Anyone tried the specific carbohydrate diet?

[Vanny]

Is anyone currently on or has previously been on the SCD and would like
to report their experience(s).

Many thanks for participating in this important research. Your reward is
a thousand thanks, gratefulness, and appreciation from your fellow
Crohn's sufferers.

How severe was your Crohn's at the time of starting the diet?
Why did you start the diet?
Did your doctor recommend the diet?
Did you tell your doctor you were starting the diet?
How easy was the diet to follow?
Are you still following the diet?
Did the diet work?
How severe was your Crohn's at the time of stopping the diet?
Why did you stop following the diet?
How long were you on the diet?
Would you recommend the diet to fellow Crohn's sufferers?
Do you have any further information for us?

[Jeff]

several people who posted comments on the chocolatier article you posted
claim to have been helped by the SCD (you probably saw that) :)

[Jeff]

You might have better luck trying an SCD specific form. Ten or so years
ago when I first came to this forum there were a few people who had
tried the SCD and IIRC they all seemed to get very good results. They
posted here, but for the most part they were treated badly and with much
suspicion about their truthfulness. There were some closed minded people
here back then. I thought most of them were very credible but they were
all driven away by the negativity and I haven't seen many since,
although I took a short hiatus of about 7 years myself here. Geez, how
time flies.

regards,
Jeff

On 5/18/2012 5:47 AM, Vanny wrote:
>

[zumone2002]

Hello Vanny,

> Is anyone currently on or has previously been on the SCD and would like
> to report their experience(s).

I have not tried it. A decade back I checked it out and found it
wasn't consistent (some foods forbidden in one place were allowed in
another). But it starts out as an elimination diet and gradually adds
foods so it is a good way to find some problem foods.

My optometrist has CD and swears by it. He has mild CD and has used
it for decades. Last year he went off of it and flared up, he used
Entocort to treat the falre and got back on the diet and seems okay
now.

HTH,

--
Luke

[Vanny]

Thank you for your answer.

I have a friend who has mild CD and is on the SCD, but he has lost
weight and I would say that he is close to being anorexic. He is very
rigorous and does a lot of baking with almond flour, etc.

I think the fact that none/not many people here have tried it is
testimony to the inherent difficulties with the diet. It is very labour
intensive and for those with severe Crohn's, it would be impossible to
keep up with it.

Vanny

[Jeff]

IIRC there are some similarities between SCD and the Atkins diet in that
they both reduce or restrict carbs. I've seen Atkins food bars at some
health stores here in the states.

this is one example but I don't know if it would qualify for SCD
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=DK-1183&sourceType=cs&source=FG&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=DK-1183

The other thought that always struck me about the SCD was that it may
inadvertently benefit people with Celiac who may not have been aware
they have it.

Here is something that is supposed to be SCD compliant. I've gotten
these actually from the Whole Foods supermarkets here and they are
really good, but you can't really make a whole meal out of them. It's
more like a snack.

http://www.amazon.com/L%C3%84RABAR-Fruit-Food-Cherry-1-7-Ounce/dp/B000ENWSBW%3FSubscriptionId%3D14H876SFAKFS0EHBYQ02%26tag%3Dhubpages-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB000ENWSBW

[Vanny]

Yes, it is really a diet for coeliacs with lactose intolerance and a
need to lose some weight.

Personally, I don't understand the diet in its entirety. I can sort of
grasp the basic concept - to modulate the gut's flora and fauna by
removing certain carbohydrates, but there are areas that don't make much
sense to me. For example, one is not allowed fructose and glucose syrups
but one is allowed honey, which is fructose and glucose in a 1:1 ratio,
plus some sucrose (table sugar). I don't understand how a Crohn's
patient is meant to survive for any length of time on the diet.

I am going to try a few recipes just out of interest, but without my
potatoes and broccoli risotto I would just fade away.

http://www.scdrecipe.com/recipes/

[Jeff]

mmmmm, potatoes and broccoli risotto - you're making me hungery!

[jay]

> Is anyone currently on or has previously been on the SCD
> and would like to report their experience(s).

In the end, a diet progressing toward more and more fresh fruits and
raw veggies has been effective for me. Currently, typical day consists
of raw salad (chayote, cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, ginger, chilies)
and fresh fruits (apples, pears, mangos, bananas). Today I had 2
apples, 7 red grapefruits, 4 bananas and 4 mangos.

[Vanny]

Amazing you are certainly getting your vitamins and minerals, which most
Crohn's patients don't get. You are also eating a load of fructose - a
third of the population has fructose intolerance to some degree. I hope
that you use plenty of herbs because they also have lot of micronutrients.

It sounds as though you are on the grapefruit diet. I suggest that you
choose the yellow ones rather than the pink ones. Eating too many pink
grapefruit can change one's heart rhythm and they should be avoided by
those with heart problems (see below).

My consultant wants me to drink tomato juice all the time because it is
packed with vital nutrients. However, I have to add 0.85 g sodium
bicarbonate per glass to neutralise the acid because of my GERD and it
still races through me.

I do think that some of the issues with moderate to severe Crohn's are
due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. It is nigh impossible for the
gut to repair without good nutrition.

