Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)

[Woolygimp]

About the whole dehydration thing, it's actually my worst symptom and I can guarantee you that it's worth with me than most of you. I'm currently on fludrocortisone because I can eat all the salt in the world and without the fludrocortisone, my body does not hold on to either liquids or salt.

Without the fludrocortisone, I get horribly dry skin/mouth/eyes and polyuria... the fludrocortisone has been nothing short of a saving grace for me.

So now I take 0.1 twice daily and eat a lot of salt and stay hydrated and for the most part my symptoms are going away as long as I watch what I eat. If I get glutened/caseined then the fludrocortisone seems to lose it's effect and the symptoms come back. For the most part, my skin feels very good again, mouth/eyes water if I'm doing good.

Not much room for error though!

[AliB]

I think we just don't realise how dehydrated we are. When I think back to my health issues over the years I can see that a lot of it has been related to dehydration.

No I'm not nearly as bad as you are. Thank goodness you and your Doctors have figured out the problem and are able to address it.

[YoloGx]

About the whole dehydration thing, it's actually my worst symptom and I can guarantee you that it's worth with me than most of you. I'm currently on fludrocortisone because I can eat all the salt in the world and without the fludrocortisone, my body does not hold on to either liquids or salt.

Without the fludrocortisone, I get horribly dry skin/mouth/eyes and polyuria... the fludrocortisone has been nothing short of a saving grace for me.

So now I take 0.1 twice daily and eat a lot of salt and stay hydrated and for the most part my symptoms are going away as long as I watch what I eat. If I get glutened/caseined then the fludrocortisone seems to lose it's effect and the symptoms come back. For the most part, my skin feels very good again, mouth/eyes water if I'm doing good.

Not much room for error though!

Hi Woolygimp,

I was just reading about celiac and Addison's--and for what its worth, apparently it is speculated that John F. Kennedy likely had that combo. too. He also had what was diagnosed at the time as IBS, chronic diarrhea, migraines and osteoporosis besides the Addison's. Back then all they knew to treat him with was steroids.

Fortunately now more is known about celiac--and it appears following a gluten-free diet can help reduce the Addison's syndrome symptoms to some degree--and possibly can prevent it if its caught early enough. I am betting following the SCD and/or the Paleo or cave man diet (or some combination thereof) and staying off sugar will help even more than just the gluten-free diet.

I am wondering if using marshmallow root would also help. Its very non SCD--however it soothes the lining of the intestines and kidneys and takes down inflammation, both of which (when inflamed) would exacerbate salt and fluid loss due to the damaged villi in both organs.

I have a great deal of trouble absorbing enough minerals myself and though I don't have Addison's--my kidneys are at risk and I still have a low body temperature and low blood pressure and some osteoporosis and risk migraines and eczema if I eat the wrong things. Taking co-enzyme B vitamins daily have helped my nervous system (including my heart) revitalize so now I am much stronger than I was.

I am wondering if, with Addison's, you also take extra minerals too in general?

Bea

[Lynayah]

I went for an ultrasound today but as expected there was nothing out of the ordinary. Everything was where it should be and apparently as it should be. I didn't think it would achieve anything. They can't see through the ribs, and the problem I have is further up in my back and on my right side under the ribs.

Quite where I go from here I haven't a clue. Having waited 6 months for a non-materialising appointment that should only have taken 4-5 weeks due to the gross incompetence of my Doctor (!), I am back to square one.

I still think that this may well be SIBO, but it now seems that the tests for that aren't particularly good, mind you I suspect that it may be like the Celiac test where they have to set it at greater than 10 because some of the 'healthy' control group were found to have gluten antibodies (but then they might have 'silent Celiac!). Because they found evidence of SIBO in some healthy controls just may mean that many have it but are not (yet) displaying any symptoms!

I can't quite figure out why they even need to bother with the breath test - all they need to do is swab people's tongues first thing in the morning (well, they'd get a jolly good sample from mine!) and they will be able to figure out exactly what they are dealing with!

The water and salt is definitely what my body now needs, but that in itself is not enough to eject the little beggars.

I really don't want to go down the antibiotic route due to the almost certain probability of resistance so am just going to have to bombard them with whatever else I can get my hands on. I have just ordered some olive leaves and will get some grapefruit seed extract. I had some Citricidal at one point but I don't have a clue where that went to so will have to get some more.

