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Started the GAPS diet! Just wondering if anyone knows the answer to this?

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All starches are eliminated from the GAPS diet because they can be used as food by the excess of bacteria in your gut, creating gas, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation.

The only carbohydrates allowed on the GAPS diet are from non-starchy vegetables, squashes, some fruits and honey. But the key is that you should introduce these foods gradually, AS TOLERATED. Some people on the GAPS diet will not eat any fruits, squashes nor honey and will stick to non-starchy vegetables only for a while. After a year or two, it is possible that starches (grain-free, gluten-free) can be reintroduced back into your diet (like sweet potatoes, plantains, yuca, etc).

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Is it necessary to do the diet for that long so it is effective? – jess Jun 9 at 19:16
this is what is recommended by the authors. gut dysbiosis (imbalance of your gut flora) and leaky gut can take quite a bit of time to heal. The author recommends following the GAPS diet for at least 1 year past no symptoms. – Aglaee the Paleo RD Jun 9 at 20:21
children and people that have had gut issues for a short period of time may recover more quickly, but adults and people suffering digestive problems for years and even decades will need longer... it is hard to say and depends on everyone's situation – Aglaee the Paleo RD Jun 9 at 20:21
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They're starch bombs which means they're difficult to digest.

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are they bad for the gut? – jess Jun 9 at 16:33
They aren't difficult to digest. But excess starch/undigested can feed gut bacteria. GAPs is an excessively strict gut health protocol. – No more. Jun 9 at 16:58
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 Yes, starch IS difficult to digest. Yes, starch is bad for the gut if you have digestion issues. – BoneBrothFast Jun 9 at 17:38
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 amen on that. most people who do this diet eventually are able to tolerate them. Starch isn't BAD, but if your gut is bad, it will misuse the starch. – Bread-Eating Beelzebub Jun 9 at 18:18
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 I never thought I had issue with pototes, and had to eliminate them for GAPS and when faced with no food options I had a baked potatoe and it hit me like a brick, and I suffered for a day after. I've tested it a few times now, same result....it was a main staple before but now I see it might have been part of the issue. I'll wait until 6-8 months to try again, I'm done testing/suffering....but I do have a greater appreciation for squash/pumkim, broccoli and carrots now! – Kelly Jun 9 at 18:47

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