Gut and Physiology Syndrome: Natural Treatment for Allergies, Autoimmune Illness, Arthritis, Gut Problems, Fatigue, Hormonal Problems, Neurological Disease and More

by Natasha Campbell-McBride

Companion volume to the bestselling Gut & Psychology Syndrome― the book that launched the GAPS diet―which has been translated into 22 languages and sold more than 300,000 copies.
Since the publication of the first GAPS book, Gut and Psychology Syndrome, in 2004, the GAPS concept has become a global phenomenon. People all over the world have been using the GAPS Nutritional Protocol for healing from physical and mental illnesses. The first GAPS book focused on learning disabilities and mental illness. This new book, Gut and Physiology Syndrome , focuses on the rest of the human body and completes the GAPS concept. Allergies, autoimmune illness, digestive problems, neurological and endocrine problems, asthma, eczema, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, psoriasis and chronic cystitis, arthritis and many other chronic degenerative illnesses are covered. Dr. Campbell-McBride believes that the link between physical and mental health, the food and drink that we take, and the condition of our digestive system is absolute. The clinical experience of many holistic doctors supports this position.

Genres: Health, Nutrition, Nonfiction, Science, Medicine, Food, Lifestyle

534 pages, Paperback

Published October 13, 2020

About the author

Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride holds a degree in Medicine and Postgraduate degrees in both Neurology and Human Nutrition. In her clinic in Cambridge she specializes in nutrition for children and adults with behavioral and learning disabilities, and adults with digestive and immune system disorders.

Dr. Campbell-McBride set up The Cambridge Nutrition Clinic in 1998. As a parent of a child diagnosed with learning disabilities, she was acutely aware of the difficulties facing other parents like her, and she has devoted much of her time to helping these families. She realized that nutrition played a critical role in helping children and adults to overcome their disabilities, and has pioneered the use of probiotics in this field.

She believes that the link between learning disabilities, the food and drink that we take, and the condition of our digestive system is absolute, and the results of her work have supported her position on this subject. In her clinic, parents discuss all aspects of their child's condition, confident in the knowledge that they are not only talking to a professional but to a parent who has lived their experience. Her deep understanding of the challenges they face puts her advice in a class of its own.

from http://gapsdiet.com/

Reviews

[Catherine Shank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fabulous read. I recommend it to anyone, Burt especially those dealing with any sort of health concern, diagnosed or not. My husband joked that I should have just highlighted the whole book since I underlined so much. I’ve used the GAPS diet a few years ago and did it stick true and encountered many toxins, such as mold in our home, that undid a lot of the work. My daughter and I are going for a reset. Certainly easier the second time around.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a person struggling with IBS symptoms, I’ve found this book extremely helpful and valuble. It is well-written and an absolute must read for anyone with autoimmune conditions. My partner has been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and the GAPS diet brought him great relief and healing. It’s a book worth reading and sharing with family, friends and anyone who is interested in holistic healing.

Problems in the gut can present themselves in various forms in our body: autoimmunity, mental illness, metabolic syndrome, besides the other digestive symptoms (constipation, diahrrea, abdominal pain). The author explains the importance of a nourishing diet with natural foods only and plenty of animal fats. Emphasizes the importance of these fats in our diet and their pivotal role in autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. She also cuts through the propaganda and explains how important cholesterol is for the human body, the detrimental use of vegetable oils (unsaturated fats) in our modern diets as well the harmful approach of a vegan diet. Plants are good consumed in moderation while being well-cooked or fermented (a lost art which humans have been practicing for such long time, but now seems to be neglected). Eating plants long term is however not sustainable since plants have a detoxifying effect on the body, but they do not provide the building blocks of fats and collagen. This and many other helpful tips unfold themselves in this book, the knowledge presented here surpasses any health/nutrition book I’ve ever read before.

This is a truly valuble book which empowered me to make important changes in my diet and lifestyle. Very grateful for having found it.

[Orlando · Rating 5 out of 5]

The BEST!

This is the third book I read of hers. Once again I come away so much better for having taken the deep dive into the words and works of Natasha Campbell-McBride. If you haven’t decided yet, now’s the time. Invest in yourself. Invest in your health. Borrow from tomorrow no more. The time is now.

[Ada · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is a lot to gut health, but this book is in my opinion, not a good source to learn about it... All throughout the book I had to stop reading, and look up facts and claims, which many of them were not proven and/or simply false. There are a lot of sources listed in this book, which is great, but just as many claims are written as if facts and not backed by any sources. Many of which seem to be harmful, fearmongering speculations.
On a positive note, I liked some of the recipes in this book, which is the only reason I'm giving this two stars rather than one.
All in all, I'd say it isn't worth your time. Get yourself one of Giuila Enders books about the gut instead.

[Dawn Younger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I sincerely hope that the diet that is described in this book works since that is what my healthcare provider has “prescribed” for me, I simply cannot agree with so much of what she says in the book. I did learn some important things (after doing outside research to confirm since, because of many things I strongly disagree with, I needed confirmation as to whether they were true or not). But so much is just unscientific if not downright dangerous.

[Jan Petrozzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the first book, I decided to read this one because the issues listed on the front of the book were more applicable to me. Still a wonderful book full of information - I had rated the first book with 5 stars. Only 4 for this one because it did not have much more information than what I’d already read in the first book.

