The specific carbohydrate diet has been shown to help individuals with gut related illness. Referred to as the SCD diet, this diet differs from the gluten free diet in that it eliminates specific carbohydrates rather than gluten. Studies show individuals with health issues that choose the diet have improved symptoms and issues. In some cases individuals have a managed recovery or remission.
Individuals who many benefit from the SCD Diet
- Crohn's disease
- ulcerative colitis
- diverticulitis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- chronic diarrhea
- celiac disease
- autism
At first glance, the diet can seem overwhelming. The late Elaine Gottschall has been called the founder of SCD and wrote the book, Breaking the Vicious Cycle. Her book still stands as a must read for individuals wishing to learn the ins and out of the diet and the science behind it.
Where to go for help with the SCD Diet
There are many websites with information about implementing the diet. Recipes are also easily available and new cook books help beginners as well as cooking pros create delicious meals. It is a good idea to read about SCD and get an idea of what is allowed and what is not before beginning the diet. Once you have a clear idea of what to eat and have a set of recipes you can start to collect the allowed foods.
A great start for starting the SCD Diet
Start by understanding that SCD is really simple, and could be considered a whole food diet. It involves the elimination of most complex carbohydrates such as grains, corn, wheat, and rice and most sugars but pure honey is allowed. Lactose is not, so traditional cow's milk is out, but aged cheeses are safe foods. Fresh or frozen vegetables, unprocessed meats and canned and fresh fish are safe. Think shopping on the outer edge of the supermarket and stay out of the isles and inside edges where processed and junk foods are found.
One good website with a collection of foods to purchase (including almond flour), recipes and advice is grainfreegourmet.com. As with many great ideas, Grain Free Gourmet grew out of a need. Jodi Bager and Jenny Lass are both individuals who turned to SCD for health reasons. The two combined a love of cooking, need for healthy safe foods, science and business to create recipe books based on the specific carbohydrate diet. Jodi Bager is the president of Grain-Free JK Gourmet.
Going grain, processed, and sugar free is not as hard as it seems. The positive health benefits individuals report gaining from making the switch far outweighs the time it takes to research and implement the diet.
Cheryl Bailey - Cheryl Bailey is a freelance writer who lives in North Mississippi. After graduating from North East Mississippi Community College she ...
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