Each of us has heard the wise and much-quoted words of Hippocrates: "All disease begins in the gut!" (460-370 BC). I would add: "And health too." Taking care of gut health with a GAPS diet and smart supplementation allows not only to heal the digestive tract, but also to improve overall health and well-being. GAPS is a low-carbohydrate diet that aims to heal the digestive tract and the entire body. BLACK STUFF dietary supplements contain natural polyphenols and humic substances rich in fulvic acid and humic acid, which facilitate a balanced intestinal microbial environment and the absorption of nutrients.
With the increasing epidemics of many chronic diseases in recent decades (obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, cancer, autoimmune and neurological diseases, etc.), people are looking for solutions and ways to regain their health. A core aspect in the healing process that should not be excluded among other therapies is species-appropriate nutrition and diet.
In many cases, people turn to low-carb diets in an attempt to solve their health problems. These include the ketogenic diet, the Paleo diet, the carnivore diet, the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD), the GAPS diet, and others. In all of these low-carb diet protocols, the intake of carbohydrates is reduced.
In this article, we take a closer look at the GAPS diet and its health effects.
GAPS = Gut and Psychology Syndrome + Gut and Physiology Syndrome
The concept of GAPS creates a connection between the condition of the person's digestive system and the health of the rest of the body. [1] The GAPS nutritional protocol is a natural treatment for autoimmune diseases, asthma, eczema, allergies, fatigue, arthritis, chronic infections, neurological and endocrine disorders, digestive disorders, learning disabilities, mental illness, epilepsy and eating disorders. 1
The GAPS concept was introduced and developed by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. [2] , [3] A GAPS diet is based on the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) [4] , [5] and has very similar main principles.
The GAPS diet proposes to exclude complex carbohydrates from the diet, that is, all products containing disaccharides and polysaccharides. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid sugar (sucrose), cereals (starch) and starchy vegetables, non-fermented dairy products (lactose) and processed foods. 2.3 , [6]
The rationale for the GAPS diet is based on evidence that people with chronic diseases and digestive problems are unable to properly digest and assimilate complex carbohydrates. Incompletely digested carbohydrate molecules accumulate in the intestines, where they ferment and feed pathogenic bacteria. By removing these complex carbohydrates from the diet for a period of time, the digestive system is given a chance to recover. 2,3,6
At the same time, GAPS is a nutrient-rich diet because it includes meat broths, soups, fermented foods containing probiotic bacteria, good fats (eggs, butter, olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, animal fats, etc.), selected vegetables and fruits, meat, fish, nuts and seeds, all of which are essential for human health. 2,3,6
Optimization of the intestinal microbiome
An important aspect of the GAPS approach to health is optimizing the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome is the complex composition of all types of microorganisms, viruses, fungi, parasites, protozoa, etc. that naturally live in our gut. Over the course of evolution, we have developed complex symbiotic relationships with these tiny creatures. We provide these microorganisms with a beneficial habitat, and they in turn provide us with essential nutrients (fatty acids, vitamins, hormones, etc.), help with digestion (cellulose, inulin) and the absorption of our food, take care of our immune system, and much more. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to take care of our gut microbiome and ensure that the beneficial bacteria outnumber the pathogenic microorganisms.
How can we support our gut microbiome?
- By eating foods rich in fiber, fiber is known to be a natural prebiotic - food for bacteria. The human body does not produce an enzyme that digests fiber (cellulose, lignin, inulin), but the bacteria in the gut digest fiber for us while also providing us with bioactive compounds essential to our metabolism and health.
- By incorporating fermented foods (sauerkraut, fermented vegetables, kimchi, kefir, whey, sour cream, yogurt, etc.) into our diet daily.
- In addition to a healthy and nutritious diet, we can also take supplements in the form of prebiotics or probiotics to further support the beneficial bacteria.
