The Specific Carbohydrate Diet
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is most popularized by Elaine Gottschall (author of Breaking the Vicious Cycle- Intestinal Health through Diet). Read her story here:
Breaking the Vicious Cycle
The SCD diet is a good basis for those diagnosed with SIBO but needs a couple alterations to succeed in starving the small intestinal bacteria while nourishing the person. Taking the low vs high FODMAP foods into account will help reduce the foods that feed the overgrowth of bacteria.
The SIBO specific diet alone can starve the bacteria slowly, compared to “quick” options such as antibiotics and the Elemental Diet - BUT THE PERSON CAN FEEL SOOOOO MUCH BETTER QUICKLY JUST WITH DIET. When diet alone is used to treat SIBO, this approach may take 1 ½ to 3 years (or longer). Antibiotic and Herbal anti-biotics can significantly reduce this time. However since the small intestine's wall itself is significantly damaged after a bout of SIBO, 3-6 months on the SIBO specific diet is recommended to restore the gut before adding non SIBO specific foods. The Cedar-Sinai diet and the Low FODMAPS diet can be used for prevention of recurrence after SIBO is irradicated. Every person has different triggers. If you know your triggers, don’t do it!
For a list of food of legal and illegal foods on the SCD diet, click on this link:
Health through Diet: SCD food list
Breaking the Vicious Cycle
The SCD diet is a good basis for those diagnosed with SIBO but needs a couple alterations to succeed in starving the small intestinal bacteria while nourishing the person. Taking the low vs high FODMAP foods into account will help reduce the foods that feed the overgrowth of bacteria.
The SIBO specific diet alone can starve the bacteria slowly, compared to “quick” options such as antibiotics and the Elemental Diet - BUT THE PERSON CAN FEEL SOOOOO MUCH BETTER QUICKLY JUST WITH DIET. When diet alone is used to treat SIBO, this approach may take 1 ½ to 3 years (or longer). Antibiotic and Herbal anti-biotics can significantly reduce this time. However since the small intestine's wall itself is significantly damaged after a bout of SIBO, 3-6 months on the SIBO specific diet is recommended to restore the gut before adding non SIBO specific foods. The Cedar-Sinai diet and the Low FODMAPS diet can be used for prevention of recurrence after SIBO is irradicated. Every person has different triggers. If you know your triggers, don’t do it!
For a list of food of legal and illegal foods on the SCD diet, click on this link:
Health through Diet: SCD food list
