Heal Your Gut. Restore Your Health.

Short answer: fibre is not essential. It is not even a nutrient. 

There is no real scientific data or processes that can actually say what amount of fibre is needed. In fact, as I have provided the research and a quote below, it is after our ancestors (3 million years ago) went off low nutrition value fibrous foods that the evolution towards the modern human took off. 

While there are arbitrary figures thrown about for dietary fibre: 25, 35 and even 50 grams per/day, there is no evidence for it. 

In fact, evidence exists that proves that fibre causes chronic constipation, bloating, foul flatulence/gas, abdominal pain and anal bleeding. World Gastroenterology Journal has carried out very good controlled research on subjects with the aforementioned symptoms. The findings are very very revealing. People who reduced their fibre intake to ‘’zero’’ resolved all of their symptoms, proving that fibre does not cure constipation. 

They called all the noise about consuming fibre: a MYTH. You can see this very interesting research (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3435786/) for yourself. 

Further, this research (https://thescipub.com/pdf/ojbsci.2014.167.169.pdf) connects plant sterols (plant form of cholesterol) with negative outcomes in Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). The more the plant matter (fibre) eaten, the greater the risk of cardiovascular disease. This is a very short and eye opening read, along with several research links provided. 

It should be noted that cooking oils made from seeds (falsely called vegetable oils) contain high amounts of plant sterols, whether it is refined or cold pressed, and therefore a risk for heart diseases.

Misguidance from Youtube podcasters and Instagram/social media influencers can seriously damage people’s health through Misinformation on fibre consumption. 

Titles and Specialisation do not mean that the information is correct. Here, a gastroenterologist with a huge following is blatantly misguiding innocent millions about consuming fibre. He is obviously not aware of research and information from his own trade journal and several other clinical trials on fibre benefits or harms(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3435786/). This Youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKBwKbunTJA&t=127s) has more than 300,000 views. Can you understand the scale of damage done? 

Please beware and use the Science of Critical Thinking (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_thinking). 

The latest risk to people’s health is the blind following of AI generated information. Nowhere is it mentioned that AI has all or final answers. Therefore, the critical importance of using Critical Thinking (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_thinking)

While humans through their evolution have eaten some amount of fibre, a lot of the period of Homo Sapien Sapien (modern humans) development and evolution took place during extended ice ages. Plant matter was barely available and the only plant matter available was fit only for purely herbivorous animals. Instead of eating the indigestible plant matter available during the ice ages, humans ate the animals that ate the plants. 

Anthropological findings show very healthy humans that ate plants only as a stand-by starvation food. Yet, they were very healthy and in better physical state than current humans. Anthropological data proves it. In fact, our brain sizes grew on a meat and fat diet. Skull volume measurements demonstrate a Before and After from bone findings. 

Here: “Numerous fields of scientific study have contributed to this understanding of human diet evolution and the central role of meat in the development of our species. Findings from each of these fields reveal a changing dietary pattern away from low-quality/highly fibrous, energy-poor plant stables to a growing dependence on more energy-rich animal foods, culminating in Palaeolithic Homo sapiens being top-level carnivores” (Richards, Schulting, & Hedges, 2003).

The above statement, copy-pasted is from this very revealing research (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0309174018301712)

Currently the Eskimo and the Inuit that still eat a traditional diet of meat, fat and blood are in excellent health with little or no fibre. Why? 

Also, the carnivore community enjoys great health and resolves many chronic diseases on zero fibre. Why? There are several well known doctors who practice and recommend a pure carnivore diet with excellent anecdotal results as seen on interviews with their patients, and people who are not their patients, but have healed severe and chronic diseases by themselves, practicing a complete zero plants diet.

You can choose to eat fibre. Your wish. But, it is not necessary. Not necessary in any quantity whatsoever. 

The No Plants GAPS Diet proves the point, with excellent results in severe health conditions like FPIES (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_protein-induced_enterocolitis_syndrome). Dr.Natasha Campbell Mc-Bride has documented results on zero fibre diets for healing extreme GAPS disorders like Baby FPIES. Fibre can later be had, but had no part in the healing process whatsoever. How then can it be called essential?

Short answer: No. Not at all.

The moment any influencer/authority talks in terms of “good bacteria, bad bacteria”, “good cholesterol, bad cholesterol”, you can be sure they do not know their subject. Run.

Fibre feeds the so-called bad bacteria as much as feeding the so-called good bacteria. Do you think that the bad bacteria stand back and look at the good bacteria eating the fibre, because it is for them? Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Because it is. If anything, the bad bacteria are being given a treat and they will ferment the fibre and produce methane gas, among other toxic substances, including alcohol. Yes! It is known as ABS: Auto-Brewery Syndrome (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-brewery_syndrome). One reason is a high amount of carbohydrates/fibre.

