Weston-A-Price & GAPS

According to the principles of Weston A. Price

In the 1920s, Canadian dentist Weston A. Price (1870-1948) traveled the world to conduct research on the impact of nutrition on the dental health of traditionally living peoples. He discovered that these peoples had excellent teeth, and tooth decay was virtually non-existent. However, as soon as they deviated from their traditional diets and adopted the modern Western diet, dental decay occurred. He documented all his findings in his book "Nutrition and Physical Degenerative Disease," which eventually led to the development of the Weston A. Price diet and the Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF).

Eating according to the GAPS diet

With the GAPS diet, the goal is to address digestive and gut problems by adopting a very pure diet. Initially, you start by temporarily removing certain foods from your diet that often contribute to digestive problems, such as artificially processed products, as well as grains and legumes. Then, you systematically test whether you digest and tolerate specific foods using an elimination diet. This is known as the "Introduction Diet" within the GAPS diet. Subsequently, you enter the restorative phase of the diet, creating a new dietary balance tailored to your body. Over time, you can reintroduce foods that you initially had trouble digesting. Like the WAPF diet, the GAPS diet emphasizes pure, natural foods with high nutritional value.

History of our food

For thousands of years, our ancestors consumed almost the same food, based on the diet of our Paleolithic ancestors. This period in history, ranging from 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago, ended with the onset of the agricultural revolution. The idea behind various primal diets, including the WAPF and GAPS diets, is that modern humans have not genetically changed significantly since the beginning of the agricultural revolution. It is believed that it is more nutritious for our bodies to live and feed ourselves as our Paleolithic ancestors did. According to proponents, the human body is not designed to process large amounts of carbohydrates, sugars, salts, gluten, and fats, especially processed foods. It is often not just about diet but an entire way of life. Lifestyles based on the food of our ancestors gained prominence in the 1970s when various doctors and dietitians advocated for a return to a Paleolithic way of life.

A change of fare...

Our dietary pattern has changed drastically since the agricultural revolution, about 10,000 years ago. Before this revolution, our ancestors were primarily hunters and gatherers who consumed wild animals and plants. After this revolution, people started consuming more carbohydrates (sugars), gluten, and less healthy fats in the form of grains and dairy, which may have influenced the declining health of humans. In the last 100 to 200 years, the transformation of our diet has accelerated further, and physical activity has decreased. The WAPF and GAPS diets are based on the eating and lifestyle of our ancestors. They emphasize fresh and natural foods without artificial additives, prepared in traditional ways. They typically exclude "junk food" and artificially processed products.

What are the benefits of the WAPF and GAPS diets?

Eating according to the WAPF or GAPS diet has many advantages. You mainly consume unprocessed, fresh, and natural foods rich in essential nutrients, making it a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, you automatically eliminate many unhealthy foods when you avoid processed products. However, it is not necessarily the case that all processed products are unhealthy. You become more aware of your diet and lifestyle, which often leads to healthier eating habits and increased physical activity. Since you eat proportionally more proteins on this diet, your body uses more energy, and you feel full faster. Eating proteins also helps preserve muscle mass, which is an additional benefit. You don't need to count calories, and there are no portion restrictions, which many people appreciate.

Supplements that fit the WAPF and GAPS diets

Various variations and ideas exist regarding diets inspired by the lifestyle of our ancestors. This is because there is no consensus on exactly what our ancestors ate. Some primal diets allow occasional consumption of legumes, while other variants emphasize eating a lot of meat, and still, others focus on avoiding processed foods or maintaining a primarily plant-based diet. At Ergomax, you can find various supplements that can be used when following the WAPF or GAPS diet. Products from Broth of Life, such as Organic Free Range Chicken Bone Broth, products from Ergomax, such as Gelatin - Collagen Hydrolysate - Wild Cod, products from Green Pasture, such as Liquid fermented cod liver oil - unflavored and products from Rosita, such as Extra Virgin Cod Liver Oil, are suitable.