Glutamate Aspartate Restricted Diet
The G.A.R.D. originally stood for the “glutamate-aspartate restricted diet” after its limitation of these two non-essential, neurostimulating amino acids- glutamic acid and aspartic acid- that are also the parent compounds of MSG and aspartame (NutraSweet) respectively. These proteins are now termed “excitotoxins” and are known triggers of seizures and inciters of some neurodegenerative diseases. However, The G.A.R.D. also stands for the “gut absorption recovery diet” due to its removal of the “big 4” foods (gluten, dairy, soy and corn), which are all capable of inducing the damage to the intestinal villi (villous atrophy) that characterizes celiac disease and the related food intolerances.
Therefore, in the case epilepsy and other conditions for which the G.A.R.D. should be applied (chronic gastrointestinal disorders, pain syndromes, ADHD, insomnia, and neurodegenerative disorders such as MS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and others), the diet is not only a quick Band Aid for the symptoms but also a major part of the long-term solution for these conditions, as the papers in this section will explain.
The G.A.R.D.
The Glutamate/Aspartate Restricted Diet – This section will be a series of posts that I have placed on applicable sections of a large medical forum known as BrainTalk Communities (found here: http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/index.php?). This site is an expansive set of forums that cover medical conditions ranging from Alzheimer’s to Visual Impairments. I have personally contributed to threads on many of these forums, including those dealing with ADHD, ALS, Celiac Disease, Epilepsy, Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia, and Child Neurology. The main reason for my involvement in these forums can be found in the content of the following posts. I hope that you get something very special from this section. It is my personal favorite.
The G.A.R.D. Made Simple – I wrote this on June 9, 2005 at the request of a doctor who was interested in this elimination diet for his epileptic patients. Again, this site was originally intended to be used by my clients- lay people searching for answers to medical issues that they did not understand. But I do realize that the length of these papers drives medically-inclined crazy. To be honest, it would me if I was looking for immediate answers for a problem case. BUT, I still contend that the fast-food approach to our problems is totally inadequate, and at some point, we MUST see the big picture again. So, I walk a fine line in my attempt to educate my clients while enlightening my colleagues, often resulting in overly lengthy papers. I guess I’d rather over-explain than under-explain. I hope this summary-style paper helps.
Pain, Pain Go Away! – This paper chronicles my triumph over fibromyalgia and joint pain through my own personal employment of The G.A.R.D. Once you see what was eliminated and why, you should have a much better understanding of what could be driving your pain through lowering your normal threshold. Some of these you are familiar with, others may surprise you.
Food Intolerance, Epilepsy, and “The G.A.R.D.” – This is the transcript for my lecture at the 2007 NAVC (North American Veterinary Conference) in Orlando. It was the second hour that followed a talk on food intolerance in general. This speech on epilepsy briefly covers most aspects of the “syndrome” we call epilepsy and introduces the role of viruses in the development and perpetuation of idiopathic epilepsy.
More G.A.R.D. Articles…
