Can Diet Carbohydrates Improve Your Digestion?

The carbohydrate diet (SCD) was introduced in the 1920s by gastroenterologist Sidney Haas. It was later expanded and popularized in the 1980s with the book Elaine Gottschall. SCD is a diet that emphasizes eliminating certain carbohydrate-containing foods based on their chemical structure.
The theory behind SCD is that carbohydrate complexes stimulate unhealthy bacterial overgrowth in your small intestine if you have IBD. As these bacteria grow, they create by-products that promote inflammation and eventually lead to decreased absorption of nutrients in your digestive tract.
SCD helps inhibit bacterial growth and restore digestive function by eliminating all carbohydrate food sources with two or more linked sugar molecules (di-, oligo- and polysaccharides).
Although many carbs are eliminated, SCD allows carb sources with single, unbound sugar molecules or monosaccharides, as your digestive tract absorbs them more easily.

As the name suggests, SCD restricts specific carbs based primarily on their chemical structure. This diet will eliminate any foods or food additives that contain two or more chemically linked sugar molecules. The SCD guide “Breaking the Vicious Cycle” refers to these foods as complex carbohydrates.

In scientific terms, any food with disaccharides, oligosaccharides or polysaccharides should appear on the list of foods to be excluded from the SCD diet. As you can imagine, the list of discarded foods is huge. Here are a few of the food groups excluded:
Potatoes Grains and imitations, including rice, wheat, corn, quinoa, millet... Processed and processed meats using additives Milk (except some homemade cheese, butter and yogurt that has been fermented for at least 24 hours) Most legumes, although dried beans and some lentils are allowed after when soaked Most refined sugar, artificial sweeteners and sweet alcohol. Processed Foods The general structure of a particular carbohydrate regimen is rigid and should be followed exactly as outlined in the manual, with little or no flexibility.
While some people may be able to reuse certain discarded foods after symptoms subside, this will vary depending on the individual's response to the diet.

SCD-approved foods are collectively referred to as “legal” foods. Most of the foods on this list are unprocessed, whole foods that don't provide a variety of complex carbs.
The main sources of approved or valid legal carbs in SCD come from the monosaccharides glucose, fructose and galactose. Here are some foods that can be used for SCD:
Fruit: Most unprocessed fresh or frozen fruits and juices. Canned fruit may be allowed as long as no added sugars or starches. Vegetables: Most vegetables, except for potatoes, yams, bananas, and some other high-starch vegetables. Meat: Most meats are fresh, as long as they don't contain any additives. Eggs Some dairy: Homemade yogurt ferments for at least 24 hours and some natural cheeses.

Certain legumes: Some legumes are dried, as long as they are soaked and prepared according to the instructions outlined in the manual. Nuts and nut butters: Most nuts are used, as long as they do not contain starch or sugar. Herbs and spices: Most herbs and spices are dried or fresh. Spice mixes are generally not recommended because many of them contain additives. Because it can be difficult to determine which foods are legal, the SCD manual recommends eating only foods that are clearly legal to avoid accidentally ingesting something high in complex carbohydrates.

SCD was originally designed as a therapy for people with IBD, which is a medical condition that includes conditions like ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, and Crohn's disease.
These diseases can interfere with the ability to digest and absorb nutrients from food. Therefore, SCD aims to heal intestinal tissue to restore digestive function.
Some people consume foods that are not suitable for the digestive system, such as grains, legumes, refined sugars and starchy food additives, as a result of agricultural and industrial activities. modern food industry.
Some argue that continuing to eat these carbs leads to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the gut, which promotes inflammation, ultimately reducing your digestive capacity.
Strict adherence to the SCD is said to eliminate these bacteria by eliminating their food source, allowing your gut tissue to regenerate. To this day, SCD is mainly used to treat intestinal disorders but with different effectiveness.

One of the main criticisms of this diet is the lack of concrete scientific evidence. Much of the current data are weak and limited to very small or hypothetical studies, not enough to definitively determine whether SCD is really effective. Ultimately, more research is needed to determine whether SCD is indeed an effective treatment for IBD.

Although primarily used to treat IBD, SCD is also used for people with other conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and multiple sclerosis (CF).
Early research suggests that gut bacteria may be important in the treatment of some behavioral disorders and autoimmune conditions, such as CF and ASD. Because a specific carbohydrate diet is designed to balance the gastrointestinal tract, proponents theorize that it may also be an effective therapy for these conditions.
However, the scientific understanding of these disorders is limited. Aside from hypothetical reports, there are no studies showing that SCD treats diseases other than IBD. In fact, it remains unclear whether SCD affects gut bacteria. More research is needed to understand how SCD affects autism spectrum disorders and cystic fibrosis.

A restrictive diet like SCD usually carries no risks. When well planned, SCD can help balance the digestive tract, improving health.
However, the SCD eliminates large groups of nutrient-dense foods that are beneficial for most people, including whole grains, some legumes, and most dairy. Eliminating these foods without replacing other important nutrients can lead to poor diet quality and subsequent nutritional deficiencies.

Maintaining good nutrition can be proven and a problem if you have IBD. The use of extremely restrictive diets such as SCD can increase the risk of malnutrition and related complications.
If you are considering this diet, consult a registered dietitian or other qualified health professional to ensure you are meeting your nutritional needs.

Although limited evidence indicates that SCD improves IBD symptoms in some people, there is no guarantee that it will work for everyone. Medical conditions such as IBD are complex and require individualized interventions during treatment. Given the current evidence, it remains unclear whether diet has any role in the treatment of IBD, other than the placebo effect.
A well-planned diet takes time to evaluate, especially if you want to avoid the more serious risks associated with certain medications and long-term surgery. While diet is a personal decision, you should discuss SCD with a qualified medical professional before making any major lifestyle changes.
In a nutshell, SCD is a diet designed to treat symptoms of IBD and restore digestive function by purging a variety of carb-containing foods, due to the notion that they are harmful to the gut. yours. Although some people may notice an improvement in IBD symptoms, very few studies support its effectiveness beyond the placebo effect. Due to the restrictive nature of the diet, it may increase the risk of malnutrition. If you are considering SCD, discuss it with your healthcare provider and dietitian first to minimize possible risks and ensure a balanced diet.
If you need more advice on a reasonable weight loss diet that does not affect your health, you can go to Vinmec International General Hospital.
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Reference source: healthline.com