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 |
| Bacon | Legal | Bacon is allowed on the SCD but read your labels. Choose smoked bacon without additives or sugar. Listed in the SCD Prepackaged Foods section are some SCD compliant brands. | Bacon is not necessarily the healthiest food in the world but can be an enjoyable staple on the SCD. Although the classic SCD suggests allowing bacon once per week, we have not seen issues with it being taken more often. |
| Baker's yeast | Illegal | Saccharomyces cerevisiae is baker's yeast. | Multiple studies have associated antibodies to S. cerevisiae to worse outcomes in Crohn's disease. In addition, an animal study has shown addition of S. cerevisiae in Crohn's disease to have worse outcomes. |
| Baking powder | Illegal |
Contains cornstarch, as well as other unapproved ingredients to help bread rise. |
Cornstarch has been shown to increase the acidity of the colon, which decreases the microbes that create anti-inflammatory short chain fatty acids. |
| Baking soda | Legal | Also known as sodium bicarbonate, baking soda has been used as a leavening agent as well as for gastric acid neutralization. | While no studies have been conducted on the effects of baking soda on IBD, sodium bicarbonate was shown in this study to reduce the risk of fungal overgrowth in mice. |
| Balsamic vinegar | Legal |
Store bought brands often have added illegal ingredients. |
According to this study, traditional balsamic vinegar contains tannins, which are potent antioxidants. |
| Barberry (Berberis) | Legal | All berries are legal on the SCD. Excessive intake of barberries can lead to diarrhea. | Barberry extract was shown to protect against IBD in this animal study. |
| Bamboo shoots | Illegal | The edible part of bamboo often used in Asian cuisine. | Bamboo shoots are high in fiber, particularly as they age. This fiber can support an overgrowth of bacteria which may be harmful to those with IBD. However, studies have shown anti-inflammatory effects of bamboo shoots as well. |
| Bananas | Legal | Ripened bananas with black spots on the skin are recommended. Ripened bananas have less starch when compared to unripened. | This study shows that unripened banana promotes bacterial fermentation in the colon. |
| Bark tea | Illegal | Bark tea (Pau d'Arco) contains steroidal saponins and is both an immune booster and a laxative. Goes by many names including Taheebo, Ipe, and Lapacho. | While this study showed Pau d’Arco reduces clinical symptoms in a colitis-induced mouse model, further research is required to understand its full impact on IBD. |
| Barley | Illegal | Gluten-containing grain. | This cross-sectional study showed that a gluten-free diet reduced clinical symptoms in patients with IBD. |
| Basil | Legal | Delicious culinary herb. 2 tbspns chopped contains contains 5% vitamin A, 1% vitamin C and 1% iron. Should bring a smile to anyones face. | Contains estragole, linalool, and eugenol which are compounds shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in this study. |
| Bay Leaf | Legal | Delicious aromatic plant used in many cooking recipes. | Bay leaves contain 1,8-cineole and limonene which are anti-inflammatory compounds according to these studies. |
| Bean flour | Legal* | The key is if the beans were soaked or not. Store-bought flours made from beans or lentils are likely not soaked prior to grinding so should be avoided. Homemade flours if soaked properly should be fine. |
Soaking beans reduces their levels of complex carbohydrates and starches, reducing your risk of bacterial overgrowth. |
| Bean sprouts | Illegal | The most common type of sprout is the mung bean sprout. | No studies have been conducted examining the effect of bean sprouts on IBD. However, bean sprouts contain anti-inflammatory polyphenols according to this review. |
| Bee Pollen | Illegal | Bee pollen is not allowed on the SCD. In addition, the SCD recommends against cloudy honey (still containing the pollen). | While bee pollen has been shown to have antioxidants, polyphenols, and other anti-inflammatory components through these studies, this study shows that bee pollen can exacerbate colitis in mice with allergy. More research is needed to understand the impact pollen on IBD. |
| Beef | Legal | Fresh and frozen beef is allowed on the SCD as long as nothing has been added during processing. Read the labels carefully. | Red meat is high in tryptophan, which according to this review lessens the severity of colitis. However, the same review mentions that risk for IBD increases with protein intake. |
| Beer | Illegal | Contains barley, a gluten-containing grain. | This cross-sectional study showed that a gluten-free diet reduced clinical symptoms in patients with IBD. |
| Beets (beetroot) | Legal | Beets are an amazing root vegetable. 1 cup contains up to 10% of an adult’s daily vitamin C needs, 6% of an adult’s iron needs as well as magnesium and vitamin B6. Some reports show that Beets may increase exercise endurance. | Beetroot extract (from the leaves) was shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect in this study. Also, vitamin C reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in a colitis-induced animal model. |
| Berries | Legal | Berries of all kinds are legal. | Multiple studies in this review indicate that fruit can help alleviate IBD. |
