Mission Statement

---

The purpose of the SCDWiki is to provide support and encouragement for those who are either starting or already on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). It is hoped that the content of SCDWiki (.net, .org and/or .com) will ease digestive suffering, increase public awareness and educate medical professionals about the power of SCD as a complementary treatment.  

The collective experience of thousands of persons who had posted on the former Yahoo BTVC-SCD list serve has shown that SCD makes a substantial, positive difference in the treatment of digestive disorders. The BTVC-SCD list serve contained the testimony of many persons who got their lives back using SCD in conjunction with professional medical treatment.  

SCD can reduce and, in time, completely eliminate the terrible, life ruining symptoms of digestive disorders. Followers of SCD can and do lead a normal life. Topics on the SCDWiki include the experiences of many with overcoming challenges while on SCD in situations such as: office meetings, travel, eating out, athletics, and hospital stays. These "how to" subjects are not addressed in the Breaking the Vicious Cycle book (BTVC). SCD Wiki supports the book BTVC by sharing successful techniques from experienced persons who have followed SCD.  

SCD shares with all the other beneficial diets the core belief, demonstrated in case after case everyday, that diet matters. What we eat is a significant factor, probably the primary factor in our overall health and, in particular, the state of our digestive system. Where SCD parts company from other seemingly similar and beneficial diets such as GAPS, FODMAPS, Paleo, anti-inflammatory diets, etc. is in basically two areas:   

1. Organic food is not required on SCD - Many of the above diets stress using organic foods. Elaine Gottschall wanted this important healing diet to be used by as many persons as possible. She knew that SCD would work perfectly well without organic foods. She specifically avoided specifying organic foods because she knew that they were inaccessible to in some locations and at present, organic food is more expensive. She did not want anyone to believe that organic food was necessary for SCD.  
2. While the Specific Carbohydrate Diet is beneficial for everyone as it is basically eating nutritious, easy to digest foods, SCD was specifically designed to assist those with acute digestive disorders. The diet was developed by a doctor and researched by a bio-chemist for the purpose of achieving remission and healing of digestive disorders. There is a scientific basis for the foods selected and the foods not permitted. While some individual persons may tolerate particular foods that are outside of the SCD menu, many cannot. In SCD, we insist on strict adherence to SCD as written by Elaine Gottschall not to be fussy or compulsive, but to protect the needs of the most sensitive sufferer. SCD is focused on digestive disorders, many of which are auto-immune diseases where a seemingly small event can cause a big reaction. The SCDWiki writers know that SCD works and do not believe that SCD should be modified. While it is not a diet to try to lose weight, some have lost weight while on the SCD.  

The SCDWiki supports the Specific Carbohydrate Diet as an integral component of patient healing. SCD is not a substitute for professional medical care. All prescription medicines should be taken as directed. While trying to keep SCD impermissible ingredients to a minimum, Elaine advised that it may be necessary to tolerate some impermissible, inactive ingredients in medications and supplements.