GAPS

I am reading Gut and Psychology Syndrome right now. We will be starting this diet (gut & psychology syndrome + specific carbohydrate diet + body ecology diet + weston a price principles combo!) as soon as we eat out the junk in our house. I can't bring myself to throw out food. Maybe I should just donate it. Actually, I really should just throw it out. It's not even real food. It's all organic, but it's all in a box or a can. Anyways, this book is completely fascinating. I know that this diet could heal Seth's autism, but we can't get him to eat anything. We're working on it though. I think we're going to fly a feeding therapist out here from LA to work with Seth for a few days. Ok, rambling....here is a little something from the book:

TOP 10 THINGS THAT BOOST IMMUNITY:
1. Cold-pressed oils - olive oil, fish oils (including cod liver oil), nut and seed oils (flax seed, sunflower seed).
2. Fresh eggs, particularly raw egg yolk. (Note: Raw eggs are safe as long as they come from healthy pastured chickens, not sick battery chickens from a factory farms. It is not advisable to eat raw egg whites, however. I usually boil my eggs for 3 minutes or fry them, and eat the yolk runny.)
3. Onions and garlic.
4. Freshly pressed vegetables and fruit juices (this means freshly juiced, not store bought).
5. Regular consumption of greens: parsley, dill, coriander (cilantro), spring onion and garlic, etc.
6. Probiotic supplementation and fermented foods (kombucha, kefir, cultured butter, yogurt, homemade sauerkraut, beet kvass, etc.).
7. Contact with animals: horses, dogs, etc. Having a pet in the family can do a lot for children’s immune status.
8. Physical activity in the fresh air.
9. Swimming in unpolluted natural waters: lakes, rivers, and sea.
10. Exposure to sunlight and sensible sunbathing.

TOP 10 THINGS THAT DAMAGE IMMUNITY:
1. Sugar and everything containing it: sweets, soft drinks, confectionery, ice cream, etc.
2. Processed carbohydrates: cakes, biscuits, crisps (chips), snacks, breakfast cereals, white bread and pasta.
3. Chemically altered and artificial fats: margarines, butter replacements, cooking and vegetable oils (including soy oil and canola oil), processed foods prepared with these fats.
4. Lack of high-quality protein in the diet from meats and fish, eggs, dairy products, nuts and seeds.
5. Exposure to man-made chemicals: cleaning and washing chemicals, personal care products, paints, fire retardants, petrochemicals, pesticides, etc.
6. Exposure to man-made radiation: electronic screens (TV, computers, play station, etc.), mobile phones, high-power electricity lines, nuclear station and nuclear wastes.
7. Drugs: antibiotics, steroids, antidepressants, painkillers, anti-cancer medication, anti-viral drugs, etc.
8. Lack of fresh air and physical activity.
9. Lack of exposure to sunlight.
10. Lack of exposure to common microbes in the environment. Living in a too sterilized environment is strongly associated with compromised immunity. The immune system needs constant stimulation from the microbes in the environment.

Pretty interesting, huh?