Brenda Khan
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is a grain-free diet that is low in sugar and lactose, allowing some carbs while banning others. It was first developed in the 1920s to treat celiac disease and has since been modified for other conditions. The theory behind the SCD is that some complex carbohydrates are not fully digested by the body, feeding harmful bacteria in the intestines. So, the allowed foods on the SCD are mostly those eaten by early humans before the beginning of agriculture. But are chickpeas allowed on the SCD diet?
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What You'll Learn
The SCD diet is grain-free
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is a restrictive, grain-free diet. It is designed to help manage gastrointestinal conditions such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and celiac disease. The diet allows easily digestible foods and carbohydrates that require minimal digestion, while banning grains and hard-to-digest carbohydrates. This includes eliminating starches, grains, and processed or canned foods, as well as certain legumes like soybeans, chickpeas, and bean sprouts.
The SCD allows for fresh fruit, most vegetables, meat without additives, and homemade yogurt. It is important to note that only homemade yogurt that has fermented for at least 24 hours is allowed. Additionally, unprocessed meats are permitted, while canned or processed meats are not.
When it comes to carbohydrates, the SCD focuses on allowing easily digestible carbs while restricting those that are harder to digest. This means that complex carbohydrates, which are typically starchy and fibrous, are limited. Examples of complex carbs include whole-grain products, beans, nuts, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. On the other hand, simple carbohydrates, or foods high in sugar, are broken down quickly by the body and are not a significant part of the SCD.
The goal of the SCD is to reduce inflammation and make eating enjoyable while managing gastrointestinal issues. It is important to note that the SCD can be challenging to follow, especially in the long term, due to the restriction of many food groups. Some people may choose to gradually reintroduce foods after a year or follow a modified SCD that includes certain grains like rice, oats, potato, and quinoa. Consulting with a healthcare provider before starting the SCD is recommended.
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It was developed to treat celiac disease
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is a restrictive grain-free diet designed to help treat celiac disease, along with other conditions such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, cystic fibrosis, chronic diarrhea, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The diet allows some carbohydrates and bans others based on how easily they can be digested. The goal of the diet is to reduce inflammation and harmful gut bacteria, which may help individuals feel better.
SCD was developed by Elaine Gotschall, who wrote the book 'Breaking the Vicious Cycle', which outlines in detail all the foods that are allowed and not allowed in the SCD diet. The diet involves eating carbohydrates that are easy to digest and limiting hard-to-digest carbohydrates like grains and grain products. This includes avoiding bread, pasta, and cereal. The diet is also very low in sugar and lactose, a sugar naturally found in milk and dairy products.
SCD has been found to be helpful in treating digestive disorders like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and easing its symptoms. Several small studies have shown that the SCD can improve symptoms in children with IBD, and nearly half of 200 people with Crohn's disease who followed the diet saw an improvement in symptoms, experiencing less pain, fatigue, and sleep problems. The diet may also be beneficial for other conditions like juvenile idiopathic arthritis, microscopic colitis, and diverticulitis.
However, it is important to note that the SCD diet can be challenging to follow due to the elimination of many common foods and food groups, especially when socialising or dining out. It can also be time-consuming, as preparing meals can take a significant amount of time. Additionally, the diet may lead to malnutrition and unhealthy weight loss if not carefully managed. Therefore, it is recommended to consult with a healthcare provider before starting the SCD diet to ensure it is safely implemented and appropriately tailored to the individual's needs.
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Complex carbs are not allowed
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is a grain-free diet that is low in sugar and lactose, allowing some carbs while banning others. The theory behind the SCD is that some complex carbohydrates, such as disaccharides (double molecules) and polysaccharides (chain molecules), are not fully digested by the body. These undigested complex carbs feed harmful bacteria in the intestines, leading to their overgrowth and an increase in waste products produced by the bad bacteria. As a result, the SCD does not allow these types of complex carbohydrates.
