Leena Watts
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is a restrictive diet that eliminates grains, grain products, and sugars from your diet. It is intended to alleviate symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other digestive disorders. Before starting the SCD diet, it is important to consult a healthcare professional, such as a doctor or dietitian, to ensure that it is safe and suitable for you. The introductory phase of the SCD diet typically lasts between two to five days, during which you consume a limited range of easy-to-tolerate foods. This initial phase can include homemade broths, peeled and cooked fruits, additive-free meats, poultry, fish, and shellfish, as well as certain legumes, cheeses, and natural peanut butter.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Dietary Goal | Eliminate grains, milk products, and sugars |
| Foods to Eat | Additive-free meats, poultry, fish, shellfish, legumes, vegetables, fruits, certain cheeses, nuts, nut flours, oils, tea, coffee, vinegar, mustard, homemade yogurt |
| Foods to Avoid | Grains (barley, corn, oats, quinoa, rice, wheat), grain products (bread, pasta, cereal), milk products high in lactose, sugars |
| Introduction Period | 2-5 days of limiting diet to easy-to-tolerate foods, then slowly add others |
| Food Preparation | Homemade, specific ingredients, e.g. gelatin with unsweetened juice, broth, applesauce |
| Clinical Improvements | Expected within 2-3 months, including weight gain and symptom remission |
| Monitoring | Close follow-up with healthcare provider initially, then every 2-4 weeks |
| Challenges | Increased food costs, time-consuming food preparation, difficulty finding legal foods when travelling/socializing |
| Risks | Malnutrition, unhealthy weight loss |
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What You'll Learn
Consult a healthcare professional
Consulting a healthcare professional is an important step before starting a restrictive diet like the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). This is a diet that removes all grains, milk products (except for highly fermented yogurt), and sugars from your diet. It is often recommended for people with Crohn's disease, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or other digestive disorders.
Your healthcare provider can help determine if this diet is suitable for you and guide you in getting started. They may recommend keeping a food journal to track the foods and drinks you consume, as well as any symptoms and improvements. This can be especially helpful during the initial phase of the diet, which can last from one to five days, depending on when your symptoms start to improve.
It is important to understand that the SCD diet can be challenging, and it may put you at risk for malnutrition and unhealthy weight loss. A healthcare professional can monitor your overall well-being and nutritional status to ensure that the diet is working for you and that no complications arise. They can also provide guidance on how to manage the diet's challenges, especially when socializing or dining out.
Additionally, your healthcare provider can help you set realistic expectations and goals for the diet. They can advise you on what improvements to look for and when to expect them. For example, clinical remission is typically expected within 2 to 3 months of starting the diet. If remission is achieved, the next step is to focus on diet foundation and maintenance, with follow-up visits spaced out over several months.
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Plan your meals
Planning your meals is an important part of starting the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). This diet is often used to help manage symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other digestive disorders. It involves eliminating grains, most milk products, and sugars from your diet.
When planning your meals for the SCD diet, there are several food groups that are allowed and encouraged. Firstly, additive-free and unprocessed meats, poultry, fish, and shellfish can be included. It is also recommended to eat fresh, frozen, or dried fruits with no added sugar. However, raw fruits should be avoided until diarrhoea is under control. Ripe fruits should be peeled and cooked well. Honey is also allowed on the SCD diet and can be used as a natural sweetener.
In addition, most nuts and nut flours are permitted, as well as certain legumes, including dried beans, lentils, split peas, and raw cashews. You can also consume most oils, teas, coffee, mustard, cider, white vinegar, and juices without additives. For dairy, homemade yogurt that has been fermented for at least 24 hours is allowed, as are certain cheeses such as cheddar, Colby, Swiss, and dry curd cottage cheese.
It is important to note that some foods should be avoided or limited when starting the SCD diet. All grains and grain products, such as bread, pasta, and cereal, should be eliminated. In addition, milk and milk products high in lactose, such as store-bought yogurt, cream, sour cream, and ice cream, are generally not recommended. Onions, celery, and parsley should also be avoided at the start of the diet as they may cause problems.
When planning your meals, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional or dietitian to ensure that the SCD diet is suitable for your individual needs and to prevent any potential complications. It is also crucial to closely monitor your overall well-being and nutritional status during the dietary changes.