I had a big mug of oregano and lapacho (pau d'arco) tea a while ago. Ugh. I took two oregano oil capsules at dinner and I have just had three garlic oil capsules (I just can't bring myself to eat it raw - last time my throat was on fire! Once you have it, it seems a very tough customer to eradicate.

I suspect that SIBO is probably behind the issues that many of us have with different sugars and carbs and other foods - whether it forms as a result of dehydration or whether it even contributes to it is something probably as yet unknown. It is undoubtedly still driven one way or another by the Western diet.

AliB,

Might you have time to post the titles of any books you've read regarding water, salt sole, SIBO, etc.? I would like to learn more. If you've already mentioned some titles here, kindly forgive my not being able to sort through all the posts. Perhaps an update? Thank you so much, AliB!

[Lynayah]

I think we just don't realise how dehydrated we are. When I think back to my health issues over the years I can see that a lot of it has been related to dehydration.

No I'm not nearly as bad as you are. Thank goodness you and your Doctors have figured out the problem and are able to address it.

I drink sooooo much water, yet I still have problems. I was looking at my legs this morning, and GOOD GRIEF, they look like reptile skin. Some nights I awaken so thirsty I can hardly stand it.

I have been tested, and I'm not diabetic. The thirst is not from that.

I am hoping the salt sole drink I now take each day will continue to help -- the first 24 hours on it was amazing. I do not know if it was a coincidence, but the constipation I was having completely cleared. What a relief this was!

Okay, so all that said, I feel I need to add that I am wondering if this thread has strayed a bit off topic. The water, salt, etc. discussed here is not really about SCD.

AliB, might you consider starting another thread that is about water and salt? If there already is one, please let me know . . . and please PM me if you start a thread; the topic is important (perhaps even more important than we realize at this point).

Thanks for being on the leading edge of things.

Lyn

[AliB]

Hi Lyn,

I suppose that the water and salt thing is a bit off-topic, but then it is still 'food' as such - I don't think that either are SCD illegal!

I will start a thread if you like - those that run this website already know that I am a bit 'off the wall' so they probably won't be that surprised!

Mind you, dehydration does seem to be a big problem for Celiacs and gluten intolerants.

[Lynayah]

Hi Lyn,

I suppose that the water and salt thing is a bit off-topic, but then it is still 'food' as such - I don't think that either are SCD illegal!

I will start a thread if you like - those that run this website already know that I am a bit 'off the wall' so they probably won't be that surprised!

Mind you, dehydration does seem to be a big problem for Celiacs and gluten intolerants.

If you do start one (either way is fine), please post the link here.

A question: I notice in other threads you also discuss Candida and the relationship it may have to gluten-intolorance, as well as other disorders.

Have you, or has anyone here, put together a list that combines the foods from a Candida diet and the Specific Carbohydrate diet? Or perhaps do you know of a source of one?

I imagine the list would be very limiting -- basically low-carb veggies and protein foods, as well as the homemade yogurt. I haven't studied it enough to know at this point, and if a list exists that would be nice. Anyone know?

[AliB]

Sorry Lyn, as I suspected might happen, the thread I started on water and salt has been moved to the gab/chat room and has been pulled to pieces.

Anyone would think that I had suggested drinking bleach and taking arsenic! The fact that a very small percentage of people have not done things sensibly and have been very ill or died as a result seems to be totally overshadowing the fact that half the population is getting sick due to dehydration! So it's obviously better not to drink enough than to drink too much??? Wouldn't drinking about the right amount be a much more sensible thing to do all around?

I'm not surprised at the reaction - knowing the problems I had getting the SCD thread off the ground..........

Sometimes it's all just too much effort.

Anyway, if you want to look at my answer to your question, that is where the thread is.

How are you getting on with the SCD? Is it helping?

[Lynayah]

Sorry Lyn, as I suspected might happen, the thread I started on water and salt has been moved to the gab/chat room and has been pulled to pieces.

Anyone would think that I had suggested drinking bleach and taking arsenic! The fact that a very small percentage of people have not done things sensibly and have been very ill or died as a result seems to be totally overshadowing the fact that half the population is getting sick due to dehydration! So it's obviously better not to drink enough than to drink too much??? Wouldn't drinking about the right amount be a much more sensible thing to do all around?