Its great to hear that you are doing better. A caveat would be that
grapefruit (yellow or pink) interferes with the metabolism of certain
medication. It can either increase or decrease efficacy and alter any
side-effects experienced.

If you are on any meds, you should check with your pharmacist if you are
allowed to eat grapefruit. Alternatively, check here: www.drugs.com or
www.rxlist.com

Grapefruit diet
http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/diet/grapefruit_diet.htm

Is Mixing Grapefruit Juice with Medication Dangerous?
http://holycrossheartresearchblog.com/?p=1141


"...Is Grapefruit safe?

http://www.drugs.com/npc/grapefruit.html

Contraindications

None well defined. In patients with major heart muscle disorders, pink
grapefruit should probably be avoided due to its ability to disturb
normal heart rhythms. Regular grapefruit consumption can increase or
decrease blood levels of several drugs.

Pregnancy/nursing

GRAS (generally recognized as safe) when used as food. Safety and
efficacy for dosages above those in foods are unproven and should be
avoided.
Interactions

Grapefruit juice has been reported to interact with numerous drugs;
however, case reports of significant interactions are rare. However, the
potential for an interaction with grapefruit is possible.
Side Effects

Reports of adverse reactions to grapefruit consumption are limited to
drug interactions. Case reports exist of allergy to pectin and
pectin-induced asthma.
Toxicities

Toxicological studies on whole grapefruit are lacking. An analysis of 3
studies evaluating the association of grapefruit consumption and risk of
breast cancer found no increased risk. The constituent d-limonene in
grapefruit has GRAS status. Grapefruit seed extract has been shown to be
toxic to human skin.

References

Grapefruit. Review of Natural Products. Facts & Comparisons
[database online]. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Health; February 2011...."

[Vanny]

This is my Crohn's risotto recipe which I frequently eat for breakfast -
yes, you did read right.

- 1/2 cup pudding rice (absorbed better and cheaper than risotto rice)
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 vegetable stock cube
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups (or more) broccoli (fresh or frozen)
- 2-3 tbs of Italien herbs or 1-2 tsp sage (see below)

Add everything to the pan and bring to the boil, turn down heat and
simmer vigorously with lid on for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Switch the heat off and leave for a further 5 minutes to ensure all
fluid is absorbed. The broccoli will be completely broken down at this
stage. If you can eat crunchy broccoli, you can steam the broccoli for
8-10 minutes separately and serve it with the herb risotto on the side.
Serve with parmesan cheese, optional 1 tbs sour cream, and LoSalt
www.LoSalt.com

This is a great recipe too:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/pumpkinrisottowithcr_13723

[jay]

> > Today I had 2 apples, 7 red grapefruits, 4 bananas and 4 mangos.
>
> Amazing you are certainly getting your vitamins and minerals, which most
> Crohn's patients don't get. You are also eating a load of fructose - a
> third of the population has fructose intolerance to some degree. I hope
> that you use plenty of herbs because they also have lot of micronutrients.
>
> It sounds as though you are on the grapefruit diet. I suggest that you
> choose the yellow ones rather than the pink ones. Eating too many pink
> grapefruit can change one's heart rhythm and they should be avoided by
> those with heart problems (see below).

Normally I don't eat grapefruit and yesterday I over did it with
fruits. Boiled/steamed veggies are easier to handle but difficult to
get enough calories, unless I include potatoes. I still shy away from
fats (even avocados/olives) & seeds (grains, legumes, nuts) . Thanks
for all the grapefruit infor/links.

> My consultant wants me to drink tomato juice all the time because it is
> packed with vital nutrients. However, I have to add 0.85 g sodium
> bicarbonate per glass to neutralise the acid because of my GERD and it
> still races through me.
>
> I do think that some of the issues with moderate to severe Crohn's are
> due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. It is nigh impossible for the
> gut to repair without good nutrition.

What is your diet in general? Do you find a difference between eating
raw vs cooked foods (ie tomatoes)? If the sodium bicarbonate doesn't
alleviate symptoms, it may not be related to pH but rather the stress
of detoxifying/metabolizing its polyphenols, etc. All plants contains
toxins that help it to defend against bacteria, virus, insects, etc.

[Vanny]

My diet is very restricted. I can't eat anything raw, except for the odd
banana, but that is also fraught with danger due to my intestinal
strictures/stenoses. I have to cook everything from scratch and typical
foods include: loads of herbs, broccoli, carrots, pumpkin, parsnips,
potatoes, steamed peaches/apricots/apples/pears/mango, ground nuts, live
joghurt, fish, chicken, rice, wholewheat bread (finely ground), etc. I
eat pasta occasionally, but it is more difficult for me to digest.
Instead of butter and margarine, I use oil on my bread.
Carrot/banana/apricot cake with oil and reduced sugar (no icing) is als
a treat now and then - when I have the strength to make it.

A really nice apperitif is banana, lemon juice with joghurt and water -
all mixed together, and (optional) a sprig of mint and a cocktail cherry
to garnish. I had friends around one evening and we cooked together. My
friend's husband is nearly 100% vegan (he eats cheese and yoghurt
occasionally). He was very impressed and pleased because he was driving.
I don't have any alcohol in the house, not because I can't control
myself, but because I get stomach pains and it is not compatible with my
meds. My friend was allowed some Limoncello with her banana cocktail.