The SCD was first developed in the 1920s by Pediatrician Sydney Haas, MD, for the treatment of celiac disease. Over the years, the diet has been modified, and individuals continue to make modifications based on their responses to different foods. The allowed foods in the SCD are mostly those that early humans ate before the beginning of agriculture.
The diet is specifically designed to treat people with conditions like celiac disease, diverticulitis, chronic diarrhea, cystic fibrosis, and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. By avoiding complex carbohydrates that are not easily digested, the SCD aims to reduce the food source for harmful bacteria in the intestines, thereby preventing their overgrowth and minimizing the negative impact on gut health.
While the SCD does allow some carbohydrates, it is important to note that complex carbs are not permitted. This restriction is based on the understanding that complex carbohydrates can fuel the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestines, leading to digestive issues and inflammatory conditions. As a result, the SCD focuses on simpler carbohydrates that are more easily digested and absorbed by the body, reducing the potential fuel for harmful bacteria.
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SCD is designed to treat inflammatory bowel diseases
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is a restrictive grain-free diet designed to treat inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and celiac disease. The diet eliminates sugars and hard-to-digest carbs like grains and grain products, allowing only easily digestible carbohydrates. The goal is to reduce inflammation and make eating enjoyable.
SCD was initially developed by gastroenterologist Dr. Sidney Haas in 1951 and later popularized by biochemist Elaine Gottschall in the book "Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health through Diet". Gottschall’s theory is based on the assumption that carbohydrates have the most influence on the microbiota’s maintenance and growth. She states that IBD patients have small bowel mucosal injury, which may be due to bacterial overgrowth leading to excessive fermentation of undigested carbohydrates.
While SCD has shown promising results in treating IBD, it may not be suitable for every patient. It can be challenging to cut out entire food groups, and the diet may put individuals at risk for malnutrition and unhealthy weight loss. Additionally, it can be time-consuming and costly to prepare meals that adhere to the diet.
Before starting the SCD, individuals should consult with their healthcare provider to ensure it is a safe and suitable option for them. It is important to note that SCD is not the only dietary approach to treating IBD, and other exclusion diets have been described in the medical literature, such as the IgG-4 guided exclusion diet, semi-vegetarian diet, and Low FODMAP diet.
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The diet includes foods eaten before agriculture
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is a diet that includes foods eaten before the invention of agriculture. This is because agriculture, which was developed about 10,000 years ago, brought about the domestication of grains, creating a more predictable food supply. The SCD, on the other hand, advocates for a diet similar to that of hunter-gatherers, which consists mostly of meat and fish, and excludes dairy products, beans, or cereal grains.
The idea behind the SCD is that by eating the same foods as our hunter-gatherer ancestors, we can avoid modern diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and even acne. This is based on the idea that "you are what your ancestors ate". However, some argue that this is a misconception, as the diet of ancient humans was more varied and depended on their environment. For example, the diet of the Hadza of Tanzania consists of more starchy foods, while the Yakut of Siberia are primarily meat-eaters.
The diet of modern humans also varies greatly, with some populations adhering to vegetarian or fish-based diets, while others, like the Inuit, consume a meat-intensive diet. Despite these variations, humans are unique in their ability to find a meal in almost any environment.
While the SCD has its proponents, it is important to note that the transition to agriculture and a more stable food supply also brought about a population explosion. This suggests that while the SCD may have some health benefits, it is not necessarily a practical or sustainable diet for all humans in the long term.
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Frequently asked questions
No, chickpeas are legumes, and legumes are not allowed on the SCD diet. The SCD diet is grain-free and low in sugar and lactose.
The SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet) is designed to help treat people with conditions like celiac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and chronic diarrhea. The theory behind the diet is that some complex carbohydrates are not fully digested by the body and feed harmful bacteria in the intestines.
The allowed foods on the SCD diet are mostly those that early humans ate before the beginning of agriculture, such as meats, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and natural cheeses.
