[snoopy]

Hi everyone!Has anyone ever tried the "specific carbohydrate diet" which is written about in the book "Breaking the Vicious Cycle...intestinal health through diet" by Elaine Gottschall? I think food plays such a crucial role in controlling IBS symptoms and have been on my own search for answers since being diagnosed with IBS this past March. I also found out I had many food intolerances. When I read Elaine's book it was like she was describing what was happening inside my body for me. I have lost 20 pounds since March and have been walking around with a coffee perculator for a stomach (lots of rumblings, noises, excess intestinal gas and bloating). I am fortunate in that I don't have any abdominal pain or the necessity to either go to the bathroom a lot, or not at all...I have diarrhea maybe once or twice a week, then regular bowel movements. I have been on Elaine's 'diet' for 2 weeks now and have noticed a significant improvement in my intestinal gas. I use the term 'diet' loosely, because what she advocates doesn't strike me as too crazy...just eating mostly fruits, veggies, meats/fish/poultry, most cheeses...but removing all grains/starches and sugars except for honey from the diet. My weight has stabilized...thank god, and according to Elaine, underweight people who start her diet tend to gain, overweight people tend to lose. My doctor is watching me closely on this and so am I. According to Elaine if you don't notice an improvement in your gastrointestinal health within 1 month on the diet, then it probably isn't for you. A 1 month trial doesn't seem too out of line either. This diet has helped thousands of people with chron's, colitis and IBD, so it should surely provide some relief to IBS'ers as well. This "SCD" program was written about several years ago, so I am wondering if anyone here has tried it and what their experiences were with it??? Thanks everyone!Snoopy

 

[JeanG]

Hi Snoopy:I don't have an answer for you, but wanted to welcome you to the Board. People have don't pretty extensively about diets here but not that particular one.Since it's the day before Thanksgiving people are probably going to be slow to answer, so try to bump your post up a few times until someone answers.Have a happy Thanksgiving. Jean------------------"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." Babe Ruth. And I'm also Praying with Bettie for a cure for this NASTY IBS! Jean

 

[cyndeeb]

Hi, and welcome I tried the diet from fit for life but had d every morning, ugh.I have since tried to cut out most fruits and veggies, its hard becuase I love live foods

 

[Guest]

Never heard of it, but sounds promising to me. When was it written, and does it have any results published in the book? (reports of people who tried the diet)Thanks!

 

[snoopy]

It was written in 1994 I believe and there is a website dedicated to people on the diet at www.inform.dk/djembe/scd. There are testimonials on this site, along with a recipe exchange and bulletin board for you to read. According to these people, the SCD way of eating has helped many people with IBS/IBD and Chron's/Colitis. People that were much worse off then some of us with IBS (although that seems tough to say some days!!). I will continue the diet for a 1 month trial and if I don't notice any improvement then I will stop. The site also has background info. on the author that is comforting (ie. she has a masters in food science from "Rutgers University" and spent 4 years investigating the effects of various sugars on the digestive tract with the "University of Western Ontario"...a well respected university in Canada. In other words, she is not 'some quack'. She has spent her whole life studying the effects of food on the body/digestive system. Even if no one wants to try this, I will let you all know how I fare on it! It would be nice to have someone else with IBS to compare notes with, however!!! Happy US thanksgiving from a "Canuck"....

 

[flux]

Actually, her whole life's "research" is just one paper that only indirectly touches on the subject.