There are many different types of dietary therapies for children on the Autism Spectrum, one of which is the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD). We are used to talking a lot about the gluten and casein free (GFCF) diet as a primary diet for individuals on the spectrum because we know that gluten and casein can have an adverse effect on cognitive function, eye contact, attention focus, etc.

Many kids also benefit from the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD). The specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) was originally developed by an individual named Elaine Gottschall. She wrote a number of books and the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD), in its early stages, was very useful for individuals with inflammatory bowel disease. This includes Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis or other similar disorders.

I have seen the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) be quite helpful particularly for adults with inflammatory bowel disease. The Autism community got a hold of the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) a number of years ago because they recognized, as I have, that many kids on the Autism spectrum have serious bowel problems. Many times they face inflammatory bowel problems that are unrelenting and dietary intervention is important.

The specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) became a favorite in the Autism community to help further reduce inflammatory foods beyond just gluten and casein to help resolve some of the underlying inflammatory problems with children on the spectrum. What is happening with the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) is you are reducing specific carbohydrates whether that is rice or corn or potatoes or other types of complex carbohydrates which are often times difficult to digest. When you are eliminating these carbohydrates, you are reducing the inflammatory mediators in the gut, you are reducing the mucous formation in the gut and over time you get a healing effect of the gut.

This is very important to reduce the inflammation and just improve overall digestive function for kids. The specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) has been used for those children where there is known evidence of inflammatory bowel disease or a suspicion of severe inflammation in the gut. Many times the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) is quite successful. The premise of the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) is to help reduce gut inflammation and to bring overall improvement and health to the digestive system.

That improved health just brings children further along in their recovery. If your child has ongoing digestive problem, beyond what improvements you have or haven’t seen with the gluten and casein free diet then the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) is something well worth looking into.