Diets, diets, diets. . .What's an IBDer to do?

SCD - Specific Carbohydrate Diet - there is some belief that certain carbs, like wheat, refined flours, and sugars exacerbate IBD symptoms. And this diet is quite strict on what is "legal" to eat and what is "illegal." Basically anything made with wheat, flour, or any sort of sugar (other than honey) is illegal. The focus of this diet is on whole foods - proteins, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nut flours, and homemade yogurt. You can buy Elaine Gottschall's book, Breaking the Vicious Cycle to find out exactly how to do this diet. She recommends eating according to this diet for at least one year to see a full change in your symptoms. Or, you can go to www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info and take a look at the "legal/illegal" food list.

I admit that I don't follow this diet religiously. I have, however, removed all wheat, refined flour products, and sugar from my diet now for two weeks and have less gas and bloating, better formed stools, and a bit more energy.        

For me, there is no one diet or eating plan that works for me 365 days of the year. I have to listen to my body and figure out what it needs when. What I do know is this, preservatives KILL my gut, so I don't eat anything that is pre-made or pre-packaged. I eat whole foods that I cook myself. Thankfully I like to cook and am pretty good at it. I even make my own yogurt, which I find delicious and easy to do. Eating out can be tricky. Usually I can scan a menu and delete 85% of the items offered in about two minutes. Then I narrow down my choices even further and, if need be, play the old When-Harry-Met-Sally game of, "Can I have this on the side, or that on the side." And in ten years of making these types of requests I haven't been denied yet. Now, that said, I simply don't set foot in fast-foods joints, chain restaurants, or Chinese restaurants. There is simply going to be nothing I can eat at any of these types of places that I won't pay for later.

So, get to know your body, the food's you're eating, and how you feel after you eat them. Then you, too, will have a better idea of what your body needs when.

Author, Living with IBD & IBS www.ibdandibs.com  

How much do you know about IBD and IBS? Quiz yourself here.

More Dietary Considerations for IDB sufferers

Learn what others have to say about IBD diets.