Following dietary therapy can be challenging. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet has evolved over the years since Dr. Sydney Haas first reported on it. Since then we have learned much but there is still much more for us to learn. Below are foods that are allowed (legal) and foods that are not allowed (illegal) based off of Dr. Sydney Haas's initial description of the diet and Elaine Gottschal's Breaking the Vicious Cycle and our current research. In addition this food list includes up to date evidence based information on current research in foods.
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|
Type of Food |
SCD Approval |
Explanation |
NiMBAL Research |
| Cabbage | Legal | Cabbage contains a lot of fiber which can cause bloating and diarrhea if eaten when flaring. Addition of cabbage should occur when disease is in remission. | Treatment with a component in cabbage reduced clinical symptoms and inflammation in a colitis mouse study. |
| Camembert cheese | Legal |
May be consumed in small amounts. Camembert is aged, making this a lactose-free cheese. |
Consumption of cheese has been shown in this study to support healthy bacterial species and decrease harmful bacterial species. |
| Canellini beans | Illegal | The largest of the white beans, sometimes called white kidney beans. | A dietary study found that cannellini beans disrupt the intestinal mucosa in rats. |
| Canned fish | Legal | Canned in oil or water is acceptable but read labels carefully to assure no other additives. Do not buy products containing "broth". | Fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which improved the gut microbiome and exerted anti-inflammatory effects in this study. |
| Canned fruits | Legal | Fruits canned in their own juice are allowed. Read labels carefully to assure no other additives. | Multiple studies in this review indicate that fruit can help alleviate IBD. |
| Canned vegetables | Illegal | Canned vegetables are not permitted due to possible added starches. Vegetables must be either fresh or frozen. | Consumption of starch has been shown to increase bacteria harmful to patients with IBD in this review. |
| Canola oil | Legal | Legal, but not recommended. | Mice with colitis fed canola oil experienced worsened clinical symptoms as well as heightened inflammation in this study. |
| Cantaloupe | Legal | A large, orange-fleshed melon. | Multiple studies in this review indicate that fruit can help alleviate IBD. |
| Capers | Legal | A pickled vegetable commonly found in Mediterranean cuisine. | No research has been done examining the effect of capers on IBD. However, caper extract decreased oxidative stress in this study. |
| Carob | Illegal | Commonly listed as carob powder, carob is an alternative to chocolate. | While carob contains high concentrations of antioxidant tannins, no studies have been done examining the effect of carob on IBD. |
| Carrageenan | Illegal | Carrageenan is a common food additive that is extracted from a red seaweed, Chondrus crispus, which is popularly known as Irish moss. It has been associated with malignancies and other stomach problems and is high in polysaccharides. | Recent research in animal models implicate carrageenan in intestinal inflammation. |
| Carrots | Legal | An orange root vegetable high in beta-carotene. Uncooked carrots may be more difficult for patients with active flaring due to their high fiber. | Patients with IBD have been shown to have low levels of beta-carotene in this study. |
| Cashews | Legal | Nuts sold in mixtures are not allowed, as most are roasted with a starch coating. | Frequent nut consumption is associated with a healthy profile of inflammatory biomarkers. |
| Cauliflower | Legal | Cauliflower is sometimes hard to digest and should be tried cautiously after some progress has been made on the diet. | This study shows a component of cauliflower reduces inflammation in mice with colitis. |
| Celeriac (celery root) | Legal | Easy to cook, celeriac may be roasted, stewed, blanched, or mashed. It is very fibrous however so eat cautiously for the first few times. | No studies have been done examining the effect of celeriac on IBD. |
| Celery | Legal | A green vegetable with a long, fibrous stalk. | While no studies have been done on celery and IBD, this study showed that celery contains some anti-inflammatory properties. |
| Cellulose (in supplements) | Legal | Cellulose in your supplements is okay. | Cellulose is a type of fiber, and a diet high in fiber throughout life has been shown to prevent IBD in an animal model. |