I'm not surprised at the reaction - knowing the problems I had getting the SCD thread off the ground..........

Sometimes it's all just too much effort.

Anyway, if you want to look at my answer to your question, that is where the thread is.

How are you getting on with the SCD? Is it helping?

Hi,

If there was a link in your post, it has been removed.

SCD is definitely helping, as long as I can STAY on it! <laughing>

Today, I went to my cousin's health food store grand opening . . . and wouldn't you know it, she made gluten-free cake with me in mind . . . and how could I not try it?

It was a bit of a mistake, but probably not too bad. I find that if I blow the SCD rules the symptoms often last only a day or two - nothing like if I blow it on gluten, which takes about a week and is horrific.

I haven't done the starter diet, but I probably should. Right now, I seem to be sensitive to eggs and maybe honey.

Chicken, organic hamburger, brocolli, butternut squash - these all seem to be excellent for me right now. I've also been able to eat Glutenfreeda oatmeal, which is illegal on SCD -- no problems with it. I add cooked apples and cooked blueberries and really enjoy it . . .

But I am thinking that candida might also be an issue, so I'm not sure if the fruit, etc. is the best in fighting it.

Oh my goodness, so many issues . . . so little time!

Thank you once again for being out there, trying your best, etc.

Lyn

[AliB]

If Candida is an issue, I think you will find that the diet will deal with it eventually. It does take time, but at least it is working in the right direction.

Whilst I feel that there is something a bit more problematic living in me that will take some pretty strong stuff to eradicate, I do seem to have pretty well, through the diet gradually been able to get Candida under control.

I certainly am not the walking fungus-factory that I used to be - slathering the Canesten on every five minutes. All my external symptoms of Candida et al have either gone or have virtually gone which is great, and that gives me confidence that the internal ones are well on their way too.

This other issue is pretty much the only thing standing between me and better health. I am throwing herbs and garlic and stuff at it which does seem to be doing something so hopefully I will get the better of it (them) eventually.

Certainly I am in a far better place as a result of the diet than I was 20 months ago. Being hardly able to eat anything, let alone gluten, was not a good place to be. Now I can eat pretty much anything 'legal' and occasionally an illegal treat.

I won't ever go back to eating the carbs in any quantity - not now I have realised what damage they are doing to everyone.

I have had issues with carbs and a poor digestive system for many years along with weight gain, hypos, IBS, Candida, etc., and most of that time and especially since being diagnosed diabetic 12 years ago I spent most of that time feeling sorry for myself - why me? Why can other people eat all this yummy stuff and I can't? You know the stuff.

Having my digestion finally collapse has actually been the best thing that could have happened. All the research and knowledge I have gained since has made me realise just how damaging the Western diet is, and that so many people are suffering with so many illnesses and diseases as a result of following it.

Now I no longer feel sorry for myself, I feel sorry for everyone else who is still 'enslaved' to it! It is jolly liberating, I can tell you!

[Ms Jan]

Hi Ali,

Yes, I also think in some ways the total break down of my system has turned out to be a blessing, because at least I was forced to figure out what was wrong with me, and not just to keep on struggling and juggling health issues as I had hitherto done all my life. Only I wish it hadn't taken me 5 years to figure out I had celiac and a lot of damage on top of it. So much wasted time!! But I guess that is part of what makes it so easy for me to keep my very restrictive diet now: the improvements are so enormous that there is simply no choice.

I think at the moment of the 'system break down', there are so many issues involved that it becomes a long route to figure out and address each one. Like you, I think it's essential to consider the healing an ongoing work into which must figure a plethora of considerations: basic diet, candida (and other SIBO & parasites), leaky gut, acidity, toxic overload and thus cleansing of the organs, hydration etc - and on top of this comes the specific issues, such as your diabetes, and for me the malaria that still resides in my liver. I believe the SCD over time addresses most issues, except those very specific personal 'other diseases' we might carry.

I do hope you'll soon figure out what's the last issue that prevents your healing. Have you thought whether the occasional 'straying' from the SCD could be part of it, as this might give the bad bugs something to survive on ever so often ? (Just a thought, since my own experience was how essential it was for me to weed out even the sligthest trace of something SCD illegal in my supplements).

