SCD Lifestyle diet... how can I live on meat and carrot purée for life??!!!

[Blue_Bee]

Thanks to the many contributors here and the back-blogs and discussions (LOVE that search function) along with reading Dr Julia Enders and Dr Michael Moseley, I’m pretty sure gut health is the root cause of my inability so far to recover from crushing Hashimoto’s symptoms (and I’m Coeliac). Sure, my Endo, GP and I need to get the meds right, but I also need to be able to absorb them and all the good nutrition! I’m seriously considering the SCD Lifestyle Diet to “heal my gut” but it seems extreme. I mean really, meat and carrot purée for 2 weeks, then not much more than that forEVER, from what I’ve read so far, really? Am I just reading it wrong? Who’s had success with this approach? I’d love to hear from you Thanks, BBxx

[shaws Administrator]

It sounds like a starvation diet.

[Blue_Bee in reply to shaws]

I am very difficult to starve. I would eat tons of meat patties and carrot purée I swear... and then I would swear some more!!

[Revsie in reply to Blue_Bee]

that made me smile

[BadHare]

Again,look up Chris Kresser’s website for advice on gut health, thyroid disorders, & autoimmune disease. It’s my favourite site, after here of course!

You;ll need to sign up for access to this e-book: my.chriskresser.com/ebook/t...

re you, or is someone you love, suffering from weight gain, hair loss, exhaustion, constipation, depression, or mental fog

In this report, you’ll learn even more about how poor diet choices, blood sugar problems, and stress contribute to thyroid disease. You’ll also learn about other important strategies to improve thyroid function, such as understanding your thyroid panel, choosing the right medications, healing your gut, balancing your immune system, and optimizing your iodine, selenium and vitamin D levels.

[Blue_Bee in reply to BadHare]

Thanks BadHare, I’m going to enjoy exploring all that, always reading

[bluebug]

Em no.

No diet that extreme is going to be stuck to it is simply not realistic.

Since you are Coeliac concentrate first on cutting out gluten, and if possible avoid buying the gluten free stuff in the supermarket to replace it.

Once you have done that for 4-6 weeks cut out the processed gluten free stuff which is burning a hole in your pocket due to the amount of cr*p it has in it e.g added sugar, weird fillers.

[Blue_Bee in reply to bluebug]

Bluebug! Are we related...? He he. Yep, I think you’re right. No “Yes the SCD lifestyle is delicious, amazing and worth it” reviews here yet. I like the Em.... no. Made me laugh. As for gluten free I’m a pro, been successfully GF for 15 years. Don’t eat much of the “ersatz” GF food which looks the same but tastes very different to the real wheaty thing. Still, you’ve got me thinking and I’ll take a fresh look at my diet again. Tune up the healthiness. Thanks Bluebug.

[JadisFox]

What about copper pans? (Proper copper old fashioned pans)

[Jill35]

I looked at gut health and thyroid and found the diet too restrictive. Instead I paid to have food allergy testing done. I had been tested on 3 occasions for coeliacs always came back negative.

My food allergy testing came back and I Elly Munster everything I was allergic to and reintroduced after a month a different food a fortnight to gauge the reaction.

Now I don't have milk or yogurt in my diet from dairy. I don't have shellfish (already knew that one.). The biggest change for me has been sodium nitrate. No cold meet chorizo bacon ham etc.

I am used to it now a year on since I started but my gut health is so much better

What triggers one person can be different from the next this way you know your good triggers and can find out reaction as some are minor but get glared due to the others.

[Blue_Bee in reply to Jill35]

Hi Jill, sounds like that testing worked really well for you. It’s so much easier not to eat certain things if you know for sure you’re allergic, isn’t it? I had a whole lot of allergy testing done about a year ago when my asthma was being checked and I wasn’t allergic to anything, except a general hay fever allergy to “everything “ I am really not sure what that means so I’ll check at my annual asthma check-up this year. Thanks for sharing your experience; it all helps

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

reallyfedup123,

Which is why most copper pans are lined with tin. And one of the major pains of using copper pans is the need to properly inspect very regularly and get re-tinned as needed. That is why picking up any old copper pan from an antique market and using it without further ado is a bad idea.

(Traditionally French jam pans were unlined. This is an issue still being argued over - but there certainly seem to be potential issues.)

[Blue_Bee in reply to helvella]

Hmm as a jam-maker I really appreciate this information Hellvela

[Blue_Bee in reply to Blue_Bee]

Oops! Helvella spelling

[denvajade]

Try a carb free diet, plus two garlic tablets each morning and strong probiotics at night.

[Blue_Bee in reply to denvajade]

Hmm, I think if I avoid ersatz gf pretend pasta and bread (gf brick!) then that would be getting close to carb-free. I’m thinking about it. More protein maybe to up my ferritin.

[Blue_Bee in reply to Blue_Bee]

Garlic is in just about everything I eat anyway. What’s that saying? Garlic is as good as two mothers. True!

[Hidden]

I was diagnosed Coeliac 2 years ago and after cutting all gluten from my diet i did feel a big difference although i was still having gut issues but didn't understand why. It turned out the gluten had badly damaged my gut prior to diagnosis which had caused a Lactose Intolerance also, which is seemingly common with Coeliac disease. I make all my food from scratch now (although i do cheat occasionally and have a free from food for convenience) After trying lots of probiotics i was lucky to find a good one that has worked wonders for my gut, it also allows me to take foods that do contain Lactose which allows me to enjoy eating out again (still avoiding gluten) although i do still refrain from lactose any other time. This all works for me without any specific diet and i feel my gut is getting healthier by the day. I also take Calcium and Magnesium supplements as recommended for people with food intolerance's along with the vitamins needed for my thyroid.

