Have you had a chance to listen to my interview with Dr. Natasha on my Blog Talk Radio show? I was listening to the interview again today, looking for the part where she talks about the “cherries” on our individual GAPS cakes, and decided to jot down the timeline for the topics we discussed. If you haven't had a chance to listen, I hope you'll try to sometime soon. I've only typed in bullet points of the interview here, this is not a complete transcription. If you don't usually listen to podcasts, check out this post (at the bottom) where I detail a few ways you can, if you are interested in doing so, but just haven't felt like you can find the time. I would never get any podcasts listened to if I had to sit at the computer to listen to them! 🙂
2:00 No cure for autism at the time Dr. Natasha's son was diagnosed. There is a cure, there is a solution – Gut and Psychology Syndrome: Natural Treatment for Autism, Dyspraxia, A.D.D., Dyslexia, A.D.H.D., Depression, Schizophrenia. There are various approaches for each child.
3:06 Dr. Natasha noticed as a neurologist that 90% of her clients had quite severe digestive problems. So she started questioning and wondering if there was a connection between gut dysbiosis and brain problems.
4:43 Gut flora is something the majority of people are aware of now. 90% of all cells in the human body are microbes, our gut flora. We are just a shell, just 10%, we ignore our bacteria at our peril.
7:14 Dr. Natasha keeps her family on full GAPS to prevent common maladies and discusses the new book Gut and Physiology which will talk about the physical problems caused by gut dysbiosis. Allergies, excema, asthma, hay fever. Our digestive system is the biggest and most important organ in the immune system. Multiple schlerosis, Celiac Disease, Diabetes Type I, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus, any autoimmune condition is due to abnormalities in the gut flora of the person.
11:19 Discussion of mitochondria. People who become extremely fatigued, fibromyalgia, ME or Myalgic Encephalopathy. Treatment begins with normalizing the gut on GAPS.
12:39 Discussion of what GAPS is: food, environment. When Dr. Natasha goes on holiday they eat what is available trying to choose good quality foods that are freshly prepared. Reverting back to full GAPS once they are back home.
13:25 Medical history of one's family, can we avoid family diseases by doing GAPS?
14:25 Genetics aren't the only thing passed through generations, gut bacteria is passed on also. In just about 100% of children with learning cases, mothers have abnormal gut flora passed to the baby at birth.
16:00 Babies with this compromised immune system are not fit to be vaccinated on the standard protocol.
16:39 Slippery slide of damage right from birth: Bad flora obtained from mother, vaccinations, antibiotics, wipes out any precious little bacteria the child may have obtained.
16:55 Abnormal bacteria passed from generation to generation from grandmother to mother to child. Fathers are not exempt, they also share bacteria with mothers.
17:27 Learned behaviors acquired from parents without genetics involved, we learn what to eat, sweet rich desserts, how to cook, how to behave around food, what kind of chemicals to use in the house, toxic personal care products make a person toxic quite quickly. You can acquire these learned behaviors which will damage your health from your parents and grandparents.
18:55 GAPS “Program” is not just diet. GAPS program includes detoxification and lifestyle changes. You will become far more healthier. Immune system and gut intrinsically connected. Liver will not be so overburdened and will be able to cope with toxins, there is no reason to assume we will get the same diseases our parents and grandparents had.
20:27 Genetics are made in such a way that we are designed perfectly, we are not designed to have disease. Primitive cultures have no illness because they lived in harmony with nature. Genetics don't change so rapidly, they take millions of years to change. We can choose any cards we like depending on our environment, we can choose which genes are expressed and which will remain dormant. Epigenetics. Genes are not cast in stone. [I have recently read a book where this topic is discussed at length: Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food].
23:08 Does Dr. Natasha put her family on the introduction part of GAPS on occasion?
25:15 Dr. Natasha's determination in curing her own son from autism.
27:05 Dr. Natasha used therapy (ABA Applied Behavioral Analysis – 35 to 40 hours a week) to help son to catch up for the time he'd lost to the autism.
28:54 There is an alternative form of ABA for children who are visual learners.
30:25 Picky eaters – addicts who get trapped in a vicious cycle of addiction and dependency on the very foods that hurt them.
32:51 Children learn “food makes me ill”.
34:00 GAPS finally starting to be recognized after 12 years of working with protocol.
38:00 GAPS can relieve so many symptoms and spreading the word about GAPS.
42:48 Dr. Natasha is going to be training practitioners. Many people can do GAPS on their own, but some people need a doctor to help guide them through the process. Beginning in September 2011 Dr. Natasha will be training in Seattle, Chicago, New York and Dallas. GAPS certified practitioners will be asked to set up local groups with patients.
47:20 First Caller, Katie: Multiple food allergies, can't tolerate fats. [For more information read Dr. Natasha's paper on Food Allergies Published in: Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, First Quarter, 2009, Vol 24, 1, pp.31-41]
54:27 Question from Lisa: What if you can't tolerate broth or probiotics or Epsom salt baths? Dr. Natasha discusses the “cherries” on our individual GAPS cake within the answer to this question.
56:36 Question from Bridgette: I would love to hear what Dr. Natasha says about histamine and glutamate sensitive so that a person can't tolerate broths or ferments.
59:35 Second caller, Robert: Questions about leaky gut, abdominal swelling, loses weight on GAPS. Supplements like Glutamine, Demulcent and drinking mineral water?
62:50 Question from Brenda: What do you think of the acid/alkaline theory?
66:06 Third caller, Katina: Question about her one year old daughter who has been constipated since birth.
69:52 Question from Kris: Is my homemade cream cheese which I ferment over 24 hours is okay on GAPS? It's quite tangy, how do I know if all the lactose is consumed?
71:03 We all need a unique combination of protein and fat, it's only you that can work that out. Mother Nature has equipped us to figure this out.
72:15 Our metabolism changes from day to day, season to season, even hour to hour depending on the weather, stress level, needs of the body, our body will give us the taste for the foods we need.
74:15 If you have junk food in your diet, your body won't ask for “real” food. Your normal sense of taste returns once you are on GAPS. While eating SAD all your senses are upside down in the constant stream of addictions and you can't trust your instincts in that state. Choose within the full GAPS list of recommended foods. [Read Dr. Natasha's blog post One Man's Meat is Another Man's Poison to read more of her thoughts on how this works.]
75:34 Counting calories should be abolished. The human body is infinitely more complex than a wood burning stove. It's not as easy as fuel in, fuel out.
77:05 GAPS normalizes blood sugar.
78:00 Dr. Natasha's words of wisdom for anyone embarking on GAPS. Take the healing into your own hands, it is your own responsibility.
80:00 Question from Bridgette: I'd be interested to know why some people develop more sensitivities on GAPS?