Also, I found this link on a Swedish study of phenols. And though the study was made on autistic children, I thought there was a lot of interesting information, about the damages toxins do to us as well as about candida, leaky gut and again a confirmation on the benefits of low-carb:

Open Original Shared Link

Could high toxicity be part of that last issue of yours?

Hi Lyn,

as you can see from the above, depending on your issues there might not be one clear-cut route to follow. We're all different and what works for one person might be detrimental for another. However, it's pretty simple to add the candida-diet to the SCD, as it's just to remove all sweets, incl. honey and sweet fruits, alcohol, as well as dairy. Go as simple as you possibly can with the diet: vegetables, whole nuts, unprocessed meats, fish and non-sweet fruits. Add in a good SCD legal probiotics and if you're sure you have candida issues add also one or two basic anti-fungals, and decide you're in for the long haul. As your body cleans up, you'll gradually figure out what else is going on, which other intolerances you might have, or if you have other issues blocking you. It's no quick fix, but I do believe it's the only way to real lasting recovery (unless of course, one deals with other diagnosable/treatable ailments).

good luck!

[AliB]

Hi Jan, you may be right about the straying bit to a certain extent but because I am on such a low carbohydrate diet, having the occasional square of very bitter chocolate or an odd rice cake or two is, I am sure not going to be a huge issue - I have been able to get the Candida under control perfectly well, but this is something else.

Bacteria and yeasts feed on the food we eat, other things feed on us. As long as we feed, they feed! Sometimes we have things to deal with that the diet alone is not enough.

Despite this, in general I am a lot better than I was two years ago, and that wouldn't have happened were it not for the diet.

[lovegrov]

AliB, carbs are doing damage to EVERYONE? I don't think so.

richard

[AliB]

Hi Richard. Anyone who has followed my previous posts over the last two years will realise that I am referring to the generally obnoxious highly processed, high sugar rubbish that passes for food on our supermarket shelves.

It is also a 'greater or lesser degree' thing too. Some may 'get away with' more than others.

We have such a high and rapidly growing element of Diabetes, obesity and other carb-metabolism related health issues, issues that many cultures still largely untouched by our Western diet don't suffer with to any great degree - or even at all.

Robert Lustig, the eminent pediatrician couldn't understand why he was getting so many obese 6 month-old babies in his clinic. When he investigated he realised that much of the baby formulas contain high-fructose corn syrup. It also features very highly in soft drinks and squashes. He worked out that a child consuming an average container of coke or similar drink a day was likely to gain at least 50lbs of weight in a year.

High-fructose corn syrup is also a carbohydrate. It is used in much of the processed stuff.

There are many good carbohydrates - fruit, vegetables, some grains, a little honey, and, if one can tolerate it even some good whole grain bread. The problem comes from the sheer quantity of the processed stuff that people put away each day - the cereals, the bread, the pies, pasties, rolls, bagels, cakes, cookies, crackers, fries, crisps, pizza, pasta, desserts, sweets, sugar in its many guises, beer, etc., etc. Many people are stuffing carbs from the minute they get up to the minute they go to bed!

It may seem a controversial statement, but yes, I do believe that we are all affected adversely in some way - to a greater or lesser degree, either sooner or later, by our 'normal' Western diet.

Diabetes is a carb and sugar-metabolism related issue, as is in many cases weight gain and obesity, as I mentioned, but even some cancers can be fuelled by sugar. Yeast and fungal issues are fuelled by sugar and carbs. Now I have limited my carb intake the Candida is history. Many who aren't diagnosed as diabetic still suffer, like I did for years before becoming diabetic, with blood sugar related hypos, mood swings, anxiety and other issues - even depression.

Sugar, and anything that turns to sugar in the body needs a lot of water for digestion and processing. So carbohydrates, albeit inadvertently, if consumed in quantity could potentially contribute to dehydration and the issues that causes within the body.

Yes, some cultures not touched by our diet do consume a fair amount of carbohydrate (some also exist quite healthily on a carbohydrate-free diet, too), but it is not processed and it is unlikely to contain sugar in any quantity apart from perhaps the natural sugars found in fruit and honey. It is also only in recent times that some cultures have started to eat much in the way of sweet food, and that only because of our Western influence. But where the Western diet goes, you can pretty much guarantee that our Western diseases will be hard on its heels.

