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Most people look at GAPS Intro and see a very strict protocol. And it certainly is at first: only meats and vegetables. Not even fruits or starches. Even AIP (the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol) allows fruits and starches. And for those who must be on the early stages of Intro for a long time, this can be very daunting. That is why I wrote Healing Patiently, after all.
But in many ways, the strict protocol makes allowances that other elimination/healing diets do not. Foods are allowed to be added back in relatively quickly, even foods like eggs and nuts. Once reaching Full GAPS, one must maintain there for awhile, but at least it is similar to Paleo. True, starches are still not allowed, which can make baking a trick. But certain legumes and fermented dairy are allowed, if tolerated, which certainly is something!
Another way in which GAPS is more lenient, and in this case in a way that I do not agree with, is that nightshades are allowed from the early stages of Intro.
What are Nighshades?
Nightshades are a family of plants, most notably potatoes, eggplant, peppers (and all their spices, but not black pepper), and tomatoes.
As Dr. Sarah Ballantyne discusses, nightshades contain saponins which may contribute to leaky gut. Naturally, if one is on GAPS this is exactly what they are trying to fix! Furthermore, capsaicin (the component that makes peppers hot) can be irritating for many tissues.
Symptoms associated with nightshade sensitivity can include sore or stiff joints and rashes (like my eczema). These are the more obvious ones. However, since it is possible for nightshades to contribute to leaky gut, many symptoms of leaky gut may show up in reaction to nightshades if you are sensitive.
Nightshades on GAPS
Potatoes are not even allowed on Full GAPS, but the others (minus spices, which are Stage 5) are allowed from the beginning if well cooked.
Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, the creator of the GAPS diet, does not specifically talk about nightshades. As they are not mentioned in the context of Intro, nor are they particularly fiberous, most people add them from the beginning. I have seen many lists and recipes using tomatoes or eggplant in the first few stages. And while I highly respect Dr. Campbell-McBride’s work, I think this oversight is a mistake.
It’s the type of oversight that makes me glad I found The Elimination Diet before GAPS (read about my time on that diet here). I was classic GAPS when I started my real food journey – eczema, acne, digestive problems, fatigue, brain fog, etc. And I needed GAPS for many of those. But if I had started with GAPS, my skin would never have cleared. I don’t know what I would have resorted to. Because, as I talk about frequently on this blog, I have a sensitivity to nightshades (although GAPS has healed this!).
And it is not just me. A lot of people have weird sensitivities and allergies to foods that are in everything and are even healthy for others. And it can be so frustrating to have to eliminate something that is in every real food, paleo, and GAPS recipe (especially now that potatoes are Whole30!). But nightshades are a much more common problem that most people realize, and it is very difficult to discover this when they are generally considered to be so healthy.
I do recommend those with joint or skin problems try going without nightshades for a short while. Especially those with skin issues that are not caused by consuming gluten, eggs, or dairy (which tend to be common culprits).
So if taking tomatoes out of your diet is just too much at the beginning, fine. That is your choice (all of this is!). You can always try later if needed. But if you need to eliminate them, I promise it is possible! And if you are sensitive, your body will thank you.
Looking for recipes? Every recipe on How We Flourish is nightshade-free!
Read More:
Gut and Psychology Syndrome
Healing Patiently
A List of Nightshade Foods
What Are Nightshades?
The Whys Behind AIP – Nightshades
Nightshade Free Survival Guide
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I love this article because it answers the exact question on my mind- what does GAPS think about nightshades. I’m in the reintroduction phase of an elimination diet and to my EXTREME surprise I reacted terribly to nightshades when I added them back in after not having them for a month and a half. I had symtoms almost like a flu was coming on a day after I ate them, and I couldn’t believe it so I waited until I felt better and then tried eating them again- and exact same reaction! I was beyond surprised because I’ve eaten nightshades my whole life, love tomatoes, love eggplant dearly, and love spicy food. I really would never have guessed without the elimination diet. I’m wanting to try GAPS but I’m a little perplexed that there is no attention given to nightshades.
Yes, I was very surprised that they are never talked about. Nightshade sensitivities are so much common than people realize, and it is important to at least be aware of them! I’m glad this post helped you. GAPS was hugely helpful for me, and leaving nightshades out did not affect how it worked for me.
Hello!!!
Dear Chloe, I guess you haven’t read the book, I just ordered it. Sr Natasha does mention that all starch vegetables are excluded from the diet. So, she didn’t omit that, on the contrary, here you can watch an amazing conference and if you are patient enough to listen until the end, you will see that potatoes especially, are removed from the diet.
Good luck!
I guess you haven’t read this blog. This is a GAPS and natural living blog, and I have written an entire book about GAPS, which Dr. Natasha has given her approval on and favorably reviewed. Not only am I aware that potatoes are not included on the GAPS diet, but I specifically mention that in this blog post.
