of diet books (someone on my blog mentioned another one called UltraMind Solution) and they basically all come from the same angle - no sugar, no starch/grains, no dairy (except fermented) and using probiotics.

They all TOTALLY talk about healing the gut where the majority of our immune system functions from. The GAPS diet's focus is on ADHD, dyslexia, autism etc, but there from skimming through it (it arrived today) it talks of glue ear and other issues.

You would do just as well borrowing The Special Carbohydrate Diet book from a library if you have one near you. The GAPS book tells you to get the detailed diet info from the SCD book which I did find disappointing. The GAPS website has the introductory diet though, so maybe no point in getting the book? It is fascinating to read though and I see my dd in what she talks of even though I'm on this track for my ds. Ironic really.

Don't know about urinary incontinence - but incidentally, my dd who is almost 4 showed NO sign of being night toilet trained (would wake with a flooded nappy in the morning), and the first day I put her on just a gluten free diet she woke dry the next morning and has for the past few weeks bar one incident. So :shrug:, but worth a try I reckon.

[Wonder-Full]

Crud Hilary!

I feel sorry for my mum, she's still just eating broth 3 meals a day and it's been over a week! She breaks out in hives 4hrs later every time she tries a new food (although her 24hr yoghurt went in fine today). She has lost quite a bit of weight though which she's happy about. :giggle:

[3monkeys]

DDs urinary incontinence is daytime too. She is wet about 4x a day on an average day and always at least once on a good day. She has never been anywhere near dry during the day.

I did eliminate gluten once and it made a small difference. I do notice that the better her diet is the more control she seems to have.

She is 5 now and its starting to get to the point where its going to effect her in other ways. She couldnt go on her school ski trip last year because of it. I didnt want her wet in other peoples ski clothes and cold up the mountain.

I might read the site........ thank you.

[Wonder-Full]

Wow, I'd be really interested if you do try this out and have success. I have another online friend with a 5yr old dd who has the same problem and it's really frustrating for them both.

[Janet]

I find the Specific Carbohydrate Diet very American which means I don't really relate to the idea of what constitutes "food" for a lot of the contributors. No offence but I don't need to replace cheeseburgers coz I didn't need cheeseburgers (and don't eat them) to start with. ;) I prefer GAPS because it's much more wholefood focussed. As I've said to others, I see it as almost French food but without bread. It's much more in tune with my own sensibilities around food. :)

[Lexie]

I can kind of relate, Janet. I've pondered on this a lot, but partly because I'm vegan and my DH is more like a 'meatatarian.' When he says 'food,' it's an odd feeling for me because the majority of what goes into his mouth I don't see as food. Not only because it's usually meat either. He hardly eats anything that isn't processed, some highly so. I just don't see the nutritional value. Then he talks of 'major heartburn' and things 'tearing up' his stomach... Lovely.

On another note, after much researching and collecting of data, I've decided vegan SCDing is very possible. Legumes contain all the essential amino acids in varying amounts. I have a list of other legal and vegan foods that are more specific to each essential. We can definitely do this. :)

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

the problem with legumes is that they can seriously roil some people's guts. I'm one of those. Beans and me and an explosive mix, and neither of the kids do well on them, or lentils either....

Janet, do you have a particular GAPS book/site which you like?

[Quickening]

the problem with legumes is that they can seriously roil some people's guts. I'm one of those. Beans and me and an explosive mix, and neither of the kids do well on them, or lentils either....

In Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon, she says that beans and legumes (and grains) need to be properly prepared before cooking - 7 hour soaks in kefir or lemon water for the fermentation process to properly prepare those things for digestion. Apparently it is meant to neutralise certain substances that create problems in our guts.

I saw the SCD book. and just couldn't do it. Didn't agree with how unhealthy it sounded - sugar, milo, artificial foods etc. I haven't seen the GAPS stuff yet but a wholefoods approach sounds more appealing.

[Janet]

SCD has no milo etc in it. I think you're confusing it with FailSafe?

Hilary I like the GAPS book. :lol Including the recipes. :)

[Wonder-Full]

yeah, SCD is completely whole foods too (GAPS is the same diet only she has a slightly different introductory diet method - her book says go to the SCD websites for information on the food lists, how to implement the diet and recipes) and her website has the introductory diet on it (the book doesn't, go figure). Absolutely no sugar or cocoa or anything like that. I think as Janet says, the SCD is written for a US type diet where things like cheeseburgers needed special "alternatives" lol or it said, buy block cheese (ah, yeah, that's all I ever buy lol). Annoying rather than not good information.