[Blue_Bee in reply to Hidden]

Yep KizzyKazz, I think you’re nearing the mark there for me. Oooh I love cheese (savoury chocolate I call it), full-cream yogurt and milk, and actual milk chocolate, ooh and butter by the slab. Food has become a major comfort to me while feeling so ill. I went dairy and gf when first diagnosed Coeliac because my gut was damaged for sure. I’ve got the necessary enzymes for lactose, I’ve been tested, so no issues there. But I’m sure my gut is smiling again and a rest from dairy would likely help. I just find it hard to let go of small pleasures when I’m so ill. Still, if it helps me get better then I can look forward to striding out along the river and getting physically stronger. Now THAT is worth going dairy free between now and Christmas. Done! BBxx

[Blue_Bee in reply to Blue_Bee]

I’m when I said my guy is smiling again (what?!!) I actually meant suffering...

[Andie]

I've been following the GAPS diet for some years which is based on SCD. I don't know where it says meat and carrot puree for life. Yikes, it would have me running for the hills!!

Essentially I don't eat any grains, sugar, potatoes nor processed products. I make my own chicken stock which is full of gut healing and immune boosting nutrients & my own kefir which is full of many different strains of beneficial bacteria and yeasts. Ultimately, incredibly supportive for gut and immune health. It does involve more cooking and prep time, but you get used to that.

The best thing I could suggest if at first you find it too draconian is to ease yourself gently into it. There's loads of online resources for recipes and meal/snack ideas. Try one new recipe a week and keep going until you build a number of favourites. I love curries, so it's easy to knock up a tasty thai or indian dish, make in bulk and then freeze the remainder so you've got easy meals for another time. I work as a nutritionist and coach people on healthy eating, (not necessarily SCD, only if gut healing is needed) and have loads of recipe ideas, especially for breakfast which tends to be for most people the difficult meal as conventionally grains are used in one form or other. I'd be glad to share ideas with you if you're interested. Otherwise, check out the SCD foods list with quick reference for appropriate foods. You'll find it contains a lot more than carrot & meat puree !! breakingtheviciouscycle.inf... Best of luck

[Blue_Bee in reply to Andie]

Aw thanks Andie! I’ve ordered a SCD compliant recipe book so that’ll give me a better idea of what I’m looking at... and I like the idea of adding one recipe a week... sure beats the meat and carrots lark. Do you make your own yogurt too, and do you see benefits in homemade yogurt vs bought plain, full-cream (natch!) Greek yogurt (no added sugar)?

[Andie in reply to Blue_Bee]

Your home made yoghurt will knock spots off any shop bought product. Commercial brands are made for profit - home made types are made for health!! Home made yoghurt will contain many more beneficial strains and in greater numbers. The shop bought products do contain beneficial bacteria but as far as I know, not in any number or diversity that would have an impact on someone’s health. It perhaps could be argued that they might help an already healthy person stay healthy, but IMHO why use inferior products when you can make the Rolls Royce of probiotic yourself. I use a Luvele yoghurt maker - it keeps a perfect temperature and ferments usually within 24 hours and is easy peasy to use.

I don’t make yoghurt, only because I use kefir as I would yoghurt, but it’s the same method. if you want a thicker Greek-style yoghurt, just put your fermented batch in a plastic sieve over a bowl to allow liquid whey to drain away. After some hours you will be left with a lovely thick yoghurt.

PS Hemsley & Hemsley recipes are generally SCD compliant and I have found in the main they are very tasty. Their books are expensive but maybe a library would have copies so you could try some out?

PPS Chris Kresser as advised above is worth checking out.

[Margo in reply to Andie]

Just reading your reply to this thread Andie which i found interesting. I always have a problem, what to have for breakfast, if you wouldn't mind sharing some tips please? Thank you

[Andie in reply to Margo]

Hi Margo, I'll PM you on this.

[Margo in reply to Andie]

Very kind of you Andie , look forward to it.

[Clairewalker751]

Have a look at Dr Amy Myers autoimmune solution

[Blue_Bee in reply to Clairewalker751]

Ok will do tx CW.

[Clairewalker751 in reply to Blue_Bee]

You're welcome I did the 30 day protocol in her book and have since gone back to eating more normally except for gluten dairy and soy

[Blue_Bee]

Real cast iron, okay. What about the Swiss Red Cross brand of non-stick that is meant to be (and states it is) sAFe...?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

reallyfedup123,

Maybe - but at least they are not poisoned by copper!

I was pointing out that issues with copper are well-known and have historically been addressed in this way. Tin, whilst poisonous in various forms, tends to react far less with food than does copper.

[AnneEvo]

Read more on how to achieve good gut bacteria, I'm sure there is much more to it than eating meat and pureed carrots. From what I've seen on TV health programmes you need to eat a 'rainbow' of fruit and veg. On the 'Doctor in The House' series, Dr Ranan Chatterjee said eating 2 apples a day is good for gut health, but even better when they are stewed (he also said adding cinnamon can help counteract a spike in blood sugar if adding sugar when stewing them). I'd also read up on leaky gut syndrome - I'm not suggesting you have that but it seems many people on here do suffer with that and of course if 'we' have that we're not going to absorb the nutrients we need.

[Blue_Bee]

Thanks to everyone here for all your shared experience, knowledge and suggestions. Lots to think about, reorganise and try. It’s really helpful having a chat and tossing around different healthy ideas. I can’t believe I have the energy to even think about this. I’m on new medication this week (NDT) and feeling a leeeetle bit better. If that improvement lasts another week then I’ll know I’m onto something (usually the benefit of new dose / meds) fades within a few days for me). Fingers crossed I continue to feel better and can start applying some of this wisdom and get on the virtuous cycle to good health. Thank you ❣️