A special diet for stomach problems? (Specific Carbohydrate Diet - SCD) Let's learn about it.

Do you often have problems like stomach discomfort, bloating, stomach cramps, or diarrhea? While these are normal for some people, they can be a real nuisance for those with long-standing digestive diseases. So today we are talking about a special diet that can help control these conditions. This is called the 'Specific Carbohydrate Diet' or 'SCD' for short.

Simply put, what is SCD?

It's very simple. The SCD is a special eating plan that selectively eliminates certain types of carbohydrates from our diet. Specifically, it eliminates complex carbohydrates that are difficult for our bodies to digest. This helps to relieve symptoms of digestive disorders, especially inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) .

A person following the SCD diet does not eat grains, such as bread, pasta, and cereal. They also greatly limit sugar and lactose, a type of sugar found in milk.

Who first discovered this method?

The SCD diet was first introduced in the 1920s by Dr. Sidney Haas, an American pediatrician. He introduced it to help children with Celiac Disease, a digestive disorder. However, it became popular worldwide in the 1980s because of a book written by Elaine Gottschall, who wrote about how her daughter, who had IBD, had improved her symptoms with this diet.

First, let's see, what are these carbohydrates called?

Carbohydrates are the fiber, starches, and sugars found in the foods we eat. Our bodies convert these carbohydrates into a type of sugar called glucose for energy.

There are two main types of carbohydrates:

1. Complex Carbohydrates: These are the healthiest carbohydrates for our body. They contain vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Since they take longer to digest, they do not cause a sudden spike in our blood sugar levels. Whole grains, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, fruits, and vegetables fall into this category.

2. Simple Carbohydrates: These are foods that are high in sugar. They are digested very quickly and cause a sudden spike in our blood sugar levels. So, although we get a quick boost of energy, it quickly wears off and we start feeling tired. Milk and fruit naturally contain this type of sugar. Apart from that, the sugar added to foods like cakes, biscuits, ice cream, and the sugar in sauces like ketchup also fall into this category.

How does this SCD diet work?

Doctors are still researching how this works. But this is the accepted theory for now. People with certain digestive diseases cannot digest certain types of carbohydrates properly. Then, these undigested food particles remain in our intestines.

The SCD diet is about eliminating those hard-to-digest carbohydrates from your diet . We only eat carbohydrates that are easily digested and absorbed by the body. That deprives those bad bacteria of food and takes control. That can reduce inflammation and symptoms in the gut.

This diet also largely eliminates processed foods, additives, and preservatives. Some of these things have been found to increase inflammation in the gut. So eliminating them may be another reason why you may feel better this way.

Who is this diet suitable for?

The SCD approach may be beneficial for children and adults with certain chronic conditions, including:

• Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) , such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is a joint inflammation condition that occurs in childhood.

In addition, it has been suggested that this method may be useful for several other diseases such as diverticulitis, celiac disease, and cystic fibrosis, but this is still in the research stage.

What foods can and cannot be eaten on the SCD diet?

This is the most important part. Let's see what you can and can't eat according to this diet.

How do you start this diet?

This is the most important thing. It's not a good idea to start a diet that restricts a lot of foods like this on your own .

If your doctor agrees, you may be advised to keep a food journal to record your food intake, symptoms, and changes in your diet. This method usually starts with two to five days of eating a very limited, easily digestible diet. Then, you gradually add other foods.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method?

Benefits

If you follow the SCD diet properly, your symptoms can go away almost completely. This is called remission. In a study of 200 people with Crohn's disease, nearly half of those who followed the diet saw a significant reduction in their symptoms. They reported a reduction in pain, fatigue, and sleep problems.

Risks

• Difficulty following: Eliminating a lot of foods this way can be a challenge, especially when eating out with friends or during festive occasions.
• High cost: As inexpensive foods like bread and rice are eliminated, the cost of food may increase.
• Nutritional deficiencies: This is the biggest risk. This diet can cause your body to lack essential nutrients like calcium, vitamins B, D, and E. This can lead to malnutrition and unhealthy weight loss . For this reason, your doctor may refer you to a dietitian.

When should you see a doctor?

Whether you follow the SCD diet or not, if you experience the following symptoms, see your doctor immediately.

Some people follow the SCD diet for the rest of their lives. Others, after a year or so of symptom-free periods, reintroduce the foods they had previously eliminated (e.g., rice, oats, potatoes). However, if symptoms return, they have to switch back to the diet.

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