The Specific Carbohydrate Diet

[Carriefaith]

The specific carbohydrate diet is a gluten free, grain free, lactose free, low sugar, low carb diet.

It is recommened for individuals with celiac disease that have not responded well to the gluten free diet. (It is also recommended for a number of other things such as chrons disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS). Here is a website: Open Original Shared Link

I have read a lot of success stories about how the diet has worked and relieved symptoms for people with celiac, chrons, ulcerative colities /ect.

I am considering trying the diet in order to relieve my symptoms (I have been gluten free for almost 8 months with continuing symptoms) but it looks like a very hard diet to follow.

I was just wondering if anyone has tried the diet (or knows anyone who has tried it) and if it works.

Thanks for any responses

-Carrie

[lilliexx]

i havnt tried that one, but i am on a similar diet now. ( no starch, sugar, minimal dairy, no grain) and i feel ten times better now then i have during my 3 months being gluten free.

i was still having gas, bloating, every day and during the first three days of the new diet it stopped.

i think its a good idea to try a more strict diet, if the gluten free isnt working.

lillie

[wclemens]

Hi,

I am 60 years old and have dealt with symptoms of Celiac since the age of 8, though I didn't know then that what I had was Celiac. I am intolerant of all grains, milk & dairy products (casein and whey included), egg whites, and yeast. My symptoms present as Asthma, and I have been in the hospital so many times, but not anymore! I am now on The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet, written by Drs. Richard and Rachel Heller. I am almost five feet tall and weigh 106. Throughout my life I always used to struggle with my weight, but not anymore! The diet is low carb foods 23 hours a day, except for one hour called your "reward meal" when you can eat or drink whatever you like (of course within your own dietary restrictions).

I have so much energy I outlast those many years younger than I, and I have just applied to law school, after retiring from 25 years of teaching, so you can see that the diet is a good one, and is so pleasurable and easy to stick with.

I used to eat my one hour at night, then relax, but lately I have been eating it for breakfast, and taking advantage of the energy that eating fruits, etc. give me during my working hours at a local bakery, or on my writing career, etc.

I hope you find this helpful, and that you find the diet that gives you relief, energy, excitement, and enthusiasm for life. Welda

[travelthomas]

I read what they recomend and other than, rice and wild, no salt added canned salmon, I eat the diet. I do really good with the wild Alaskan canned salmon and see no problem with it. I don't do so good with some chicken meat, and I could not even imagin eating pork, or other meats loaded with hormones, chemicals, etc.

[Carriefaith]

Thanks everyone for your responses! I am considering eliminating other foods from my diet in order to feel better. I am just so tired of being sick I am almost willing to try anything at this point. If so many people are feeling better by elminating more foods than it must work!

-Carrie

Welda,

Thanks! I will definatley read up on the Carbohydrate Addict's Diet since it has worked so well for you.

[baldridgem]

I have been on SCD for 2 years now. I have IBS and celiac. It does work

I've had a lot of up and downs-trying to figure out what I can and can't eat.

I can't eat some of the legal foods on the diet-its trial and error. MaaryB

[AntiGluten]

Hey Carrie,

My mom and I both have been diagnosed with celiac for three years. We did gluten free for little over a year and still were not feeling all that great. We heard about the SCD and tried it out. I'd say after being on it for a couple weeks we were both feeling really great. One morning I felt like a 10 out of 10 for the first time in a couple years. But then we started introducing the yogurt, nut flour and meals. My mom has fybromyalgia (sp?) so that wasnt working to well for her cuz of the nuts, and I react to casein and eggs, so the wasn't working too well for me. We ended up stopping the diet, but lately I've been thinking about starting it up again, but limiting it further. I know it's slightly more difficult than just being gluten free (which is ridiculously easy in my opinion), but if you can do it, I highly recomend trying it for a few months.

[strack2004]

Hi, I have been on the SCD diet since July 30. I also have had some ups and downs due to errors in eating. And I also do not tolerate many of the legal items on the diet. Am lactose intolerant, Don't get along with the potato tomato family and find that cabbage family vegetables are troublesome. Speaking of chicken, I wonder if some chicken comes from broth added poultry. I hadn't thought of chicken as a problem, but will check it out . Just finished a package, so will wait awhile, but I have had more trouble during the past few days. My next step should really be an elimination diet , going down to a very few foods that I am quite sure don't bother me and adding others one at a time.

Another area of concern has been toothpaste. I know one can buy gluten-free toothpaste at health food stores, but so expensive. I tried baking soda and then salt. Someone on the board said that soda would cause me to get cavities. I ran that past my dentist last week. He said that soda should be fine, but salt has sugar in it! I wonder how much sugar could be in salt? and in any case, I rinse my mouth thoroughly with water and mouth wash after brushing. The whole area of shampoos and soaps, etc. is a difficult one. Actually, my problems are small since I use no cosmetics.

Back to SCD, I definitely sleep better and have more energy since being on the diet. I have not been formally diagnosed, but have had digestive problems since early childhood. I figure that if my villi are damaged, this has been going on for 70 odd years, maybe longer. And if this is not actually due to celiac, this diet is also designed for ibs and other digestive problems. My doctor is following my situation . I have been losing weight slowly but steadily, but he is not worried. And I like fitting into clothes I haven't worn in awhile. Cheers, Ruth S.

[Carriefaith]

I know it's slightly more difficult than just being gluten free (which is ridiculously easy in my opinion)

I know what you mean, the gluten free diet seems like heaven compared to the SCD. That's why I'm a little hesitant about trying it. I eat potatoes, rice, turnip, soy, and corn (ect.) and don't know if I could give them ALL up.

But.... the SCD does seem to work for most people. So I don't know....