Methane gas is known to constipate (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6663118/#:~:text=Down%20the%20road%20of%20exclusive,IBS%20(C%2DIBS), by hindering/restricting the peristaltic motion. This research article is an eye-opener regarding carbohydrate/fibre consumption, fermentation, methane gas production and constipation. 

Here is some India research on methane gas and constipation (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12664-018-0912-3 )

Note: there are no good or bad bacteria, per se. It is all about “balance”. The microorganisms live in a community. It is a vast and complex community, with numbers that outweigh human cells in the entire body. Some estimates say 10:1, microorganisms to body cells. 

When the microbial community is in balance, the body is in great health. They live in harmony with the body and both need each other. However, when due to myriad reasons, the balance is disturbed, even the so-called good bacteria become pathogenic and cause havoc. They cannot be called pathogenic, but they can be called opportunistic. And, who provides the opportunity? The individual.

All living organisms are hard wired to multiply and increase their numbers. It is purely, nature. Microbes in the body keep each other’s numbers in check and thereby maintain balance. In balance, the body is healthy. But, when one or more species start proliferating, they resort to pleomorphism: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleomorphism_(microbiology) in response to changes in the terrain that they inhabit. They then go on a rampage, become opportunistic and cause havoc. But, the conditions are all provided by the human that possesses the body: toxicities, deficiencies, gut damage and onto microbiome imbalance.

Therefore, to simplify or make simplistic, a complex subject, into good bacteria and bad bacteria, does not serve a good purpose, but, in fact, hurts people who then will consume even more fibre, under the impression that they are feeding their good bacteria, getting sicker and sicker.

Bonus: for those of you who may have been mislead or propagandised into thinking that “fibre is good/essential etc., you may want to read this introduction from available research (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0309174018301712 ). It is very open and explicitly stated. Do read carefully as to just what it is that made us Homo Sapiens with large brains:

Abstract:

Contrary to views that humans evolved largely as a herbivorous animal in a ‘garden of Eden’ type of environment, archaeological and anthropological evidence indicates a very different reality, at least in the last three to four million years of evolutionary adaptation. It was in this time frame that our ancestral hominin line emerged from the receding African wetland forests to become bipedal, open grassland dwellers. In this new dryer environment digestible plant foods were less readily available than in the wetland forests, but grazing animals were abundant. The subsequent dietary change this demanded initially involved scavenging the remains of herbivore carcases, with an eventual shift to direct hunting over a time period of approximately 2 million years. This was accompanied by subsequent physiological and metabolic adaptations that culminated in modern humans (Mann, 2005). Numerous fields of scientific study have contributed to this understanding of human diet evolution and the central role of meat in the development of our species. Findings from each of these fields reveal a changing dietary pattern away from low-quality/highly fibrous, energy-poor plant stables to a growing dependence on more energy-rich animal foods, culminating in Palaeolithic Homo sapiens being top-level carnivores (Richards, Schulting, & Hedges, 2003).

For your own education and immunity from misleading influencers and outright food propagandists, do read the above research based on Anthropology and actual bone analysis (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0309174018301712 )

Please welcome to the new, serious affliction: INFLUENCITIS!

In the first place, if you are already in a formal, paid, coaching agreement, why would you want to dig here and there and cause confusion to yourself? Trust your Coach and do the Protocol to the letter, for your own benefit.

If you are not in a Coaching agreement and are only browsing, window shopping: please read on.

Welcome to the New Disease that has spread like a wild fire and is now in epidemic proportions: Influencitis. (Do not look up the word, as I have coined it. In future, after my essay on Influencitis is published, it will come into regular use and perhaps be included in the English language dictionary)

Since I have introduced the term Influencitis into the lexicon: (based on years of food listings, hearing shocking stories from people/clients/customers about damage to their health based on being Influenced and Misinformed/Disinformed), below is the definition (subject to additions and alterations):

Influencitis is an absorption and often, application of half truths, complete falsities, biases and prejudices, unchecked facts, lazy/armchair research posing as the truth, told with authority by influencers, whether authorised or not, titled or not, with or without bona fides, leading to confusion, conflict, regression, stagnation and actual harm to the listener’s health and life in general, including finance and other aspects of personal, social and community life.

In the past Influencitis was localised and restricted between Sarlas and Belas. 

Who are Sarla and Bela? They are regular people (they exist all over the world) who spread misinformation about any and all subjects, sadly, including nutrition. This misinformation, going by the definition of Misinformation, was not malicious (but, can be). It was innocent and rather a misplaced sense of doing good and sharing information. That is how many traditions came into being, including superstitions that were taken as the Truth and have lasted centuries. We all know what that causes: misguidance, mistakes and a waste of time, money, pain, suffering, resources and energy. Where health is concerned, it has a terrible impact on people’s lives and I have documented many serious health injuries to people over the years that I have done food-listings. However, it still persists and everyone can identify Sarlas and Belas in their circles. 