Whilst I rarely eat anything sweet apart from an occasional treat made with ground almonds or coconut that I bake myself, my husband does have some bought gluten-free cookies. It makes me angry when I see the amount of carbohydrate in them compared to that in wheat-based cookies and biscuits, well, especially the ones made and sold here in the UK (I can't comment on what is sold elsewhere).

He also is borderline diabetic but has no control over the amount of carbs in these things, and especially the sugar, only over how much of them he eats. I make as much as I can myself with as little sugar as possible, or preferably honey because I then have control over how much carbohydrate is in it.

My daughter and my grandsons are not diabetic, neither do they appear to have any obvious issues with gluten as such but I see how they are affected by carbohydrates. They all have blood-sugar issues. If our eldest grandson (8) has a carb snack before bed, he wakes up like the Tasmanian Devil in the morning! Without the carb he is absolutely fine. Our daughter suffers with mood swings and fatigue when she has had too much carbohydrate. Our youngest grandson (6) is showing signs of systemic fungal infestation and I know from personal experience that that is driven by carbohydrates.

I see many other friends and family who very obviously have issues with carbohydrates. I see diabetic friends with uncontrollable diabetes and horrendous complications due to carbohydrates. They have followed the 'accepted' Medical advice to eat plenty of carbs (although that is beginning to change now - even the AMA has advised reduction in carb intake for diabetics) and have paid the price.

The whole ethos of the SCD is relatively low-carb, and any carbs that are consumed come from natural unprocessed sources which is why it has helped so many people to recover. So many on this forum have issues not just with gluten-based carbs but with other carbohydrate foods too, particularly processed ones, and only by dumping them have they been able to gradually claw back their health.

[fig girl]

Hi Michelle,

Thanks!

Yes, grape fruit was my main fruit the first many months. I'd either peel it and eat it as an orange, or more often, blend it with water for a pulpy and very fresh juice. Sometimes I'd add cucumber or other greens for a really healthy cocktail. Strangely, despite its sweetness I've always also been able to digest pineapple, and it even seems to have a good effect on me; I think it's because it contains the enzyme bromelain. Papaya sounds like a good choice, they're easy on the stomach - they're hardly ever available in Denmark where I am now, but when in the US, I eat them. I've developed an allergy to melons, but if you can tolerate watermelon it's such a wonderful fruit that's normally very easy to digest. I also have kiwis, and in smaller amounts raspberries and blueberries. More recently, I've been able to add strawberry, mango, and grapes, but these are sweeter so be careful with these, particularly the grapes, until you can manage more fructose.

And remember, whichever the fruit, it's much easier to digest on an empty stomach so have it alone - or before rather than after a meal.

As to water with baking soda and salt, I hope Ali can chip in?

Hope you get better!

Thanks Jan!

I appreciate the non-sweet fruit suggestions and info. I bought a papaya the other day and am waiting for it to ripen before i try it - i've got to remember to try it alone...thanks! From me following a low carb SCD diet the last 3 weeks I've noticed more die-off symptoms than when just starting SCD i think because i consumed carrots, bananas and goat yogurt from the beginning. I'm thinking the higher carb SCD legal foods were keeping the candida/yeast going. The first week of my recent new regime i felt fatigue, had a few headaches, irritability, joint pain and foggy brain, etc. but my stomach very quickly stopped hurting. Maybe the high carb foods were causing the gastritis/stomach erosion from feeding the candida.

I tried a little tiny taste of coconut oil the 2nd week and felt more joint pain, fatigue, fogginess so i think it just creates a big die-off reaction. I've also tried stir-fried cabbage and the same day i had stopped the carafate (w/illegal sorbitol) and i developed a rash on my wrists. Sorry if i've already mentioned this in my previous post also. From what i've read rashes can be caused by die-off. It could have been a reaction to completely stopping the carafate or a combination of both. I know when i started the carafate i would periodically get hot, itchy feet and hands at night. This rash comes at night also and my feet and hands will itch at the same time. It happened the same time every night for a while but now it's still at night but not quite the exact same time. I've also soaked in an epsom salt bath a few times and when i got out (first one was the worst) i had the itchy feet and hands and the rash on my wrists up the inside of my arms, abdomen and upper thighs.