Good for you! You must have been referring to tomatoes and eggplants only.
PS. Indeed I did not read this blog, I just came across your blog by chance yesterday as I was listening to a conference on Gaps of Dr Natasha and I noticed she did specifically eliminated potatoes and starch veggies.
Dear Chloe,
Maybe you can help me with this… I started GAPS Intro, and, as far as I know I currently have an intolerance to milk. I suppose it is the lactose. Can I still eat whey? I am making it home from organic raw milk, and the question is…. could I still drink whey during GAPS taking into account that I am also taking a significant amount of probiotics- via supplements and fermented vegetables? Or is there a way to soften the effect of lactose from the whey?
Thank You!
Whey is considered safe on the GAPS diet. If you cut out all sources of lactose and are still having issues, you can try cutting all dairy, including the whey. But if not then it is fine!
Thank you for your answer. I do not feel bad when I drink whey or yoghurt, but I know I have several intolerances and milk would be one. Anyway, I intend to drink milk kefir and water kefir. Milk kefir, if well fermented shouldn’t pose any problems as the lactose content is scarce.
Thank You!
Hy! I have been on Gaps for 2 moths and a half and… still could not eat anything raw. I was going to keep going, until…this great book or author caught my attention: Medical MEdium by Anthony Williams. I was suspicious at first, as this is a guy that receives the information from a higher source, from the heavens. But all he said seemed so logical that… I could not help trying to follow his advice. He receives information on the real causes of today’s illness that are not discovered yet by science, and reveals a lot of truths regarding chronic illness. For instance, he says that there is not such thing as leaky gut. If we truely had a leaky gut we would burn with fever and infections. He actually says that the real cause behind the so called leaky gut is ammonia permeability. That is, most of us have a low hydrochloric acid level in the stomach and the food is not properly digested, it rots in the intestines and the ammonia gas creates the bloating, irritation, inflammation etc. Of course toxins like heavy metals also create inflammation in the gut. He recommends a simple but MAGICAL cure for this: plain celery juice (apio celery, just the greens but you can also juice the root) 16 ounces first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, not blended with anything else, just celery. I was pretty suspicious at first, but all he said in his first book seemed soooo real and logic that I said to myself: given the fact that I cannot stilll eat an apple without ending with floating and pain, and that I have not been able to do it for such a long time, if the celery juice works I will believe his information is real. So I drank my juice almost everyday for 2 weeks. At first I had nausea, dizziness and was even more bloated. But in 2 wekks’ time…. the miracle happened: everything got so quiet in my tummy, no pain, no bloating NO MATTER WHAT I ATE. I can eat 2 kg of apples or potatoes or tomatoes without any symptom!
I also tried other things he recommends and worked like magic. At first I was not keen to let go on GAPS as I trusted very much this book and dr Natasha….but the fact is…she is wrong on many levels.
Anthony reveals that fats actually feed viruses and pathogens, and especially eggs and diary. Plus, fats oxidize heavy metals in the brain! He insists on the remarkable values of fruits, vegetables and spices revealing information that has not yet been discovered by science.
I totally recommend you to read and try. He wrote 2 books by now, Medical meadium and Life changing foods.
Now I am doing his cure for getting out the heavy metals, it is amazing and 100% natural!
He also talks about probiotics. He says that probiotics from fermented vegetables and dairies hardly resist, if any! the hydrochloric acid in the stomach. The real probiotics which he names: elevated biotics are actually present in the form of a microfilm of microorganisms on the surface of all vegetables and fruits as they grow in the garden. So nothing compares to them on this level: they all resist the h. acid and get in the ileum where they populate the intestines and rebuid the production of B12. So if you want to restore your flora, eat freshly plucked vegetables and fruits, it is best to not wash them at all if you can, or just rinse them gently. Of course, if you have access to an organic garden.
Anyway, there are so great infos in his books, and I thought you may wish to have a look,
Regards!
I am so glad to read this post. I’ve on Day 6 of Intro and put some cherry tomatoes in my soup, with an extreme gut reaction. I never thought I had a problem with Nightshades. How long after starting Gaps were you able to eat them without issue? Thanks!
I did not attempt to reintroduce nightshades until over 6 months into GAPS, and I was able to handle them then.
There hasn’t been a comment in several years, so I will make one. Nightshades were my nemesis. They literally almost killed me. Do not think because the nutritional community takes a veggie and breaks it apart and analyses it’s parts and pieces that it is really “good” for you. There is a reason why tomatoes are considered the fruit of the poisonous tree. They were very detrimental to my health. Once removed 6 full months along with peppers and potatoes I can now sleep at night and the pain in my joints are GONE. Potatoes caused insomnia. Tomatoes and peppers severe joint pain. I have been pain free for several years. Listen your body – it’s the only one you’ve got and healthy for one person is not healthy for every person. Think bee stings and peanuts.