Little Rock's GAPS Practitioner - Pamela Berndt, RN, CGP

Journey into the World of a GAPS Practitioner
by Pamela Berndt, RN, CGP

I am no stranger to the belief that “You are what you eat”, or rather, “You are what you assimilate”.  Having grown up during the 50s and 60s, on 5 acres of rich, organic soil in the glacial basin of southeastern Wisconsin, I was truly an “organic child”.  However, these were the days when traditional ways of preparing and eating nutritious foods were rapidly being challenged by the “convenient”, processed food craze. New mothers were encouraged to bottle-feed their newborns, replacing mother’s milk with pasteurized cow’s milk.  During the ensuing 50 years, the American dinner table became a testing ground for an array of processed chemical amalgamations.  (If the previous three words sound oddly reminiscent of a typical ingredient list on todays cans, jars and boxes, it should come at no surprise).

As a young mother, I became more and more interested in the principles of nutrition. After all, I was now responsible for the health and development of two precious children. Even then, it seemed somewhat odd that our standard food pyramid was firmly planted in the American grain belt......and taking a deep, cleansing breath, I placed the next 2 loaves of whole grain bread into the oven.  Years later, by some quirk of fate, the owner of Serenity Farm Bread in Leslie, Arkansas, introduced me to Nourishing Traditions, by Sally Fallon and Wild Fermentation, by Sandor Katz.   Thus, began my facination with the Weston A. Price Foundation - its philosophy, precepts and practice.

This journey has now taken me into the world of a science-based nutritional protocol known as GAPS.  Many of you are familiar with the work of Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride and may also be following her recommendations.   The book, Gut and Psychology Sydrome, acknowledges and supports the fact that intestinal health is key to well-being.  It lays the foundation for understanding what causes gut dysbiosis and how to reverse it.  There was never any question in my mind when given the opportunity to become a GAPS practitioner.  This was simply the next, necessary step. Having integrated these principles into our family lifestyle during the past year, I have experienced, firsthand, their wisdom and value.

By Appointment:  Holistic Pathways, PLLC
                                501-224-2167
                               holisticpathways@me.com