iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrllll o tclhdfliThei mdcdaeSCD Illegal Foods: sugar, starches, cornstarch, baking powder, chocolate,
pectin, potato, maple syrup, molasses, rice, wheat, and all grains (corn,
rice, etc.).
A full list of SCD legal and illegal foods can be viewed on the website
breakingtheviciouscycle.info.
The SCD is purported to be effective for people with IBS, Crohn’s, celiac
disease, and other digestive issues. A modified version of the diet has been
adapted to treat behavioral disorders and autoimmune conditions and is
known as the GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) diet.
GAPS Diet
The Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) diet by Dr. Natasha
Campbell-McBride evolved from the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. Dr.
Campbell-McBride modified the diet to help her own son.
The GAPS diet starts with a healing phase, which focuses on “healing and
sealing” the intestinal lining by removing all irritating foods and providing
building blocks for cell repair, including amino acids, minerals, fats, and fat-
soluble vitamins. Fermented foods and probiotics are also started at a low
dose and increased over the course of the dietary program.
The healing phase includes homemade broths, soups, animal fat, well-
cooked meats, and puréed well-cooked vegetables (zucchini, carrots,
pumpkin), while difficult-to-digest foods such as grains, dairy, fiber,
beans, nuts, and raw fruits and vegetables are removed.
This healing phase continues until all gastrointestinal symptoms have re-
solved. Although Dr. Campbell-McBride does not provide a specific guide-
line for how long to follow this phase since individual results may vary, a
good period to allow the healing of the intestines may be two to six weeks.
Following this healing phase, foods are gradually added back in during
an introduction phase, starting with foods that are the easiest to digest.
Dr. Campbell-McBride reports the healing time may vary and that some
people need to stay in the introduction phase for as long as seven months
until they are able to tolerate all of the foods on the full GAPS diet. The
full GAPS diet, which is very similar to the Paleo and SCD diets, is con-
tinued for one to two years before introducing other foods.
Dr. Campbell-McBride reports that skipping the healing phase or in-
troducing foods too soon may result in difficulty healing and continued
food reactions.