SCD for IBD

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology at the end of Dec 2016 looked at the impact of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) on children with  active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).  The study was led by Dr David Suskind, a gastroenterologist practising at Seattle Children's, and involved the children following the SCD for 12 weeks.  This was a small study, but of the 10 children who completed the study, 8 or 80%, showed significant improvement and achieved clinical remission.  The SCD removes all complex carbohydrates, including all whole grains, legumes, and starchy vegetables.  It also focuses exclusively on cooked food for an extended period of time.  The SCD is based around the concept of removing foods from the diet that have the potential to cause inflammation/disruption of the digestive mucous membranes and focusing instead on foods that are easier to digest and that encourage a reduction in inflammation and support digestive mucous membrane healing.  This study is a great confirmation that the food that we eat can have a direct impact on how we feel.  For people with IBD, their symptoms can often be unmanageable and it is great to have this clinical proof that making dietary changes can offer significant support in disease/symptom management.