Do you often get stomach upset? Are you tired of feeling full, having stomach cramps, and sometimes diarrhea? This is a very annoying experience, especially for those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Today we are talking about a special diet that can help such people. This is called the 'Special Carbohydrate Diet' or SCD.
What is SCD? How did it start?
Simply put, the SCD is an eating plan that eliminates selected carbohydrates from your diet. The goal is to control symptoms of gastrointestinal disease. People who follow this diet avoid grains, such as bread, pasta, and cereals, and anything made from grains. They also greatly limit sugar and lactose, a type of sugar found in milk.
The history of this diet is a bit old. It was first introduced in the 1920s by Dr. Sidney Haas, an American pediatrician. At that time, he used this method to help children with Celiac Disease. However, it became popular again in the late 1980s after Elaine Gottschall wrote a book called "Breaking the Vicious Cycle." In that book, she described how her daughter's inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was cured by this diet.
First, let's see what carbohydrates are.
Carbohydrates, or as we call them, 'starch', are the sugars, fiber, and starches found in some of the foods we eat. Our bodies convert these carbohydrates into a type of sugar called glucose to give us energy.
There are two main types of carbohydrates:
- Complex Carbohydrates: These are the 'good' type of carbohydrates . They are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They take longer to digest, so they don't spike blood sugar levels all at once. Whole grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and fruits fall into this category.
- Simple Carbohydrates: These are the 'bad' types. Foods and drinks high in sugar are digested quickly and cause a sudden spike in blood sugar levels. This is what makes you feel energized for a while, but then you start feeling tired again. These are found in sweets, biscuits, and ice cream. These simple sugars are also naturally found in milk and fruit.
How does this diet affect our bodies?
Think about it this way. Some people's digestive systems can't digest certain types of carbohydrates well. Then these undigested food particles remain in the intestines. This becomes a perfect feeding ground for harmful bacteria in our bodies.
Harmful bacteria that rely on these undigested carbohydrates grow excessively in the intestines. This can damage the delicate lining of the intestines, causing inflammation, and making symptoms worse.
The SCD diet eliminates those difficult-to-digest carbohydrates from your diet. Then you only eat carbohydrates that are easily digested and absorbed by the body. This deprives those harmful bacteria of food and controls their growth. Then the inflammation in the intestines decreases and you start to feel better.
This diet also largely eliminates artificial flavors, preservatives, and processed foods. Some of these things have been found to increase inflammation in the gut. So eliminating those is another reason why you may feel better.
Who is this type of diet suitable for?
This diet has been identified as being most beneficial for people with intestinal diseases, especially:
- Inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis .
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is a joint inflammation condition that affects some young children.
- Microscopic Colitis .
Elaine Gottschal's book suggests that this diet may also be beneficial for conditions such as diverticulitis, celiac disease, and cystic fibrosis. However, scientific research is still ongoing into its effectiveness for these conditions.
What you can and can't eat on the SCD diet
Since this is a somewhat restrictive diet, it's important to know exactly what you can and can't eat.
| ✅ Allowed Foods | |
|---|---|
| Meat and fish | Fresh meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish without preservatives. |
| Vegetables and fruits | Fresh, frozen or cooked vegetables (e.g. beans). Fresh, dried or cooked fruit with no added sugar. |
| Dairy products | Cheeses such as cheddar (sharp cheddar), Swiss, etc. Homemade yogurt that has been fermented for at least 24 hours. |
| Nuts and flakes | Flaky beans like lentils, chickpeas, and green beans. Unroasted cashews and peanuts. Flours made from nuts like almond flour. |
| Other | Eggs, honey, unsweetened natural peanut butter, oils, vinegar, coffee and tea (sugar and preservative free). |
| ❌ Foods to Avoid | |
|---|---|
| Cereals | Barley, corn, oats, rice, wheat, and everything made from them, such as bread, pasta, cakes, and biscuits. |
| Types of sugar | Processed sugar, molasses, maple syrup, corn syrup, chocolate, and all sweet foods. |
| Starchy vegetables | Potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips. |
| Dairy products | Milk, cream, ice cream, sour cream, and store-bought yogurt (due to its high lactose content). |
| Other | Seasoned meats such as sausages, canned vegetables (with preservatives), soybeans, chickpeas, spice powders such as curry/garlic powder, seaweed. |
How do I start this? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
This is a must before starting!
Before starting a restrictive diet like this , you should definitely talk to your doctor . He or she will need to decide whether this is appropriate for your condition. He or she may also refer you to a dietitian.
Usually, when starting this diet, it is advised to limit yourself to a few very simple, easily digestible foods for two to three days, and then gradually add other approved foods.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages:
The main benefit is the possibility of symptoms disappearing and the disease going into remission. Some studies have shown that nearly half of people with Crohn's disease experience relief from symptoms such as pain and fatigue on this diet.
Disadvantages (risks):
- Difficult to follow: It's a challenge to maintain this when eating out, especially when going to a party, because you're eliminating a lot of food.
- Expenses are high: The cost of food may increase due to the loss of inexpensive foods like bread and rice.
- Nutritional deficiencies: This is the biggest risk. The body may lack essential nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B, and vitamin E. Therefore , doing this without medical advice can lead to unhealthy weight loss and malnutrition.
If you have these symptoms, see a doctor immediately.
Whether you follow the SCD diet or not, if you experience the following symptoms, take special care and seek medical advice immediately.
- Rectal bleeding
- Persistent stomach pain, bloating, or diarrhea
- Weight loss without any reason
- Chronic pain
- Excessive fatigue or weakness for no reason
Some people follow this diet for the rest of their lives. Others, after being symptom-free for about a year, gradually add other foods (such as rice, oats, potatoes) to their diet. If symptoms return, they can switch back to this diet.
Take-Home Message
- SCD is a special diet that restricts selected carbohydrates used to treat digestive diseases such as IBD.
- This removes indigestible carbohydrates, controls the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestines, and reduces inflammation.
- Never start this diet on your own without consulting your doctor.
- While this offers benefits such as symptom control, it also carries serious risks such as nutritional deficiencies. Therefore, guidance from a doctor or nutritionist is essential.
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