| Bhindi | Illegal | No okra (bhindi) or drumsticks. Since they are a mucilaginous food, they are illegal. | While multiple studies have found mucilaginous foods to be beneficial for IBD, more research needs to be done. |
| Bitter Gourd | Illegal | Also known as bitter melon, high in vitamin A, B6, and C. | Even though bitter gourd has been shown to suppress inflammation induced by bacteria, more research needs to be done to understand its impact on IBD. |
| Black beans | Legal | May be tried when symptom free. 1 cup contains 35% of your daily recommended value of thiamine. | Low levels of thiamine have been linked to IBD. |
| Black eye beans | Illegal | Also known as black-eyed beans. | More research is required to understand the impact of black-eyed peas on IBD. |
| Black radish | Legal | It is very fibrous, so go slowly and be careful. | Black radish was shown to reduce inflammation in the colonic mucosa in this study. |
| Blue cheese | Legal | May occasionally be eaten. | Aged cheese (past 30 days) is a good source of calcium for patients with IBD. |
| Bok Choy | Legal | Bok Choy is much like cabbage and is legal. Cabbage contains a lot of fiber which can cause bloating and diarrhea if eaten when flaring. Addition of Bok Choy should occur when disease is in remission. Removal of stems may be necessary. | Components in bok choy and related vegetables were found to be anti-inflammatory in this study. |
| Bologna | Illegal | Bologna is processed meat and may contain additives not allowed on the SCD. | Epidemiological studies indicate that consumption of processed meat increases your risk for IBD. |
| Bouillon cubes | Illegal | Bouillon cubes and instant soup bases are not allowed on the SCD. May contain additives not allowed on the SCD. | No research has been done on the effect of bouillon cubes on IBD. |
| Bourbon | Legal | While gluten may have been added before fermentation, it is removed during the distillation process. If over 21, may have on occasion. | No research has been conducted on the effects of bourbon on IBD. However, it has been shown that alcohol causes inflammation, overgrowth of bacteria, and intestinal permeability in this review. |
| Bran | Illegal | Bran is the hard, outer layer of cereal grain. Contains gluten. | This cross-sectional study showed that a gluten-free diet reduced clinical symptoms in patients with IBD. |
| Brandy | Illegal | Alcohol made by distilling wine. | No research has been conducted on the effects of brandy on IBD. However, it has been shown that alcohol causes inflammation, overgrowth of bacteria, and intestinal permeability in this review. |
| Brazil nuts | Legal | Nuts should only be used as nut flour, in recipes, until diarrhea has subsided. Make sure there is no starch coating on the nuts. Starch coating is often added to mixed nut packaging. | Frequent nut consumption is associated with a healthy profile of inflammatory biomarkers. |
| Brick cheese | Legal | A type of cheese originally from Wisconsin. | Consumption of cheese has been shown in this study to support healthy bacterial species and decrease harmful bacterial species. |
| Brie cheese | Legal | May be eaten on occasion. | Consumption of cheese has been shown in this study to support healthy bacterial species and decrease harmful bacterial species. |
| Broccoli | Legal | A vegetable in the cabbage family. Be wary of the fiber when flaring. | This study showed a component of broccoli reduces inflammation in mice with colitis. |
| Broccolini | Legal | A hybrid of broccoli and gai lan. Be wary of the fiber when flaring. | This study showed a component of broccolini reduces inflammation in mice with colitis. |
| Brussell sprouts | Legal | A vegetable in the same family as broccoli. Be wary of the fiber when flaring. | This study showed a component of brussels sprouts reduces inflammation in mice with colitis. |
| Buckwheat | Illegal | Buckwheat is a plant and is often considered a cereal although it is not a true grass. Gluten-free. | Buckwheat was shown to reduce clinical symptoms and inflammation in an IBD mouse model in this study. |
| Bulgur | Illegal | Bulgur is a cereal food made from the parboiled whole grain of several different wheat species, most often from durum wheat. Contains gluten. | This cross-sectional study showed that a gluten-free diet reduced clinical symptoms in patients with IBD. |
| Burdock root | Illegal | It contains inulin (FOS) and mucilage. | While some studies have found mucilaginous foods to be beneficial for IBD, starch has been shown to aggravate IBD symptoms. |
| Butter | Legal | A tasty, versatile dairy product. Rich in saturated fatty acids. | No human studies have been done researching the effect of butter on IBD. However, saturated fat has been implicated in causing inflammation in this review. More research is required. |
| Butter beans | Legal | Also known as lima beans. Dried or fresh are permitted. | Butter beans have antimicrobial properties according to this study. Make sure to soak your beans if bought dry to reduce their levels of complex carbohydrates and starches. |
| Buttermilk | Illegal | A byproduct in the process of making butter. Some types are fermented. | No research has been conducted on the effects of buttermilk on IBD. |
| Butternut squash | Legal | A good source of vitamin A, C, and beta-carotene. | While no research has been done on the effect of butternut squash on IBD, vitamin A reduced intestinal inflammation in this study. |
