Publisher's Synopsis
The SCD is an elimination diet that emphasizes the removal of certain types of carbohydrate-containing foods based on their chemical structure.The governing theory behind the SCD is that complex carbs encourage an overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria in your small intestine if you have IBD. As these bacteria grow, they produce byproducts that promote inflammation and eventually lead to reduced absorption of nutrients in your digestive tract. The SCD is popular among people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD refers to conditions that cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. The two main types of IBD are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease. UC occurs when inflammation affects the colon and rectum. With Crohn's disease, inflammation occurs anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. The SCD focuses primarily on the type of carbohydrates a person eats. It allows carbohydrates that are easy to digest. These are monosaccharide carbohydrates, which are made of a single molecule and do not require an enzyme to break them down. They are easy to absorb and digest. Complex carbohydrates are restricted. Because they are harder to digest, some scientists believe they promote intestinal inflammation. Harder to digest (complex) carbohydrates include disaccharides, which contain two monosaccharides, and most polysaccharides, which contain a number of monosaccharides.