| Cellulose gum | Illegal | Also called carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose gum is an emulsifier. | Cellulose gum was shown to promote IBD in this animal study. |
| Cereals | Illegal | A cereal is any grass cultivated for the edible components of its grain. Therefore, technically all cereals are illegal. | This cross-sectional study showed that a gluten-free diet reduced clinical symptoms in patients with IBD. Also, grains contain anti-nutrients which disrupt your vitamin and mineral absorption. |
| Chard | Legal |
All varieties of chard are legal: red, green, rainbow and swiss. Chard is similar to spinach/celery, so it is legal. Chard contains a lot of fiber which can cause bloating and diarrhea if eaten when flaring. Addition of chard should occur when disease is in remission. |
Chard contains betaine, which has been shown in this study to lower inflammatory markers in mice with colitis. |
| Cheddar cheese | Legal | Cheddar cheese is aged for at least 2 to 3 months, and so does not contain lactose. | Consumption of cheese has been shown in this study to support healthy bacterial species and decrease harmful bacterial species. |
| Cheese | Legal |
Many cheeses are legal. The general recommendation for a cheese is that it is not a processed cheese (manufactured) and has had a bacterial culture involved with its production with it being aged at least 30 days. |
Consumption of cheese has been shown in this study to support healthy bacterial species and decrease harmful bacterial species. |
| Cherimoya | Legal | Also known as custard apple or sharifa. | No studies have been done examining the effects of cherimoya on IBD. |
| Cherries | Legal | A tart but sweet berry with multiple varieties. | Animals fed cherry powder had a shift in their gut bacteria towards healthier species and produced more anti-inflammatory SCFAs in this study. Another study showed consumption of cherries lowers pro-inflammatory molecules in humans. |
| Chestnut flour | Illegal | Flour made from sweet chestnuts, which are rich in fiber, vitamin C, and manganese. | No studies examining the effects of chestnut flour on IBD have been conducted. |
| Chestnuts | Legal | May be tried when symptom free. However, if you buy dried chestnuts, soak them and cook them until soft. | While no studies have been done examining the effects of chestnuts on IBD, frequent nut consumption is associated with a healthy profile of inflammatory biomarkers. |
| Chevre | Illegal | Also known as goat cheese, chevre is illegal, but you can make a close approximation by dripping goat milk yogurt. Directions can be found at http://uclbs.org/recipes/dairy/suegoatcheese.php | While no studies have been conducted linking chevre and IBD, chevre is aged long enough that is has little to no lactose content. Additionally, chevre is often enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, which are anti-inflammatory. |
| Chewing gum | Illegal | Often filled with harmful additives such as emulsifiers. | Chewing gum has been shown to increase the risk of Crohn’s disease in this epidemiological study. |
| Chickpeas | Illegal | Also known as garbanzo beans, chickpeas are rich in starch. | While chickpeas have been shown to support the production of anti-inflammatory molecules via the gut microbiome, consumption of starch has been shown to increase bacteria harmful to patients with IBD in this review. |
| Chicory root | Illegal | Known for its bitterness, chicory contains a large amount of inulin. | Inulin has been shown to be an antioxidant; however, it may cause bacterial overgrowth harmful to patients with IBD. |
| Chlorella | Illegal | A blue-green algae similar to spirulina. | Even though chlorella contains anti-inflammatory, antioxidant carotenoids, chlorella supplementation can cause the release of toxins which aggravate IBD. |
| Chocolate | Illegal | Historically illegal. | Within our clinical practice, organic cocoa has been added once patients have been in clinical/laboratory remission. Majority of patients have tolerated this addition without problem. |
| Cilantro | Legal | An herb also known as coriander. | Cilantro was shown to alleviate colitis in an animal model. |
| Cinnamon | Legal | A flavorful spice often added to baked goods. | Cinnamon has been shown to inhibit colitis in an animal model. |
| Citric Acid | Legal | Citric acid as an additive is okay. Naturally occurs in citrus fruits. | Citric acid may promote inflammation, according to this review. |
| Club soda | Legal | Carbonated water with added potassium bicarbonate or potassium sulfate. | No studies have been conducted examining the effects of club soda on IBD. |
