The Specific Carbohydrate Diet
By
Cathy Wong, About.com Guide
Updated February 02, 2008
What is the Specific Carbohydrate Diet
The specific carbohydrate diet is a strict grain-free, lactose-free and sucrose-free diet that was designed for people with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The specific carbohydrate diet was developed by Sydney Valentine Haas, MD. Elaine Gottschall helped to popularize the diet after using it to help her daughter recover from ulcerative colitis. Gottschall continued research on the diet and later wrote her own book,
Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet.
What is the Premise of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet?
Dr. Haas' theory was that carbohydrates, being forms of sugar, could promote and fuel the growth of bacteria and yeast in the intestines, causing an imbalance and eventual overgrowth of bacteria and yeast. He believed bacterial overgrowth could impair enzymes on the intestinal cell surface from functioning and prevent the proper digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. This would cause the carbohydrates to remain undigested in the intestines and provide even more fuel for bacteria and yeast.
Toxins and acids could then be formed by the bacteria and yeast and injure the lining of the small intestine. Excessive mucus could be produced as a defense mechanism against the irritation caused by toxins, acids and undigested carbohydrates.
According to Dr. Haas, a number of illnesses could then develop from this altered digestive balance:
- Crohn's disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Celiac disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Chronic diarrhea
- Spastic colon
Dr. Haas designed the specific carbohydrate diet to correct the imbalance by restricting the carbohydrates available to intestinal bacteria and yeast. Only carbohydrates that he believed to be well absorbed are consumed on the diet so that intestinal bacteria have nothing to feed on. This, he proposed, would help correct the bacterial overgrowth and related mucus and toxin production.
Digestion and absorption of nutrients could then improve, leading to improved nutritional status. Immune system function could then improve.
Proponents of the diet claim there is an 80% recovery rate for Crohn's disease and a 95% recovery rate for diverticulitis.
They also say that improvement could occur after as little as three weeks and that full recovery was possible for many people with diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome and celiac disease after one year. There isn't reliable evidence, however, that confirms these recovery rates or suggests that it's effective.
What Does the Specific Carbohydrate Diet Involve?
- Foods to avoid
- Canned vegetables
- Canned fruits, unless they are packed in their own juices
- All cereal grains, including flour
- potatoes, yams, parsnips, chickpeas, bean sprouts, soybeans, mung beans, fava beans, and seaweed
- Processed meats, breaded or canned fish, processed cheeses, smoked or canned meat
- Milk or dried milk solids
- Buttermilk or acidophilus milk, commercially prepared yogurt and sour cream, soymilk, instant tea or coffee, coffee substitutes, beer
- Cornstarch, arrowroot or other starches, chocolate or carob, boullion cubes or instant soup bases, all products made with refined sugar, agar agar, carrageenan or pectin, ketchup, ice cream, molasses, corn or maple syrup, flours made from legumes, baking powder, medication containing sugar, all seeds
- Fresh and frozen vegetables and legumes
- Fresh, raw, or dried fruits
- Fresh or frozen meats, poultry, fish, eggs
- Natural cheeses, homemade yogurt, dry curd cottage cheese
Further Information
The website
The Specific Carbohydrate Web Library has information about the diet, including research, case studies, resources and more.
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Specific Carbohydrate Diet - What Is The Specific Carbohydrate Diet
Cathy Wong
Alternative Medicine Guide since 2000
Specific Carbohydrate Diet for Crohn's, Colitis, IBD & IBS
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