Specific Carbohydrate Diet
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet was developed by Dr. Sydney Valentine Haas and later popularized by biochemist Elaine Gottschall. The goal of this diet is to help people with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, diverticulitis, cystic fibrosis, and chronic diarrhea. Gottschall contends that “in the last hundred years, the increase of complex sugars and chemical additives in the diet has led to a huge increase in health problems ranging from severe bowel disorders to obesity and brain function disorders.”
The theory behind this approach is that complex carbohydrates and sugars are difficult to digest, and they fuel the overgrowth of yeast and bacteria in the gut, inhibiting digestion and nutrient absorption. The gut then becomes overloaded with toxic waste byproducts that cause damage and irritation. The diet works by starving out these bacteria and restoring the balance of microbial flora in the intestines.
The foods that are permissible on this diet roughly follow the hunter-gatherer approach to eating: meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, nuts, and low-sugar fruits.
Foods to include:
- Low-starch, low-sugar vegetables
- Low-starch, low-sugar fruits
- Meat
- Poultry
- Fish
- Eggs
- Butter
- Natural cheese
- Natural yogurt
- Black beans
- Lentils
- Nuts
- Healthy oils
Foods to avoid:
- Refined sugar
- Molasses, maple syrup, agave
- Stevia
- Chocolate and carob
- Processed foods
- Canned foods
- Grains
- Flours made from legumes
- White and sweet potatoes
- Turnips
- Milk, kefir, soymilk
- Processed cheeses
- Ice cream
- Soy
- Seeds, including quinoa, flax, and hemp
- Cured meats
- Algae
- Balsamic vinegar
- Miso
- Black-eyed peas
- Pinto beans
- Chickpeas
- Mungbeans
- Protein powder
- Beer
- Cornstarch, dextrose, guar gum, arrowroot, baking powder
- Boullion cubes or instant soup bases
- Agar agar, carrageenan, and pectin
- Ketchup
Pros:
- May heal digestive issues
- May improve skin
- May reduce brain fog
- May improve energy and relieve chronic fatigue
Cons:
- List of “illegal” foods may be intimidating
- May be difficult to stick to long-term
- May hinder social interaction
Sources:
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet www.breakingtheviciouscyle.info (Links to an external site.)
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet www.altmedicine.about.com (Links to an external site.).
