The Specific Carbohydrate Diet: Restoring Health Through Diet

1
The Specific Carbohydrate DietRestoring Health
Through Diet

• Detailed in the book
• Breaking the Vicious Cycle
• By Elaine Gottschall
• Internet Resources
• breakingtheviciouscycle.info
• pecanbread.com

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The Human GI Tract

• Food placed in the mouth is ground into finer
  particles by the teeth, moistened and lubricated
  by saliva and swallowed into the esophagus and
  carried by peristalsis to the stomach.
• The wall of the stomach is lined with millions of
  gastric glands. Three kinds of cells are found in
  the gastric glands parietal cells, "chief"
  cells, and mucus-secreting cells.
• Digestion within the small intestine produces a
  mixture of disaccharides, peptides, fatty acids,
  and monoglycerides. The final digestion and
  absorption of these substances occurs in the
  villi.
• Disaccharidases-These enzymes convert
  disaccharides into their monosaccharide subunits.
  
• Maltase hydrolyzes maltose into glucose.
• Sucrase hydrolyzes sucrose (common table sugar)
  into glucose and fructose.
• Lactase hydrolyzes lactose (milk sugar) into
  glucose and galactose.
• Fructose simply diffuses into the villi.

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The Human GI Tract

• The large intestine receives the liquid residue
  after digestion and absorption are complete. This
  residue consists mostly of water as well as
  materials (e.g. cellulose) that were not
  digested. It nourishes a large population of
  bacteria (the contents of the small intestine are
  normally sterile). Most of these bacteria are
  harmless. And some are actually helpful, for
  example, by synthesizing vitamin K. If the large
  intestine becomes irritated, it may discharge its
  contents before water reabsorption is complete
  causing diarrhea. On the other hand, if the colon
  retains its contents too long, the fecal matter
  becomes dried out and compressed into hard masses
  causing constipation.

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• Monosaccharides Glucose, fructose and
  galactose Fruits, most
  vegetables and honey.
• Disaccharides Lactose, sucrose,
  maltose and isomaltose
  Table sugar, lactose, maple syrup.
• Polysaccharides Amylopectin and amylose
  Potatoes, corn, rice, grains and grain
  alternatives such as quinoa and amaranth.

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The Vicious Cycle

• When carbohydrates are not fully digested and
  absorbed, they remain in the gut and become
  nutrition for the microbes. The microbes (both
  yeast and pathogenic bacteria) digest the unused
  carbohydrates through the process of
  fermentation, which produces gases such as
  methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and both lactic
  and acetic acids along with other toxins.
• The overgrowth of bacteria and yeast migrates
  into the small intestine and triggers a worsening
  cycle of gas and acid production, which further
  inhibits absorption and leads to yet more harmful
  by-products of fermentation.

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The Vicious Cycle

• The enzymes on the surface of the small
  intestines are destroyed by the bacteria, and
  this further disrupts the digestion and
  absorption of carbohydrates, leading to further
  bacterial overgrowth.
• The last step in carbohydrate digestion takes
  place at the minute projections called
  microvilli. Only those carbohydrates which have
  been properly processed by the enzymes embedded
  in the microvilli can cross over the barrier and
  enter the bloodstream.

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The Vicious Cycle

• As both the microbial flora and their by-products
  damage the mucosal layer of the small intestine,
  it is provoked to produce excessive protective
  mucous, which further inhibits digestion and
  absorption.
• Damage to the mucosal layer involves injury to
  the microvilli of the absorbtive cells. These
  microvilli act as the last barrier between the
  nutrition taken in and the bloodstream.
• As absorption is inhibited, folic acid and
  Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to impaired
  development of microvilli, while an abnormally
  thick layer of mucus prevents contact between
  microvilli enzymes and the carbohydrates
  ingested.

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The Vicious Cycle

• The small intestine responds to this spiraling
  irritation by producing more goblet
  (mucus-making) cells, creating yet more mucus.
• Finally as the goblet cells become exhausted, the
  intestinal surface is bare and is further
  damaged, and possibly ulcerated.
• As a result of this malabsorption, the caloric
  energy, vitamins and minerals are lost as all
  parts of the body are deprived of the proper
  nourishment.

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Breaking the Cycle- The SCD

• The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) limits food
  choices to foods that are easily digested,
  leaving no food sources for the microbes in the
  intestine.
• As the microbial population decreases due to lack
  of food, its harmful by-products also decrease,
  freeing the intestinal surface of injurious
  substances.
• No longer needing protection, the mucus-producing
  cells stop producing excessive mucus, and
  carbohydrate digestion is improved.

