A GAPS for Food Allergies Summary

When we began the GAPS intro on June 25th, 2009, my daughter was 3 1/2 years old and diagnosed with severe food allergies and managed eczema.

Back Story: As I've written, we began the GAPS protocol in an attempt to treat/cure/decrease/help in any way possible my oldest daughter's food allergies. She had had eczema since she was 2 months old and had a clinical reaction to sesame at 13 months (face swelled, full body rash, red/white streaks around her mouth). A RAST test confirmed multiple food allergies--most tree nuts (cashew and pistachio being the highest), peanuts and sesame, and minimal allergies to other legumes and to wheat. We had a RAST test done yearly in order to watch for shifts and changes. Despite strict avoidance of the offending foods and eating a diet of no refined sugar or processed foods, her IgE levels increased each year (with the exception of wheat which is the only allergy that she 'outgrew'). Our cleaning products, hand soaps, laundry soaps, and bath products were (and still are) all natural. The only compromise I made was with Eucerin and Aquaphor--both of which were the only creams that worked to subdue her eczema. Olive oil, coconut oil, special lotions made to coat eczematic skin--none worked. My successful eczema symptom reducer was this: AM-plantain ointment on her 'spots,' Afternoon--plaintain ointment, PM-plaintain ointment and thick coat of Eucerin. I used Aquaphor during the day if she needed a barrier (like at a restaurant with detergent-washed table cloths). At some point I finally figured out that certain foods, regardless of if they showed on a RAST test as being an allergy, directly caused her eczema. We cut out wheat and all members of the cabbage family (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussel sprouts, mustard, etc.) and her eczema went away--until, of course, she happened to eat one of the above foods in any quantity.

As most of you reading know, a physician who is willing to even consider a treatment for 'curing the incurable' is few and far between. After every appointment I first felt defeated, then ripped-off, then convinced of my need to go to medical school and set the Allergy and Immunology field straight, then would channel my energy into a marathon researching frenzy. I needed options. I always need options. It was during the wee hours of the morning that I came across GAPS. After a few weeks of debating, considering and devils advocating, we began the intro.

On GAPS: Within 3 months, GAPS cleared up my daughter's persistent eczema. After 6 months, the food intolerances (which did not show up as TRUE allergies on her RAST blood test but would cause her eczema to flare up within minutes) to wheat and the cabbage family vegetables disappeared. To this day (she's 6 years old) she can freely eat the foods that would cause her itching, discomfort and eczema. For any parent of a child with eczema--it's a gift to see clear skin where oozing, inflammed scales used to be.

Being on the GAPS protocol* also helped both my daughters to overcome colds and viruses much more quickly. It seemed to help decrease seasonal allergies. Our (conventional) pediatrician would state how she couldn't believe--with all the allergies--that my oldest wasn't in her office more often.

Unfortunately, GAPS has done nothing for my daughter's true food allergies. In fact, my daughter's sensitivity to peanuts has skyrocketed. It was after her annual RAST test, after being on GAPS for 15 months, that her peanut IgE results were 100+ on a scale of 1 - 100. Needless to say--I grieved. I grieved for her, for the burden she has to carry. I grieved for the countless hours I labored over meals, over debating with family members, over the now futile hope I had in helping my child. I gave myself some time to grieve and then the realizations set in . . . my job as a parent is to guide. This IS her burden to bear and my role is to help her do just that. My mama-bear instincts needed to be redirected from protection/cure to education/management. I also realized that I need to get loud. I mean LOUD and stand up as--what I like to call--an 'involuntary advocate' for food allergies. People are unaware and misinformed until someone speaks up. And what better motivation than for your child? Lastly, I became extremely thankful--that, yes, GAPS worked and my daughter is eczema free.

I've realized that GAPS is an optimal diet for digestive disorders (and the many, many symptoms associated) which is why it so quickly healed food intolerances. However, true allergies occur from an immune response which is a completely different function. It dawned on me when thinking about how a food allergic person can have an allergic reaction from the food just touching their skin--it's not in their stomach and no where near their intestines [you can say, 'DUH!' It's okay. . . :) ].

. . .And so we are exploring options to address the food allergy immune response specifically (I'm thinking about starting a new blog about it! Anyone interested in reading it??).

*To be perfectly honest--our GAPS protocol turned into a modified one. We did no enemas, probably ate too much winter squash and fruit, and I'm sure a host of other things. I do love it for it's back-to-basics-eat-what-your-great-grandparents-did nature and will most likely base our eating patterns off of it for the long term. The benefits of eating a GAPS diet definitely outweigh the effort/inconvenience--even if you think there's an inkling of a chance it can help--DO IT. You won't regret it--it makes life easier in the long run.