A Healing Kitchen

Rice has a reputation as a super food.

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet excludes rice for adults. Children with weak digestive systems or Autism Spectrum Disorder should avoid rice.

In her book "Breaking the Vicious Cycle," Elaine Gottschall quotes Juliano (1972) "Some kinds of rice contain small amounts of amylopectin starch and large amounts of amylose starch, other types contain only amylopectin starch."

Rice is a grain which contains anti-nutrients. A portion of the grain's seed system is for preserving the ability to sprout until conditions are right. "Anti-nutrients" in whole grains contain irritating tannins and complex sugars which the body has difficulty breaking down.

Rice also contains enzyme inhibitors which affect digestion and put stress on the pancreas. A weak digestive system is unable to properly process complex sugars like those found in rice and cannot utilize them. Unused carbohydrates are food and fuel for intestinal pathogens. When pathogens take control, they poison the intestinal tract and bloodstream, damage the gut wall, and impair brain and nervous system function.

There is an another negative factor. Genetically engineered rice fortified with iron is now being produced.

Despite these finding allergists tend to keep rice on elimination and rotation diets during the period of attempting to identify trigger foods.

When I started the Specific Carbohydrate Diet I often dined with a celiac friend who was advised she could include rice in her diet. I have not been in touch for some time to hear how she is progressing.

Editor's Note: Celiac.com supports the idea that the Specific Carbohydrate Diet is gluten-free and can be very helpful for many people, depending on their situation. We disagree, however, with the assertion that Elaine Gottschall makes in her book Breaking the Vicious Cycle that people with celiac disease can be cured by the Specific Carbohydrate Diet after being on it for a certain time period.