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Prepare your food
Preparing your food is a crucial aspect of starting the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). Here are some detailed instructions and considerations to help you get started with preparing your meals:
Understanding the Basics of SCD Food Preparation
Before you begin, it is essential to understand the principles of the SCD diet. This diet eliminates grains, milk products (except for highly
Stocking Your Pantry and Fridge
Stock up on additive-free and sugar-free oils, white vinegar, cider, mustard, coffee, tea, and fruit juice. Choose all-natural, sugar-free peanut butter, and cheeses like sharp cheddar, Colby, Swiss, and dry curd cottage cheese. Include fresh, frozen, raw, or cooked vegetables, but remember to peel and cook ripe fruits and vegetables well, especially at the beginning of the diet. Ripe bananas with brown spots can be consumed raw.
Proteins and Legumes
Ensure you have a good supply of unprocessed meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish. You can also eat certain legumes, including dried beans, lentils, split peas, and raw cashews. Remember to choose additive-free options for your proteins.
Dairy and Yogurt
The SCD diet restricts dairy products, but you can include homemade yogurt that has been fermented for at least 24 hours. Make sure to avoid all milk and milk products high in lactose, such as mild cheddar, store-bought yogurt, cream, sour cream, and ice cream.
Nuts and Nut Flours
Most nuts and nut flours are allowed on the SCD diet. Include options like unroasted cashews, unroasted peanuts in the shell, and nut butters made from allowed nuts.
Broths and Soups
Broths are a great option for the SCD diet. You can sip chicken, turkey, or beef-bone broth on its own or blend it with cooked meat and vegetables to make a thicker soup.
Sweet Treats
When it comes to satisfying your sweet tooth, opt for raw honey, which can be drizzled over fruits or used in recipes. You can also make homemade gelatin using unsweetened juice, unflavored gelatin, and a sweetener like honey.
Remember to always read labels and be cautious of hidden carbohydrates. Consult with your healthcare provider and dietitian to ensure that your meal plan aligns with your specific needs and to prevent potential complications.
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Track your progress
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is a restrictive grain-free diet designed to help manage symptoms of gastrointestinal problems and inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It involves eliminating sugars and hard-to-digest carbohydrates like grains and grain products, and eating only carbohydrates that are easier for the body to break down and absorb.
To track your progress on the SCD diet, it is recommended to keep a food journal or food/symptom journal. This involves documenting everything you eat, any symptoms you experience, and any new foods you introduce. A food journal can help you identify connections between the foods you eat and your symptoms, as well as track your progress and improvements over time. It can also be helpful to refer back to your journal if you experience a flare-up to remind yourself of what worked and what didn't.
When introducing new foods after the initial Intro Diet, it is important to do so gradually. Introduce only one new food at a time and pay close attention to how your body responds, making detailed notes in your food journal. This will help you identify any specific foods that trigger your symptoms.
It can be challenging to stick to the SCD diet, especially during holidays and vacations, so it's important to plan ahead for times when you know it will be difficult to stay on track. Designating specific days and times for meal prep can also help reduce overwhelm and improve long-term adherence to the diet. Additionally, investing in SCD cookbooks can provide a variety of meal options to keep you motivated and engaged in the diet.
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Monitor your health
Your healthcare provider may recommend keeping a food journal to track the foods and drinks you consume, as well as any symptoms and improvements. This can be a helpful tool to identify any problem foods and ensure the diet is working for you. It is also a good way to keep an eye on your weight, especially as the diet may lead to unhealthy weight loss.
During the first step of the diet, the anti-inflammatory phase, close follow-up with your healthcare provider is required regularly. It is recommended that you follow up within 1-2 weeks of starting the diet and then continue with regular physicals and weight checks. This is important to ensure the diet is having the desired effect and to make any necessary adjustments.
If you start gaining weight and show clinical improvements, the frequency of visits can be decreased to every 2-4 weeks. The goal is to achieve clinical remission within 2-3 months of starting the diet. If remission is achieved, meaning the individual is gaining weight, symptoms have improved, and overall health is good, the diet moves to the foundation and maintenance step, with follow-ups every 3-4 months.
It is important to be mindful of your body's reactions to new foods as you progress in the diet. If a food causes additional gas or diarrhea, delay its use and slowly reintroduce it later. If a food continues to cause problems after a week of eliminating it, it should be permanently removed from the diet.
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Frequently asked questions
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) removes all grains, milk products (except for highly fermented yoghurt), and sugars from your diet. It is often used to treat digestive disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease, and celiac disease.
The SCD diet includes foods such as additive-free meats, poultry, fish, and shellfish, legumes, vegetables, fruits with no added sugar, cheeses, and homemade yoghurt fermented for at least 24 hours.
It is important to consult a healthcare professional or dietitian before starting the SCD diet. The diet typically begins with an introductory phase of two to five days, where you consume a limited range of easy-to-tolerate foods before slowly introducing other foods.