I should homogenise everything to increase absorption, but I got fed up
of eating biosludge. I have to sip a Fortisip each day to keep my weight
up and I have found that if I dilute it with lactose-free H-milk and
then fortify it with gelatin, it seems to do me even more good.

I don't eat red meat except for the occasional liver pate (which,
together with soft cheeses, we IBDers should avoid) and perhaps some
potted meat once a month. I don't, as a rule, eat fast food because it
just makes me nauseous and I don't feel as though it has the nutritional
value I require. However, in an emergency, I have been known to eat a
cheeseburger, although I tend to opt for the chickenburgers in recent
years when I have found myself outside of the house in Crohn's
starvation mode. I usually always have some dried biscuits or rusks with
me, but they are just not the same as something warm. I am certain that
warm food is easier for us to digest.

That's an interesting point about the polyphenols. I read somewhere that
a healthy individual expends a modicum of energy to digest food.>
http://www.exrx.net/FatLoss/EnergyBalance.html

I suspect that this is higher in a diseased and/or stressed individual.
Plant material is in general harder for homo sapiens to digest. I loved
tomatoes, but cannot eat them anymore because they are too acidic. I am
additionally restricted due to GERD. I am trying to keep everything
under control by diet instead of knocking back Omeprazole as though
there is no tomorrow.

It is recommended that you eat a couple of walnuts (very good and
essential fats) and a very small piece of 85% dark chocolate every
second day. I suggest that you buy yourself a large pestel and mortar to
grind nuts in. That could work for you.

If I ate 2 apples, 7 red grapefruits, 4 bananas and 4 mangos in one day,
the surgeons would have to open me up and they could most likely recycle
it all as fruit salad as it all goes through me (eventually) undigested.


All the best,

Vanny

Am 02.06.2012 08:34, schrieb jay:
>>> Today I had 2 apples, 7 red grapefruits, 4 bananas and 4 mangos.
>>
>> Amazing you are certainly getting your vitamins and minerals, which most
>> Crohn's patients don't get. You are also eating a load of fructose - a
>> third of the population has fructose intolerance to some degree. I hope
>> that you use plenty of herbs because they also have lot of micronutrients.
>>
>> It sounds as though you are on the grapefruit diet. I suggest that you
>> choose the yellow ones rather than the pink ones. Eating too many pink
>> grapefruit can change one's heart rhythm and they should be avoided by
>> those with heart problems (see below).
>
> Normally I don't eat grapefruit and yesterday I over did it with
> fruits. Boiled/steamed veggies are easier to handle but difficult to
> get enough calories, unless I include potatoes. I still shy away from

> fats (even avocados/olives)& seeds (grains, legumes, nuts) . Thanks

[jay]

> My diet is very restricted. I can't eat anything raw, except for the odd
> banana, but that is also fraught with danger due to my intestinal
> strictures/stenoses. I have to cook everything from scratch and typical
> foods include: loads of herbs, broccoli, carrots, pumpkin, parsnips,
> potatoes, steamed peaches/apricots/apples/pears/mango, ground nuts, live
> joghurt, fish, chicken, rice, wholewheat bread (finely ground), etc. I
> eat pasta occasionally, but it is more difficult for me to digest.
> Instead of butter and margarine, I use oil on my bread.
> Carrot/banana/apricot cake with oil and reduced sugar (no icing) is als
> a treat now and then - when I have the strength to make it.

I won't describe you diet as restricted. It is much better than that
of the coke/cookie-generation.

> ... polyphenols. I read somewhere that

> a healthy individual expends a modicum of energy to digest food.
> http://www.exrx.net/FatLoss/EnergyBalance.html

Even your Fortisip has polyphenols (ie lycopene). Like having your
tomatoes, but without the GERD.

The SCD seems to avoid foods that feed GI bacteria. SCD may help those
who have a leaky gut and/or an immune system that has become
sensitized to their gut flora. In addition to SCD maybe one could try
avoiding the 8 most common allergens (milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts,
seafood, shellfish, soy and wheat) for a while to see if it helps.

[Vanny]

I do have problems with the Fortisip which ties in with your polyphenol
thesis. I tolerate it better when I dilute it with soya milk or UHT
lactose-free milk and fortify it with gelatin.

I am still experimenting with a few SCD recipes to find out what is best
for me. My main interest in it is to increase dietary protein and to
decrease the saturated fat intake.

I am eating a couple of helpings of live home-made yoghurt a day and
that seems to be doing me some good. I will post my recipe here shortly.
I have also had to cut my cheese intake right down because of my high
cholesterol (likely due to sub-clinical hypothyroidism - and I am still
built like a miniature beanpole).

I haven't noticed any reaction to any of the allergens, but I do have
problems digesting hard boiled eggs, nuts, tofu, and pasta. I am working
on it. Cola goes straight through me and cookies make me sick - I really
notice it if they have used cheap fats in the food manufacture. I avoid
all artificial colourants and additives.

Watch this space.....