The Specific Carbohydrate Diet™ is predicated on the understanding that an overgrowth and imbalance of intestinal microbial flora.
This creates a positive growth environment for the conditions of Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and gluten therapy resistant Celiac. The SCD approach seeks to impact the overall make-up of our intestinal flora, with the goal of bringing it back into balance, healing our digestive tracts and restoring proper absorption.
The intestinal tract contains over 400 bacterial species. Some are necessary for our overall health and we refer to this group as “probiotic.” These good bacteria and yeast exist and help to keep us healthy. There also exist harmful bacteria, yeasts and viruses. As such, the flora exists in a state of balance.
If the balance in the gut is disturbed, an overgrowth of bad intestinal flora can result. This bacterial overgrowth can be triggered by overuse of antacids, reduced stomach acidity due to aging or overuse of prescription antacids (i.e. Prilosec/Nexium), malnutrition or poor diet, and overuse of antibiotic therapy.
“The Specific Carbohydrate Diet™ is based on that principle that specifically selected carbohydrates, requiring minimal digestive processes, are well absorbed and leave virtually nothing to be used for furthering microbial overgrowth in the intestine. The diet “starves out” the bad bacteria, thus enabling the repopulation of good healthy flora.