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Breaking the Cycle- The SCD

• Malabsorption is replaced by absorption. As the
  individual absorbs energy and nutrients, all the
  cells in the body are properly nourished
  including the cells of the immune system, which
  than can assist in overcoming the microbial
  invasion.
• The SCD also uses probiotics and yogurt to
  replenish the GI tract with beneficial bacteria.

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Foods Allowed on the SCD

• PROTEINS
  
  
  All
  fresh or frozen beef, lamb, pork, poultry, fish,
  and shellfish, eggs, natural cheeses (see BTVC
  for full list of allowed cheeses), homemade
  yogurt (recipe in BTVC) and dry curd cottage
  cheese.
• VEGETABLES
  
  
  Fresh or frozen
  (with no added sugar or starch). Artichoke (not
  Jerusalem type), asparagus, beets, dried white
  navy beans, lentils, split peas, broccoli,
  brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots,
  celery, cucumbers and dill pickles, eggplant,
  garlic, kale, lettuce of all kinds, lima beans,
  mushrooms, mustard, olives, onions, parsley,
  peas, pumpkin, spinach, winter and summer squash,
  string beans, tomatoes, turnips, watercress.
• FRUITS
  
  
  Raw,
  cooked, frozen, or dried apples, avocados,
  apricots, ripe bananas, berries of all kinds,
  cherries, fresh or unsweetened shredded coconut,
  loose dates that do not stick together,
  grapefruit, grapes, kiwi, kumquats, lemons,
  limes, mangoes, melons, nectarines, oranges,
  papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, prunes, dark
  raisins, rhubarb, and tangerines.
• NUTS
  
  
  Almonds, pecans,
  Brazil nuts, filberts, hazelnuts, walnuts,
  unroasted cashews and chestnuts. Peanut butter
  and other nut butters without any additives.
• BEVERAGES
  
  Tomato and vegetable juices.
  Tropicana 100 orange juice, Welchs grape juice,
  pineapple juice, apple cider, weak tea or coffee,
  herbal teas (peppermint and spearmint only).
  Milkshakes made with homemade yogurt, fruits and
  sweetened to taste with honey. Freshly squeezed
  vegetable or fruit juices made from the list of
  allowed foods.

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Foods Not Allowed on the SCD

• Processed meats, such as lunch meats, bologna,
  etc.
• Most store-bought products including baby food.
• Potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, cassava, corn.
• Soy beans, mung beans, fava, beans, garbanzo
  beans, bean sprouts, bean flour.
• Amaranth, quinoa, tapioca, oats, arrowroot, rice,
  buckwheat, millet, wheat, seaweed, xanthan gum.
• Canned vegetables and fruit.
• Store-bought nut and coconut milks. Instant
  coffee or tea, soft drinks.
• Roasted nuts, beer nuts, glazed nuts.
• Molasses, agar-agar, carrageenan, maple syrup.
• Store-bought jams, jellies, ketchup, mayonnaise,
  salad dressings.

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Homemade Vs. Store-bought

• There are a number of reasons why homemade items
  are necessary for SCD instead of the
  "convenient" store-bought items.
• The 2 rule There is a rule that allows some
  ingredients that constitute less than 2 of the
  total weight or volume unnecessary to report on
  the ingredient list. This can include sugar and
  other illegal ingredients, since these do not
  fall under the list of usual allergens.
• Store-bought products often pass through many
  sets of hands before they are put in the final
  package. For example, some juice concentrates can
  be made in one plant and then shipped to another
  plant where water is added and then they are
  bottled. The final producer can "honestly" say
  they did not add any illegals but what about the
  first producer of the concentrate. The original
  concentrate does not even have to be made in the
  same country as the final bottler.
• Commercial producers are not bound to report some
  of the ingredients listed in their foods. They
  can use processing aides, enzymes etc., that are
  used in the production of the food but are not
  technically an ingredient. When you make foods
  for your children you know "exactly" what you are
  putting into it.
• Buying foods such as cookies that are not listed
  on this site as suitable SCD products, can lead
  to trouble. Some producers may unintentionally
  use illegal ingredients. For example, a
  commercial producer uses honey that is not pure
  (i.e., cut with corn syrup) but includes honey on
  the ingredient list. The end result is that your
  child is unknowingly ingesting illegals.
• Some companies blatantly lie about the
  ingredients in their products.