Evidently it's taking me to only eat the very low carb SCD foods to start killing the beasties. I've felt better and can tell it's helping me. Tonight i tried 1 T of steamed then pureed cauliflower with a little olive oil so i'll see how that goes. The rash has appeared and i'm itchy but that's been happening pretty much every night - sometimes worse than others. Hopefully my tummy will feel ok with the cauliflower.

I found some seagate olive leaf extract capsules at one of the health food stores and it says it has no fillers or anything else so i think it'll be ok. I'll wait a little longer since i seem to be having pretty big die-off reactions.

Hopefully i'm making some progress! Fingers crossed! Oh and i found where i had read about the baking soda in water (on healingbybee or pecanbread - can't remember exactly) but it states the baking soda buffers the acid - it does seem to help me.

Hope you're still doing well!

Michelle

[fig girl]

Lucky girls! All I really seem to tolerate as far as fruit goes are lemons...which I sweeten with stevia to make lemonaide. I keep wondering if it is or is not a fructose allergy... I am actually OK these days with (gads!) brown rice! If it was just candida et al I am betting this would not be the case.

Bea

Hi Bea,

I'm similar to you also....no fruit for me right now. Not even lemons...the last time i tried them they irritated my stomach but with me switching to the lower SCD carbs my tummy feels much better so i hope i'm healing more and soon will be able to tolerate some of the non-sweet fruits.

I hope your new regime is helping you heal more! I've seen your new thread and will come visit over there too if you don't mind since you may not see this.

Michelle

[YoloGx]

Hi Bea,

I'm similar to you also....no fruit for me right now. Not even lemons...the last time i tried them they irritated my stomach but with me switching to the lower SCD carbs my tummy feels much better so i hope i'm healing more and soon will be able to tolerate some of the non-sweet fruits.

I hope your new regime is helping you heal more! I've seen your new thread and will come visit over there too if you don't mind since you may not see this.

Michelle

Thanks Michelle. I still look at the SCD thread; just not as much involvement.

Its hard not having fruit--but in actuality for some of us, even harder with it. Just the breaks I guess... I used to not have lemons either but eventually discovered they were fine for me. However when I was on the antibiotics, once again I could not tolerate them. Taking massive doses of enterically coated acidophilus plus marshmallow root turned that around again. But like I said, the brown rice is now agreeing with me these days. Nevertheless, I think going off all grains for 10 months helped me. Just right now I need to eat less meat and more vegetables and a bit of rice or squash and the yogurt and sunflower seeds...Still haven't ventured into eating lentils again. Should try them again one of these days...

Bea

[AliB]

I think I have discovered why some of us get a gassy reaction to the yogurt.

Apparently lactobacillus bacteria produce hydrogen peroxide when they come in contact with pathogenic bacteria and beasties in their work of overcoming them. Once they have dealt with them the gas should abate.

There are quite a few studies and references on this - most seem to refer to the lack of these friendly bacteria in connection with bacterial vaginosis (so the old-wives-tale of using a yogurt d%$#@#$ wasn't so stupid after all!), but it obviously works well in the digestive tract to counteract pathogens.

Another good reason why it is such an intrinsic part of the SCD. Other lactobacillus products like fermented cabbage etc. probably work just as well if yogurt can't be tolerated, but perhaps the intoleration reaction is not the yogurt itself but the effect it is having on the unwanted beasties.

[breavenewworld]

i took a blood test for food intolerance and came up very high for cow and goat milk (and egg). should i try to make the yogurt? also i dont have a source for goats milk anywhere near where i live. can i make the yogurt with store-bought goat yogurt? or can you not re-yogurt yogurt...

(i could get goat yogurt at trader joes)

[Lynayah]

i took a blood test for food intolerance and came up very high for cow and goat milk (and egg). should i try to make the yogurt? also i dont have a source for goats milk anywhere near where i live. can i make the yogurt with store-bought goat yogurt? or can you not re-yogurt yogurt...

(i could get goat yogurt at trader joes)

You might want to read Breaking the Vicious Cycle (Specific Carbohydrate Diet book) before deciding. Also, you might want to look at her website at Open Original Shared Link -- there are links there to SCD physicians, support groups/forums, etc.

[chatycady]

I think I have discovered why some of us get a gassy reaction to the yogurt.

Apparently lactobacillus bacteria produce hydrogen peroxide when they come in contact with pathogenic bacteria and beasties in their work of overcoming them. Once they have dealt with them the gas should abate.