| Cocoa powder | Illegal | Historically illegal. | Within our clinical practice, organic cocoa has been added once patients have been in clinical/laboratory remission. Majority of patients have tolerated this addition without problem. |
| Coconut | Legal | Fresh or unsweetened, shredded coconut and coconut flour are all legal. | Coconut has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. |
| Coconut milk | Legal | The SCD allows coconut milk once in remission after being on the diet for 6 months. | It is important to remember that coconut milk can act as a natural laxative. |
| Coconut oil | Legal | Withstands heat well, good for frying and cooking. | Coconut oil has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. |
| Coffee | Legal | Coffee should be made weak. Instant coffee is not legal. Remember to make yours fresh! | According to this review, coffee may lower risk of ulcerative colitis. |
| Colby cheese | Legal | Also known as Colby Cheddar. | Consumption of cheese has been shown in this study to support healthy bacterial species and decrease harmful bacterial species. |
| Collard greens | Legal | Greens contain a lot of fiber (which is good!). Excess fiber can cause diarrhea if eaten when flaring. Addition of greens should occur when disease is in remission. | Vegetables in the cabbage family, such as collard greens, have been shown to reduce inflammation in a mouse model of colitis. |
| Cordial | Illegal | Also known as liqueur, cordials are an alcoholic beverage. |
It has been shown that alcohol causes inflammation, overgrowth of bacteria, and intestinal permeability in this review. |
| Corn | Illegal | Contains omega-6 fatty acids and has high starch content. | The starch from corn has been shown in this study to increase the acidity of the colon, which decreases the microbes that create anti-inflammatory short chain fatty acids. |
| Corn oil | Legal | Corn oil does not contain starch, making it legal. | Be careful: corn oil has been shown to disrupt the intestinal mucus layer and cause inflammation in a mouse model. |
| Corn syrup | Illegal | Made from the starch of corn. Very rich in complex carbohydrates. | The starch from corn has been shown in this study to increase the acidity of the colon, which decreases the microbes that create anti-inflammatory short chain fatty acids. Complex carbohydrates act as food for bacteria, leading to excessive fermentation and intestinal permeability. |
| Corn starch | Illegal | A common food additive used as a thickener. | The starch from corn has been shown in this study to increase the acidity of the colon, which decreases the microbes that create anti-inflammatory short chain fatty acids. |
| Cottage cheese | Illegal | Often has added milk. Contains lactose. | Studies have been inconclusive so far concerning the effects of lactose on IBD. |
| Courgette (zucchini) | Legal | Also known as zucchini, a green squash. High in beta-carotene, lutein, and vitamin C. | This study showed patients with IBD have low levels of vitamin C and beta-carotene, making zucchini a great source for recovering these nutrients. |
| Cranberry juice | Legal | Purchase a brand that does not have added sugar. The juice should be diluted with water before drinking and, as it may be very tart, you can add honey or dilute it with legal apple cider instead of water. | This study showed cranberries improve the intestinal mucus layer due to their proanthocyanidin content. |
| Cream | Illegal | Contains lactose. | Studies have been inconclusive so far concerning the effects of lactose on IBD. |
| Cream cheese | Illegal | Contains lactose, and often contains illegal additives such as emulsifiers. | While studies so far have been inconclusive concerning the effects of lactose on IBD, emulsifiers have been shown to promote colitis in this study. |
| Cream of tartar | Illegal | A stabilizer used in baking. | No studies have been conducted examining the effects of cream of tartar on IBD. |
| Croscarmellose sodium | Illegal | A common pharmaceutical additive. | Sometimes used in medication for IBD. Still, take your medication even if it contains this additive! |
| Cucumbers | Legal | In the same family as squash and zucchini. | Cucumber has been shown through this study to reduce the inflammatory response caused by bacteria. |
| Custard apple | Legal | Also known as sharifa or cherimoya. | No studies have been done examining the effects of cherimoya on IBD. |
| Cyclamate | Illegal | Historically legal on the SCD but has had other health concerns associated with it. | Cyclamate is a potential carcinogen. |