Today, the disease Influencitis, is spreading very fast. Why? Because, it is spread by social media on various platforms: Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, Whatsapp and other platforms. The spread, speed and geography is unbelievable. This is the Information Age. It has great benefits, but, just like the proverbial double edged sword, it also promotes Misinformation and Disinformation (https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/misinformation-versus-disinformation-explained)

Enter: the Modern Day Influencer. He/she is the cause, spreader of the dreaded disease: Influencitis, using both, Misinformation (often innocently, but, harmful all the same) and Disinformation (motivated by general personal and financial gain, idealism, agenda, and often, concealed vindictiveness).

A classic recent example on a Discovery Call with a mother of an Autistic Child: this mother was doing her very best for her child. She was a most caring and hard working mother. She made stock everyday instead of batches (again based on misguidance and not understanding GAPS nuances). Working hard where it was not needed on half-understood information regarding Histamine Sensitivity, from where? You guessed it: Influencers/groups (not from a qualified/Certified GAPS coach or Practioner).

This same hardworking mother, did the Introduction Stages for nine months without giving her child appropriate enemas: times, types etc. Why? Because, she heard an Influencer doctor say that enemas can be dangerous/damaging (enemas are an ancient Ayurvedic practice, besides being practiced all over the world in practically all cultures. Even today, it is applied all over the world as a healing measure)!!! This was a completely counter-productive nine months, wasting her time, money, resources and energy for little to no benefit. This, is a victim of an Influencer, causing: Influencitis. As you can see, the innocent child was also a victim and spent 9 months on Intro for no positive gains.

If you are reading this and have never taken the GAPS Protocol, you would never appreciate the importance of timely enemas and their various types and functions, their whens and whys. 

I have too many examples to list, but, another classic example is with reference to the questions on Fibre, and the influencer above This is just one other example of how an Influencer can hurt people, literally causing inflammation (itis) in the gut instead of healing.

And, how about a gentleman who ate 5kgs of honey (I can almost guarantee it was not even original/real honey, based on the extensive adulteration in honey as a practice) in 3 months?! Why so much? Because an Influencer said, diabetes can be reversed on a honey diet! What was he consulting me for? Diabetes type-2 and a fatty liver. I am pretty certain, he already had a fatty liver because of regular and high amounts of alcohol, but the fructose in the honey is a recipe for a fatty liver and to raise blood sugar aggressively, in an already diseased body.

Do you get the picture?

Please be responsible for yourself. At the end of the day, it is You who take the information and click and listen and start the cascade of confusion and stagnation.

Now, in this environment, you may begin to appreciate a Coach: someone who can guide you towards your health goals, saving you time, money, pain, resources and frustration.

P.s. Not all influencers are counter-productive. However, the vast majority are. I would put the ratio at 95 : 5. The 5% are the real deal, with true information and have contributed to my own good health and progress in life. I thank them. I include those who are into subjects other than health, but do a great deal of research and have a lot of deep understanding of their subject. I have deep gratitude towards them.

The 95% are essentially unoccupied and mildly to excessively narcissistic, mostly happy with likes, subscribers, shares and followers. They often have private or even public Agendas. They try to convert, rather than inform, educate and retreat. They are always in a hurry to post “content”, as a result they rely on meta-analysis of badly conducted research and conflicted research. 

A lot of them may have Coaches, especially on Instagram, who guide them towards more views, shares, followers, rather than actual contribution. They guide them towards what the public likes and wants to hear through the business statistics. You can clearly see the direction when Instagram Coaches sell their services: they claim to have grown their numbers over a period of time etc. Not what the sum total contribution is (which cannot be quantified, understandably).

The question is: do You just want to be a number on someone’s statistics? What does that cost you?

Bonus: Please consult AI only at your own risk. Not recommended for health issues and especially The GAPS Nutrition Protocol. Too many people have gone wrong with the protocol, wasting time, money resources and health, based on AI information. In fact, instead of using the term Meat Stock (correct), AI uses the term Bone Broth (wrong) for a summary of the GAPS Nutrition Protocol. Bone broth can damage a person’s health if they are not yet ready to consume it. Beware!!!

At GAPS, we are not Diet Dictocrats. We respect people’s food choices and beliefs. To each his own. 

However, for sound, scientific and evolutionary reasons, the human body is tailored to eating different meats and animal fats. The GAPS Protocol is consistent with authentic, time tested nutrition practices as practiced by our ancestors for eons. The human body does best on its Nature Proven diet of meats and animal fats, with some plant matter added during scarcity. This is proven by well researched Human Trophic Levels (link here). Anthropology and stable isotope testing of ancient human bones have proven beyond a shadow of doubt, what it is that humans ate and what they sought out and what they thrived on. 

Therefore, GAPS is not about wrong and right with regards to food. It is about evolution and human needs, based on what it took Mother Nature to help us upto this moment.