Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; GAPS diet?

http://gapsdiet.com/INTRODUCTION_DIET.html

Has anyone tried this diet?

My problem with the No-Starch diet is that I instantly get extremely dehydrated--my lips were even cracking. This was really bizarre because I was drinking more than ever.

I thought the GAPS diet might be a little less extreme--I noticed it adds several veggies that have a little starch content. Just curious if anyone else has explored.

I find it odd that NSD would cause you to dehydrate.... maybe your body was re-adjusting things which is what caused your dehydration. How long have you been on nsd?

I know season changes can cause dehydration inspite of increased water intake....

I'll I can say about that diet is, "Holy complexity Batman!"

I've never had dehydration issues due to the diet either. Are you getting enough sodium (unrefined sea salt is preferable) and other electrolytes (potassium, magnesium, chloride) in your diet from the foods you do include in your diet?

My husband was diagnosed with AS recently and has been on the NSD for 8 weeks. I have read the GAPS book. GAPS is essentially SCD with some additional healing. There are earlier posts (year ago) here that discuss the difference from SCD and NSD. SCD did not seem to work well for people posting here. Additionally, what I can see from the posts here, most people have their own diet they have worked out by following NSD and identifying allergens. So each persons list of can/cannot eat foods are individual.
That said the similarity with NSD and GAPS is that the focus is to heal the gut. My husband has taken many of the principles of GAPS into his diet. He hopes that through healing he will be able to tolerate some starch.

Also, some people here suggest to kick off the diet with a fast. My husband hasn't tried it yet, as the NSD has been a big enough adjustment for now.
Thirst does seem to be an odd response. Are you eating more salt and drinking less? My husband used to eat bowls and bowls of cereal and now we eat bacon for breakfast. So he had to adjust to drinking water, grape juice and cococut water.

I just read the post from toni "success story" I just wanted to highlight that the diet that works best for each person is as individual as each of us are. Most people are on some variety of NSD/LSD though.
My husband is still in figuring out which foods he can safely eat. Keeping a detailed journal of foods, pain and energy has been the best way to track it all.

Thanks for everyone's responses. I think I will order the GAPS book and try to implement some of the gut healing--the spondy has wrecked my whole digestive system.

Yes, the thirst is weird. I don't seem to get it on the GAPS diet--which includes extra steps. Perhaps drinking lots of broth helped?

Thanks, everyone!

Hi, Lindyap:

The dehydration is a colon problem, and once you are able to heal this the dehydration should relent. It is best to take the EFAs and reduce inflammation there and eat the healing foods like okra, lychee fruit, salmon, and a proper (Brown Cow or Stonyfield Farms) yoghurt. Good luck with the GAPS, but beware the starches--obvious and 'stealthy;' test with iodine when in doubt.

bon appetit,
John

Have you started the GAPS diet? How is it going?

John,
A question for you. How do you prepare your okra? Oddly, Okra seems to flare me. May be because I bake it with olive oil? Or should i eat it raw?

Got it--that must have been the problem. I've been on the GAPS diet for 2 weeks now, and despite a terrible cold, the colon inflammation seems to be down, digestion is better, and my back is less stiff. I think the GAPS diet is helpful because it concentrates on healing the digestive system...the science behind it makes sense!

I started with a heavy probiotic culture (went through a whole case of Bio-K+ fermented milk regular - it may have starch, not sure), and now I'm making my own yogurt (without starch).

I'm amazed how much weight I dropped within these few weeks. I didn't need to lose any, and I'm stuffing myself to maintain. Lots of avocado!