About SCD Diet

Your Complete Guide to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet Stages

What is the SCD Diet?

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is a carefully planned dietary program that focuses on specific types of carbohydrates. The diet may be divided into several stages, allowing you to gradually introduce new foods while monitoring your body's response. Below we demonstrate a more detailed 6-stage approach based on the sample JSON data.

SCD Diet Stages (0 to 5)

Stage 0 (Introduction Diet, ~2-5 days)

Allowed Foods (Examples):

  • Chicken (homemade chicken soup)
  • Carrot
  • Homemade gelatin with honey (optional)
  • Beef patties or fish (broiled)
  • Soft-cooked eggs
  • 24-hour fermented yogurt (if tolerated)

Foods to Avoid:

  • All grains and starches
  • Raw vegetables and fruits (potentially irritating)
  • Processed foods

Stage 1 (~2-3 weeks)

Additional Allowed Foods:

  • Pork, Beef, Lamb, Duck, Goose, Rabbit, Horse, Pigeon, Quail, Turkey
  • Shrimp, Fish
  • Butternut Squash, Pumpkin, Acorn Squash, Zucchini, Spinach
  • Apple, Pear, Banana (with small spots)
  • Nut Milks (Almond, Walnut, Cashew)
  • SCD Yogurt (24-hour fermented), Eggs

Continue to Avoid:

  • Most dairy (beyond SCD yogurt)
  • All grains and starches
  • Heavily processed foods

Stage 2 (~1-3 months)

Additional Allowed Foods:

  • Ham/Bacon (homemade, additive-free)
  • Tomato, Winter Squash, Cucumber, Chayote, Green Beans, Yardlong Beans, Bell Pepper, Watercress, Mushrooms
  • Peach, Nectarine, Plum, Prune, Apricot, Pineapple, Loquat
  • Cherry Tomato, Coconut Milk, Light Green Tea, Light Black Tea, Coconut Water
  • Almond Butter

Continue to Avoid:

  • Raw or highly fibrous items if still irritating
  • All grains, refined sugar, starches

Stage 3 (Maintenance 1, ~3+ months)

Additional Allowed Foods:

  • Beetroot, Eggplant, Onion, Broccoli, Lettuce, Kale, etc.
  • Cherry, Mulberry, Lemon, Mango, Papaya, Melons, Blueberry, etc.
  • Dried Fruits (Dried Plum/Apricot), Olive, Tangerine, Currant, etc.
  • Nut Flours (Almond Flour, Walnut Flour), Cashew Butter, Hazelnut Butter, etc.
  • Salted Egg, Sparkling Water/Soda Water

Always Avoid:

  • Refined sugars, grains, starches not SCD-legal
  • Processed convenience foods

Stage 4 (Maintenance 2, ~4-6 months)

Additional Allowed Foods:

  • Crab, Shellfish
  • Daikon Radish, Garlic Sprout, Chives, Cabbage, Kohlrabi, Black Radish
  • Grape, Pomegranate, Persimmon
  • Coconut Flour, Coconut Meat, Pecan, Almond, Cashew Flour, Hazelnut Flour
  • Lima Beans, Navy Beans, Red Lentils, Dried Peas

Continue to Avoid or Limit:

  • High-FODMAP foods if you notice gas/bloating
  • Other personal allergens or triggers

Stage 5 (Full Variety, ~6+ months)

Additional Allowed Foods:

  • Sashimi (raw fish), Chili Peppers (if tolerated)
  • Jackfruit, Longan, Lychee, Dragon Fruit, Durian, Custard Apple, Guava
  • Nuts & Seeds: Hazelnuts, Pine Nuts, Pistachios, Chestnuts, Macadamia Nuts, Brazil Nuts, Sunflower Seeds, Watermelon Seeds, Sesame Seeds
  • Legumes/Beans: White Beans, Kidney Beans, Black Beans, Peanuts
  • Coffee

Important Notes:

  • Always introduce new foods slowly and watch for any reaction
  • Still avoid highly processed foods, refined sugars, and non-SCD starches

Important Tips for Success

Food Introduction

Introduce new foods one at a time, waiting 2-3 days between each new item to observe any reactions.

Food Preparation

Proper food preparation is crucial. Follow recipes carefully and ensure all ingredients comply with SCD guidelines.

Food Journal

Keep a detailed food journal to track what you eat and how you feel after introducing new foods.