There are quite a few studies and references on this - most seem to refer to the lack of these friendly bacteria in connection with bacterial vaginosis (so the old-wives-tale of using a yogurt d%$#@#$ wasn't so stupid after all!), but it obviously works well in the digestive tract to counteract pathogens.

Another good reason why it is such an intrinsic part of the SCD. Other lactobacillus products like fermented cabbage etc. probably work just as well if yogurt can't be tolerated, but perhaps the intoleration reaction is not the yogurt itself but the effect it is having on the unwanted beasties.

I read somewhere they way to determine if bad reactions to yogurt is die off or intolerance is to freeze some yogurt. Freezing kills the cultures. If one reacts to the frozen yogurt - it's an intolerance. If one doesn't - it's die off. And the yogurt it doing it's job getting rid of the unwanted "beasties" as you call them!

I eat 2 to 4 servings every day and am doing well. Next month I go back to the Dr. and find out if I have reversed osteopenia - or at least held my own.

[breavenewworld]

thank u lynayah! ok i've decided to jump on board and will start the diet in one week!

chatycady-i'm working on reversing osteopenia as well- good luck at the doc!!

what brand of honey do you guys use on SCD? i heard raw was best? i'm a little nervous i'll buy a brand that was harvested by a wheat field and get reactions...

[chatycady]

thank u lynayah! ok i've decided to jump on board and will start the diet in one week!

chatycady-i'm working on reversing osteopenia as well- good luck at the doc!!

what brand of honey do you guys use on SCD? i heard raw was best? i'm a little nervous i'll buy a brand that was harvested by a wheat field and get reactions...

I haven't been able to find unpasturized honey. I just buy the more expensive honey at the store that is harvested just across the river - local honey producer. I don't buy the cheap wal-mart kind.

Just be careful - too much honey can give you bad reactions at first. I ate the yogurt plain the first couple of days. When I had no reaction I celebrated big time!!! Then added honey. I had been without dairy for over a year and missed cottage cheese, cream cheese, etc. etc. I was so thankful (and still am) that I can tolerate the yogurt. It is really delicious.

I use 1/2 and 1/2 to make mine. I need extra fat and calories right now. It makes great frozen yogurt too, and salad dressings, and breads, and check out Carol's Cauliflower recipe on the SCD website.

[MKLP]

I am new to this forum and still trying to get the hang of it. I started reading the first few pages of this thread and realized that there is 160 pages so I apologize if my question has already been addressed. I am going to be attempting the SCD but just wondering if anyone knows if taking the chia seed

(it won't let me put the other name for it starts with 's')

is okay while on this diet.

[Gobbie]

IMO the SCD would be worth a try. The lactose problem would fit. The hard to digest foods, grains and potatoes, would also fit. The fact that you are still having a lot of symptoms in spite of gluten-free for some time fits.

Sparkling drinks--do they contain sugar? Does 100% fruit juice (confirmed no sugar added) cause problems?

Carrots are high in fructose, so you could think through the symptoms of fructose intolerance. Search this thread for it, there are some posters who also have fructose intolerance. On another SCD forum, I learned that a subset of people on SCD have trouble with the carrots at first, even though it is an intro food.

The SCD could eliminate quite a bit of stress on your gut, and allow some of the other intolerances to ease over time. You might have to stay pretty basic for awhile, until you find your *safe foods* and stay on that long enough to start to heal.

Perhaps you might find reading BTVC useful??

May I ask what IMO is?

Google is not helping much and I never heard those terms before.

Do they include having diarrhea, abd pain/discomfort/cramp, bloating after eating non allergen food?

Sparkling drinks whether they are DIET or normal, I react to them. I allergic to saccharine too.

Sugary juices also make me really dizzy and confuses my gut. I can't tell whether I am hungry or not.

I am ok with fresh fruits and they are included in my daily diet. They are easy to digest and settles my mind, giving me somewhat peace.

Though carrots are high in fructose, right? Maybe I am not that friendly with fructose.. so having that a high amount at one ago (via carrots) causes problems?

This problem has been with me for quite a few months now.. soon to reach a year.

I am waiting for blood test results to come back and hoping they have spotted a cause for it. I would rather have a long list of causes/diseases than nothing cos otherwise I don't know what else to do next..

Thank you so much for your detailed info. Thank you.