What is SCD Diet? "The Specific Carbohydrate Diet™ is based on the principle that specifically selected carbohydrates, requiring minimal digestive processes, are well absorbed and leave virtually none to be used for furthering microbial overgrowth in the intestine. As the microbial population decreases due to lack of food, its harmful byproducts also decrease, freeing the intestinal surface of injurious substances. No longer needing protection, the mucus-producing cells stop producing excessive mucus, and carbohydrate digestion is improved. Malabsorption is replaced by absorption. As the individual absorbs energy and nutrients, all the cells in the body are properly nourished, including the cells of the immune system, which then can assist in overcoming the microbial invasion."
When I read this part in Elaine Gotchall's Book, Breaking the Vicious Cycle, which you can see at SCD Diet website as well below:
"When carbohydrates are not fully digested and absorbed, they remain in our gut, and become nutrition for the microbes we host. The microbes themselves must digest these unused carbohydrates, and they do this through the process of fermentation. The waste products of fermentation are gases, such as methane, carbon dioxide & hydrogen, and both lactic & acetic acids, as well as toxins. All serve to irritate and damage the gut. There is evidence that increased acidity in the gut due to malabsorption and fermentation of carbohydrates, may lead common harmless intestinal bacteria to mutate into more harmful ones. Further, lactic acid produced during the fermentation process has been implicated in the abnormal brain function and behaviour sometimes associated with intestinal disorders. The overgrowth of bacteria into the small intestine triggers a worsening cycle of gas and acid production, which further inhibits absorption and leads to yet more harmful byproducts of fermentation. The enzymes on the surface of the small intestines are destroyed by the now present bacteria, and this further disrupts the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, leading to further bacterial overgrowth. As both the microbial flora and their byproducts damage the mucosal layer of the small intestine, it is provoked to produce excessive protective mucus, which further inhibits digestion and absorption."
This is make sense to me. Our DD hasn't gained weight for a while even when she eats a lot of food! Her belly is also pretty big, hard & gassy. Prior to the diet, she often had constipation (sometimes skipped poop), even tough she eats a lot of fruits, veggies & drinking a lot of liquid. After being in the diet for around a week, her poop is gradually become softer and now she can poop daily (even twice a day).
This SCD Diet is not an easy diet. We all get hungry quite often. I still haven't bought some nuts flour (to replace regular flour). I just bought the yogurt machine & yogurt starter (no Bifidus bacteria allowed), because no milk allowed as well (only homemade yogurt).
It will be challenge for us, especially when we visit our family, friends, outtings, etc. Here are some foods that aren't allow in SCD Diet:
-rice
-regular flour
-milk (only homemade yogurt)
-starch
-potatoes
-yams
-sugar (even coconut sugar, no Kecap Manis)
-chocolate
To read more about the diet, you can visit these sites below:
In near future, we'd like to combine between SCD Diet with Raw Food Diet. When time is permitted, I will share some of our favorite easy recipes in our blog.
Thank you for reading...
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