Supplements

Although Dr Campbell-McBride prefers to get nutrients from foods, some supplements are recommended (scroll down for more information on each).

These supplements are helpful for most people:

Only needed by some people & usually prescribed on an individual basis:

  • Digestive support
    • Betaine HCl & pepsin
    • Ox bile
    • Pancreatic enzymes
  • Other
    • Seagreens or other seaweeds for vitamins and minerals (later in the program)
    • Specific amino acids are occasionally suggested

Probiotics

Remember that any probiotic needs to be started slowly, and built up, to avoid die off. This also applies to the fermented foods.

Die off is when the good bugs kill the bad bugs, which releases toxins into the system. Symptoms can include digestive upsets, brain fog, headaches, flu like symptoms and more. These symptoms can also be caused by withdrawal from allergies.

Dr Natasha recommends Bio-Kult and finds it is suitable for most people. Available from Nature Foods.

If Bio-Kult doesn’t work for you, look for something with a wide range of different strains. Or regularly change your probiotic to get a variety.

Oils

Dr Natasha recommends three different supplementary oils for a GAPS person, as well as liberal amounts of extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, ghee or butter and other animal fats from foods.

  • Cod liver oil – Nature Foods stocks two suitable brands – Green Pasture fermented and NutraPro virgin. Nordic Naturals standard brand is not suitable as it has hardly any Vitamin D. The Arctic-D on the other hand has a lot, so is better, but it’s then out of balance with the Vitamin A.
  • An extra fish oil with higher ratio of EPA to DHA. The best ones available in NZ are:
    • Eye Q fish oil, with Evening Primrose Oil (this is the best, unless you have seizures). Available from: NetPharmacy, PharmacyDirect and other online pharmacies
    • Nordic Naturals Complete Omega, with borage (also good, best if have seizures) – available in most health foods shops, and from online pharmacies

Digestive support

To digest protein:

To stimulate the body’s own production of HCL, start each meal with a raw cabbage salad, or some sauerkraut, or a probiotic drink such as sauerkraut juice, beet kvass, or apple cider vinegar in a little water. If you still need help, you may need to take supplemental HCL for a while. NOTE: make sure you take your probiotic at a different time!

Radiance DigestAid HCL with pepsin Solgar Betaine Hydrochloride with Pepsin Premier or Quantum HCL Douglas Labs HCL
Betaine Hydrochloride 648mg 325 mg 550mg 648 mg
Pepsin 130mg 59 mg
RRP NZ$ $41.50 / 60 caps $62.90 / 120 caps $24.76 / 100 tabs $41.60 / 90 caps $49.90 / 250 caps
Other ingredients Gelatin capsule, cellulose, magnesium stearate Microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable stearic acid, silicon dioxide, cellulose gum, natural peppermint flavouring Vegetable Cellulose (capsule) Gelatin capsule, cellulose, magnesium stearate, silica
Pros ~Easy to find in most health stores ~In most health stores
~Smaller, so easier to find your dose		 ~Less excipients ~Most affordable
Cons ~Some people MAY react to magnesium stearate ~Tablets are harder to break down than capsules ~Doesn’t contain pepsin, which you also need for digesting protein, though if you are sensitive to pepsin, this is actually a Pro
~ Nature Foods usually have in stock, or your GAPS practitioner may be able to source it for you		 ~Doesn’t contain pepsin, which you also need for digesting protein, though if you are sensitive to pepsin, this is actually a Pro
~ You may need your GAPS practitioner to source it for you
~Some people MAY react to magnesium stearate
  • Ox bile is helpful for digesting fats. Build up your intake of fat slowly, to give your body time to adjust. But some people still need help, especially if you’ve had your gall bladder removed. Available from Nature Foods.
  • If you body is producing enough HCl, this will signal to your pancreas to release pancreatic enzymes. But some people with very weak digestion are helped by supplementing with enzymes. There are many enzymes available in health food shops but discuss with your GAPS practitioner first.

Other

  • Sometimes other supplements may be recommended by your GAPS practitioner, such as:
    • Seagreens or other seaweeds can be helpful as a vitamin and mineral source, but not till later in the program when your digestion is stronger
    • Specific amino acids
    • Or other specific nutrients