[E Fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first heard Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride on a podcast and had to get her book afterward. This book is absolutely mind-blowing and it was a joy to read. Dr. Natasha takes extremely complex subjects of how nutrition impacts the human body and through the use of metaphor, she makes it easy to understand, even though this book is a veritable tome of densely packed information (indexed, referenced). She also walks to the talk having healed her son of autism, successfully healed many people with a whole range of symptoms (who she calls "GAPS people") in her clinic, and chosen to live life on a small farm and producing, fermenting, etc. a lot of her own food.

I wouldn't say that the GAPS diet is for everyone, nor is it meant to be a long-term diet (rather, its purpose is to heal and seal the gut) and I tried doing it (not very well) and got overwhelmed with the amount of info that I felt I had to digest in order to understand how to do it. I consider this book a reference book that I keep on my shelf.

PS Dr. Natasha is considered somewhat extreme by current medical doctors but I think she is far ahead of the times compared with conventional medicine in its pretty backward approach to nutrition and gut health. I'd love to see updated versions of this book.

[Sara Claverie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though a lot of the conclusions she comes to in this book aren't shown yet in scientific literature to be true, I think her hypothesis are correct because I've been going back and forth between different gut healing diets, one vegan, one paleo, and one whole foods diet, and then this one, which is closest to keto. I found that this is the diet that accounts most for personal preference and dietary differences, as well as clinical need. I hope more scientists work to show wether her recommendations are effective for people. I think in the future the hospitals will have food programs based on the gaps diet to help people heal faster. It is so effective, many drugs are either not needed or can be greatly reduced, thus removing problematic side effects. The main argument this book makes is that through healing the gut properly (using foods that are easiest to digest and most nutritious for healing, like meat stock and cultured veggies and dairy), you can completely reverse disease and in some cases reverse epigenetic problems. I don't know if she's right, but so far my body agrees with the protocol (and I've been trying it off and on for 11 years). I'd love to see more studies on this, and in the meantime, it's a great resource for anyone looking to heal their body!

[Luby K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I get very uncomfortable with the anti-vax and autism narrative, yet I learned so much about how food nourishes us, and about that I do think she is spot on. The parallel diversity of microbiome in our soils and in our bodies was pure poetry. Her advice is geared toward people in pretty desperate situations and the extent of it is pretty unrealistic for most people (it’s basically calling everyone to become self-sustaining farmers), but I am inspired to consume (sorry! store bought) kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, cod liver oil, and to make weekly homemade broths and eat liver. She convinced me to not ever consent to getting my gall bladder removed and to do my very best to exclusively breastfeed my future children. However, I am not convinced to rub my vagina with kefir! No thank you! Overall, she gives people agency and hope to improve their lives from conditions most doctors say they have to put up with, and I respect that.

[Yasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following the Gut and Physcology Syndrome (yellow) books, that I begun implementing to help my daughter's health, I decided it was high time I address my own health and get more educated on what is happening in my body. Again, a lot more depth than the yellow book, and really eye opening information that is easily digestible.

[Karolina Sorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a "Bible", you can find there explanation of roots of all chronic diseases, what is the role of food, microbiom (including not obvious function of patasites), gut health and our environment. I haven't read such complete book yet, and all is backed by science! You will find there a lot of information, no trading water! Thank you Dr Natasha for your amazing and great work! ❤️

[Raederle Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a nutrition expert and health coach for over a decade who has been avidly reading health-related books for 15 years, I can say this is one of the top three I've ever read. Natasha has a bias against plant foods that is a bit extreme, but besides that, her information is spot-on.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really great resource book. I refer back to this book often when I want to look up ways to heal my body naturally and holistically. Anyone who struggles with chronic autoimmune disorders needs to read this book.

[Taylor Schaible · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Body is pretty incredible. Let it do its thing and restore its natural power.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly appreciated her advice on health and how to treat many physical ailments. I was saddened by what appears to be a pantheistic worldview.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. So much information but so much hope for healing for so many people!

[Rachel Weise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really eye opening information that is helping me heal my child's gut. Highly recommended.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cure for most disease explained clearly with actionable instruction

[Megan Henshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I’ve ever read

[Liv Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great material but towards the end got a little repetitive.

[Dave Betts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Helped me recover from digestive problems that have been plaguing me, and gave me a much better understanding of underlying health issues that are related to diet and gut health

[Tanya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Huge number of words. Zero (referenced) science.

[Fabienne K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible knowledge, written very understandable, am applying this in my dutch practice. Sadly, some scientific references are very dubious

[Leora Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book cover to cover, and I will be reading it again. I was able to guide someone to eat only chicken soup, after she went to medical doctors who told her to go on a diet of mostly bread and other carbohydrates (I was horrified by that recommendation). She went to a gastroenterologist who made her sicker than she has ever been in her life by telling her to take laxatives and milk of magnesia. She seems to be doing OK on the chicken soup (thankfully, it was one of her favorite foods already).

Years ago, I was told that meat was bad, so I was trying to eliminate it from my diet. However, that made me sicker. Now I understand why I needed to eat so many carbohydrates when I eliminated meat. Dr. Campbell-McBride's approach of chicken/meat stock and fermented foods seems to suit me well. I suspect others would benefit from this knowledge.

Given what I have learned about the medical industry and how it got bought out by the Rockefellers in the early 20th century, I am not surprised that Dr. Campbell-McBride's diet is still not well known. I hope others will read, learn, and heal.

[Miroslav Tsibinog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and essential knowledge in our age of highly artificial food consumption.

[Tiffany Valdez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This plan aided in my healing of candida - which I struggled with for 10 years.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

plotting and taking notes...