BLACK STUFF for microbiome health
With a plethora of supplements available in the market, it is difficult to choose the best supplements for optimal gut health and overall well-being. One of the smartest choices is BLACK STUFF – a powerful lignin supplement rich in lignophenols, fulvic acid and humic acid.
BLACK STUFF has many unique properties – not only does it act as a prebiotic in the gut and helps establish and maintain an optimal gut microbiome, but it also facilitates the absorption of nutrients from the gut and the delivery of these nutrients to the cells. Excellent chelating (binding) properties of humic substances are helpful in the absorption and delivery of nutrients into the cells and at the same time can remove toxic substances from the cell through the chelating mechanism. The polyphenols contained in BLACK STUFF are powerful antioxidants that can strengthen the immune system. As such, BLACK STUFF is a perfect supplement to not only bring about an optimal balance of the gut microbiome, but also to improve overall human health [7] and animal [8].
"The missing link in nutrition" is a good definition for BLACK STUFF. I believe in the saying and use it often: "We are not what we eat, we are what we ingest". Healthy intestinal wall epithelial cells, a balanced microbiome and efficient digestive enzymes are responsible for optimal absorption of nutrients from our food, which in turn are used to regenerate our cells. You can adapt to the healthiest diet in the world, but if your intestinal wall is damaged (leaky), your microbiome is out of balance (dysbiosis), you have low stomach acid and poor excretion of bile and digestive enzymes, your cells will starve as they lack the essential nutrients for their vital functions.
The GAPS therapeutic nutritional protocol is one way to heal the digestive tract and BLACK STUFF can be a great help in this healing process. In nature, it is humic substances that, through chelating minerals, can transfer these minerals from the soil to the living organism - the cells of plants. In the same way, fulvic acid and humic acid, both found in BLACK STUFF, can enhance the absorption of minerals and other nutrients from our gut microbiome "soil" into the bloodstream and into our cells. In this way, the "missing link" is added back into the diet - the natural humic substances in BLACK STUFF ensure that "what you take in" is more likely to create "what you are" in the form of your optimal health.
Silvija Ābele, PhD, Mg.sc.sal., LicISH, CGP
https://www.silvijaabele.com/home/
https://www.silvijaabele.com/consultations/
To purchase Black Stuff products, use this https://blackstuff.world/discount/Silvija15 Link.
credentials
[1] https://gaps.me/
[2] Campbell-McBride, N. (2004). Gut and Psychology Syndrome: Natural Treatment of Autism, ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Depression, Schizophrenia. Medinform Verlag, Cambridge. 392 pages.
[3] Campbell-McBride, N. (2020). Gut and Physiology Syndrome: Natural Treatment for Allergies, Autoimmune Diseases, Arthritis, Gut Problems, Fatigue, Hormonal Issues, Neurological Conditions and More, 2020, Chelsea Green Publishing, London. 534 pages.
[4] Haas, SV, Haas, MP (1951). The treatment of celiac disease. 2011 edition, published by Literary Licensing, LLC. 206 pages.
[5] Gottschall, E. (1986). Breaking the vicious cycle: gut health through nutrition. Kirkton Press Ltd., Ontario. 205 pages.
[6] Ābele, S., Meija, L., Folkmanis, V. and Tzivian, L. "Specific carbohydrate diet (SCD/GAPS) and nutritional supplements for children with autism spectrum disorder", Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, exact and applied sciences., Vol. 75, No. 6, 2021, pp. 417-425. https://doi.org/10.2478/prolas-2021-0062
[7] Jurševska, B., Pokrotnieks, J. (2021). The effect of a four-week course of humic supplementation on physical and mental health in the most common gastrointestinal symptoms. Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia, Medicina (Kaunas) 2021; 57 (Supplement 1):30.
[8th] Laizāne D., Laizāns N. (2021). Ongoing study on sport horses at the Equine Clinic of the University of Life Sciences and Technologies of Latvia, Black Stuff for prevention and treatment of gastric ulcer syndrome in horses, Jelgava, Latvia.