Specific Carbohydrate Diet

I'm getting a lot of questions about why we should be trying to eliminate carbs in Madelines diet. It was actually a little hard for me to understand too so I'm going to try and explain it for you guys and for myself.

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet is a nutritional regimen that is promoted as treating a variety of chronic and auto-immune disorders including Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, coeliac disease, autism, cystic fibrosis, schizophrenia, dyslexia, depression, dyspraxia, Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder and more.

The rationale of the diet described in Breaking the Vicious Cycle is as follows:

When the body receives complex carbohydrates (disaccharides or polysaccharides) these substances must be broken down before they can be absorbed.

In the body of a person who is not able to break these substances down efficiently, an influx of undigested material causes harmful bacteria to flourish.

Bacterial overgrowth is accordingly followed by a significant increase in the waste and other irritants they produce.

Irritation in the lining of the digestive tract results in the overproduction of mucus and injury to the digestive tract, which in turn causes malabsorption and makes it even more difficult to maintain proper digestion.

The purpose of the diet is to break the ongoing cycle caused by an overpopulation of harmful bacteria in the gut. When the body is able to absorb the proper nutrients from simple sugars and other carbohydrates that are easy to digest, the inflammation and other complications caused by many auto-immune diseases can be lessened. The goal is to rid the body of complex saccharides so that the gut will be able to heal itself and enable further healing to occur.
The method of the diet is to keep the gutflora well balanced and to allow the gut to digest all of the food it is given, thereby starving out the harmful bacteria.

Ok so that's still a little confusing.


The Use of the SCD in ASD

Pamela Ferro is a Nurse in Private Practice in Mattapoisett MA, and a parent of a child on the autism spectrum. She has treated well over 300 children with ASD utilizing biomedical approaches in her clinic.

"Children with Autism who are implementing SCD are demonstrating remarkable improvements in bowel function, language, eye contact, self-stimulatory behavior, anxiety, and mood. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet unlike other specialized diets works by removing the foods that cannot be properly broken down. The vicious cycle of malabsorption, maldigestion, inflammation, and food allergies seen in children with autism can be corrected using this dietary approach and healthy digestion can begin."

The latest research appears to prove that SCD is the best diet for Autism Spectrum Disorder!

The researchers are finding out that it is the fungi and bacteria in the GI tract that cause GI problems and neurological problems such as autism. The research studies also indicate that that it is starches and certain sugars that feed these fungi and bacteria. The SCD eliminates the foods that feed these microorganisms. Without these foods,the pathogens starve and leave the body; the child is no longer a hostage to billions of pathogenic invaders that poison the gut and the brain.

Here are a couple more links:
http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/autism/autism.htm
http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/autism/Specific_Carbohydrate_Dietary_Trial_8_27_04.pdf

However, I have no idea how the heck we are going to try and do this with Madeline. All she wants to eat are carbs. Rice and corn chips constantly. UGH!!! I went the store yesterday and bought every fruit and vegetable. So far the only things I can get her to eat are carrots and dried apricots! Well, it's a start! :)