Specific Carbohydrate Diet

Are any of you suffering from digestive problems such as Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's, IBS, ulcers or any other digestive problem? Well, I certainly know a lot of people who are and are taking tons of medications. I for one am not a huge fan of popping pills and am always trying to find more natural ways to cure illnesses. So while researching digestive diseases I came across a pretty interesting diet that seems to work quite well for a lot of people, getting them regular and helping them loose weight. So I did some research.

Here are the details:

1. Lactose free
2. Strict grain free
3. Sucrose free

Goal: Decrease excess sugars in the gut which promote bacterial overgrowth

Principle: Specifically selected carbohydrates that are easy to digest are eaten. People who suffer with digestive problems cannot digest all types of carbohydrates so the undigestive products cause harmful bacteria and products to flourish. When specific carbohydrates are chosen they are able to pass through the digestive system easily leaving nothing behind, thereby decreasing the bad bacteria in the gut and allowing the microvilli in the gut time to heal. No longer needing to be in the gut the mucous producing cells dry up and stop producing mucous. It harmonizes the bacterial flora in your gut!

What you can eat:

Meats: Eggs, Chicken, Turkey, Beef, Fish, Pork, Wild Game, Bacon, Lamb

Vegetables: Fresh or frozen of most commonly eaten vegetables are acceptable (asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, celery, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, kale, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, peas, peppers, pumpkin, spinach, squash, string Beans, tomatoes and watercress)

Fruits:  Fresh or Frozen or dried with nothing added are acceptable (apples, avocados, bananas (ripe with black spots), berries of all kinds, coconut, dates, grapefruit, grapes, kiwi fruit, kumquats, lemons, limes, mangoes, melons, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, prunes, raisins, rhubarb, tangerines)

Dairy: SCD Yogurt, natural 30 day aged Cow and Goat cheeses (not Kraft), Butter, Ghee, and Dry Curd Cottage Cheese.

Nuts: Almonds, Pecans, Brazil, Hazelnuts, Walnuts, Cashews, Chestnuts (no additives allowed)

Legumes: Peanuts, White beans, Navy Beans, Lentils, Split Peas, Lima beans, Kidney beans, Black beans

Spices: Most non-mixed spices are allowed, but always check for anti-caking agents,

Drinks: Weak tea or coffee, Water, Mineral Water, Club soda, Dry Wine, Gin, Rye, Scotch, Bourbon, Vodka

What you cannot eat:

Grains: Wheat, Barley, Corn, Rye, Oats, Rice, Buckwheat, Millet, Triticale, Bulgur, Spelt, Quinoa

Meats: Ham, Processed Sausages, sandwich meats, bratwurst, Hot dogs

Vegetables: Canned are not allowed due to the usual addition of sugars, processing aids and preservative chemicals.

Fruits: Canned and most fruit juices are not allowed due to the common addition of sweeteners, preservatives, and processing aids.

Legumes: Soybeans, chick peas, bean sprouts, mungbeans, fava beans, garbanzo beans

Dairy: Commercial yogurts, milk of any kind, unnatural cheeses, cottage cheese, cream cheese, Feta, Gejetost, Mozzarella, Neufchatel, Primost, Ricotta, Processed cheese spreads.

Starches/Tubers: Potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, arrowroot, parsnip, cornstarch, tapioca starch

Spices: No Curry powders and a lot of onion and garlic powders are filled with anti-caking agents. 

Drinks: Instant coffee, juices, milk, soda, sweet wines, flavoured liqueurs, brandy, sherry

Do not use sweeteners, sugars, agave. Honey is fine to use in small quantities. 

If any of you out there have tried this diet or are currently on this diet I would love to hear from you. I am going to try it out and see how I do!


I found this awesome book about the diet which goes into much further detail, providing recipes and detailed lists. I picked it up on Amazon. If you want to get a copy too I have put the link in below.