So...DS had a dark solid poo today - so i'm stoked. :LMAO:Now just to maintain this diet and see that things remain like that (or I have two possible aggravations in the diet that could be the cause).

[Quickening]

Doh failsafe :blush:

[Seaweed]

Hey 3monkeys a friend is sending me the GAPS DVD. I have to go to someone else's house to watch it but I will lend it to you when you come up if that helps.

We don't do legumes either. They don't make us fart or anything like that but I seriously can't get my head around eating them for some reason. I'm Ok with fresh peas & fresh beans out of the garden but the thought of tinned chickpeas or legumes of any kind makes me feel mildly queasy. Even fermented soy products like Miso or tempeh do the same thing to me. I could never face the thought of legumes whilst pg & when the girls were babies too, if I ate legumes ( ie drunk soy milk ) they would scream for hours & get reflux.

[Janet]

.

So...DS had a dark solid poo today - so i'm stoked. :LMAO:Now just to maintain this diet and see that things remain like that (or I have two possible aggravations in the diet that could be the cause).

Go the poo! I so hear you. :giggle:We're cutting dairy back atm. I stopped on the strict dietary stuff because he started wanting to try new foods after a month or so on SCD and he'd never done that before so I didn't want to stop him. :o Anyhoo... cutting down on the dairy has already produced some results but the poo thing is so weird, dodgy and unfathomable. Even with keeping a food diary I CAN'T see a pattern and that's in over a year of going in and out of recording. I'd say overall solid nice poo is happening a lot more now than a year ago but I still can't tie it to any triggers. :giggle:

[Wonder-Full]

The DVD is great! That was my first introduction to all of this and I think you learn heaps just from watching them (is the 2 presentations done by Dr Campbell?). I know what you mean about legumes, I'm not too sad that we can't do them lol. Lentils I can tolerate but don't really like the texture.

Janet, yeah, it can be so tricky. this is the 2nd poo ever like this, so I'm so hoping that things don't go backwards again. I'm yet to reintroduce any dairy but really want to make up a batch of 24hr yoghurt, but should try and not be too impatient and just let things be for week or so I think.

I also have a flat bellied girl again today and dh reported his BM have improved too. :giggle:

[Lexie]

Probably helps me that I've grown up on legumes. I know them very well and love them. My DD did have just a little gas at first, but she would toot and laugh about it. After 8 months EBFing, she's quite used to it. No more gas. The oligosaccharides are the culprits, and now that we're starting solids, I'm removing the skin from the kidney beans to make the transition easier on her. So far, she actually likes them a lot. She doesn't seem to be a big fan of lentils.

I never buy canned legumes. They're disgusting, and that's putting it nicely. I guess because I'm used to handling dried legumes, they just bother me. I even get a little annoyed when a recipe calls for a can of them. Easy isn't always better, you know?

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

The DVD is great! Where did you get your DVD from Wonder-Full?


That was my first introduction to all of this and I think you learn heaps just from watching them (is the 2 presentations done by Dr Campbell?). I know what you mean about legumes, I'm not too sad that we can't do them lol. Lentils I can tolerate but don't really like the texture.Soy beans just trash me any which way. Years ago, someone with some fancy machine tested me after soy and thought his machine had broken, as nothing was happening. he tested himself, and he was fine; his wife was fine; and only three hours later, did I show signs of life, so I suspect there is more too it with beans, than just food preparation, but I might look again, because I have Sally's book....

[Lexie]

Hmm...honestly, soy was one bean I never really did much with. I made soymilk a couple times. That was all. Never cooked them for eating.

[Wonder-Full]

I was lent it. It was all really weird. I don't know the lady who lent it to me, but her name was given to me by a friend for some other alternative treatments and after a few emails suggested I watch the GAPS DVD so we met up on SH1 and did a transfer as she was on her way on holiday. :giggle:The universe was working in my favour. :LMAO:

No idea where you would get one though as she went on a course run by the WAPF chapter leader in Wgtn...I can't see it on her website (http://www.frot.co.nz/dietnet/resources/gaps.htm) which is where I got the book, articles and kefir but perhaps you could contact her? I wonder if it's the same DVDs as she shows at the presentations?

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

Does anyone know why cottage cheese is illegal?

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

Will do WF. Thank you. :D

[Wonder-Full]

It will be to do with the lactose level I imagine. There is a method in the SCD book (which GAPS lady refers to) of doing a dry curd method - sorry, have just lent the SCD book to my mum so can't look it up.

[Lexie]

I think it was said that milk is added back to the dry curd which is why it has lactose.