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ASD Intro Diet - 2-5 Days

• Chicken broth
• Chicken broth with pureed cooked carrots
• Chicken broth with chunks of cooked chicken
• Chicken broth with cooked carrot sliced into
  little "coins"
• Chicken broth with "chicken balls" made from
  ground chicken
• Chicken broth with "noodles" made from beaten
  eggs cooked omelette-style into a "crepe" and
  then rolled up and thinly sliced
• Chicken egg-drop soup
• Chicken pancakes
• Roasted chicken
• Roasted turkey
• Hamburger patties
• Beef broth
• Beef broth with meatballs made from ground beef
• Eggs
• Scrambled, poached, hard-boiled, soft-boiled
  ,sunny side up, deviled eggs made with homemade
  mayo

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SCD - Beginner

• After the intro diet, foods should be introduced
  slowly.
• Good foods to introduce after the intro diet,
  include
• Applesauce
• Avocado
• Bananas-very ripe
• Butternut squash
• Green Beans
• Pear sauce
• Spinach
• Zucchini
• These foods should be peeled, deseeded as needed,
  and well cooked.
• Try to introduce one new food at a time.
  Otherwise, it will be impossible to figure out
  which food is causing a problem, if there are any
  problems.
• Keeping a food log/diary will be very helpful.

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SCD - Intermediate

• After the Beginner foods are well-tolerated,
  more variety can be added to the diet.
• All fruits and vegetables are appropriate at this
  point.
• But at the Intermediate stage, all foods should
  still be cooked, peeled and deseeded (as needed).
• Nut butters and nut flours can be introduced as
  well.
• Continue to introduce foods slowly, keeping a
  daily diary to keep track of progress.
• For those wishing to introduce goat yogurt and/or
  goat cheese, this can be done after the other
  foods (described above) are well-tolerated and
  behavior is stable.
• Yogurt can also be made from nut milks.
• Introduce yogurt slowly, starting with 1/4 tsp
  per day, gradually increasing intake.

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SCD - Advanced

• After the Intermediate foods are
  well-tolerated, more variety can be added to the
  diet.
• All fruits and vegetables are appropriate at this
  point.
• At the Advanced stage, raw foods can be
  cautiously added to the diet.
• Continue to introduce foods slowly, keeping a
  daily diary to keep track of progress.
• After raw foods are well tolerated, dried fruits
  such as raisins, dates, currents and fruit
  leather can be tried.
• Homemade jerky can also be introduced.
• After all allowed SCD foods are well tolerated,
  approved beans can be introduced into the diet.

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How Will I Get MY Child to Eat SCD Food?

• For the most picky eaters, the best results will
  probably come by finding a few SCD foods that are
  accepted before switching the child to SCD.
  Gradually phase out starchy foods, replacing them
  with SCD foods.
• Make a list of all the foods your child likes.
  Look for similarities among the foods on the
  list. Use those similarities to come up with a
  list of SCD items to try.
• Many parents find that once the starch is off
  the menu, their children actually begin to try
  new foods more willingly.

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Thinking Outside the Box

• Think creatively.
  Vegetables do not have to be served
  as is. Vegetables can be successfully hidden
  in hamburgers, meat loaf, chicken nuggets,
  spaghetti sauce, pancakes, muffins, cakes and
  cookies.
• Orange and green make brown.
  If you mix an orange
  vegetable with a green vegetable, the result will
  be brown and can be hidden in anything that will
  come out brown naturally, such as hamburgers and
  nut-based baked goods.

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SCD Tips and Tricks

• Get organized.
• Print recipes your child likes
• Prepare a weekly menu
• Prepare a weekly cooking schedule
• Prepare a weekly shopping list
• Store these items in two plastic 4x6 photo
  albums.
• Put the recipes in one and the other items in the
  other. This will keep all needed items together
  and ready to be used at all times.

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SCD Tips and Tricks

• Always have some SCD food prepared and handy.
  
• SCD baked goods freeze and thaw beautifully.
  Keep some extras on hand at all times. Nothing
  leads to cheating more than not having
  something ready when a child asks for food.
• Buy a good stainless steel Thermos.
• These are great for your childs school lunch and
  for going out to eat. They keep food hot for 4-5
  hours.
• Keep a current list of allowed foods posted on
  your refrigerator.
• This will keep other family members and
  caregivers informed and it will help prevent
  accidental cheating.

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SCD Tips and Tricks

• Schedule a time to speak with teachers,
  therapists and caregivers.
  
• Provide each person with information about the
  SCD and keep them updated on allowed foods OR
  keep them supplied with appropriate foods.
• Keep a food journal.
  Track
  foods eaten, behavior and stool information.
  This will help you to see what foods your child
  does and does not tolerate.
• Join the pecanbread Yahoo! group.
• Go to http//groups.yahoo.com/group/pecanbread
  to join. Being a member of a support group will
  help you to overcome the feeling of being alone
  and you will receive support and help from the
  members of the group.