SCD vs the Maker's Diet

Hi Roni, the low residue diet keeps me from having obstructive episodes. They do catscans and say they don't see any blockage, but I believe it is narrow in there somewhere, because if I eat the wrong things. (red meat and other fibrous items) I am right back in the ER with obstruction pain. I am in remission right now, but do have to be careful what I eat because of mechanical problems I now have due to surgeries. (Alot of scar tissue/adhesions). I have to stay away from high fiber things. In other words the diet works for me, because it keeps things moving thru me and not getting stuck. Hope that helps.

Thank you CrazyHarry for all the effort you have given to educate us on the SCD and MD. I'm glad the MD is working for you and that you're feeling well. I know that your success is due in large part to great effort, sticktoitiveness (for lack of a better "word") and willpower. I, unfortunately, am the other extreme. I seem to only be able to get as far as buying these books, but I don't have the energy to study them, buy the required food and supplies (yogurt maker??), let alone the willpower to follow them. I kind of stumbled upon the Maker's Diet when I was strolling around Borders a couple of years ago. I thought the author's story was very compelling and wanted to give it a try. But when I got to his discussion about the HSO's, I lost interest in the diet. Now, after not having much success with Humira, I'm thinking about giving the Maker's Diet a try. For those of you who have had success with this diet, what is Step #1? Can you get all the recommended food at Whole Foods? (I'm a one stop shopper). Will an occasional cookie or muffin, or dinner out destroy any progress? Does following this diet become very time consuming? I would consider consulting with a nutritionist who is kind of like a personal trainer for nutrition, but I don't know where I could find such a person. I appreciate any and all advice.

ski bum -

you can get all your stuff at whole foods. that is where i do my food shopping. i found the store very different than the conventional market - different brands and all, so it the first few times i went shopping i was there for like 3 hours. no joke. but now that i know what i am doing and what brands to use (and like) and how to shop and read labels (unfortunately the book doesnt really take you through this) i am now in and out of there. imho, the easiest way to get started shopping is to go with the book and use the appendix section where he lists a lot of brands. start with those and then branch out. your grocery bill will likely double or more, but since you'll be making your own meals and not eating out it becomes a wash, if not coming out a head, especially once you figure it out.

you must be honest to yourself and the diet the first 4 days. it will suck. imho it is all will power. if you can do it and make it to phase 3 it becomes a lot easier, especially once you start feeling better (assuming it works for you) and it becomes a habit. sticktoitiveness was truly how i did it. life is full of choices and for me, where i was when i started, it was a choice i new i had to make and see through to the very best i could. i am glad i did. imho, step 1 is making this choice cos it is a very hard and intimidating diet to begin.

phase 3 is a maintenance phase. once there the occasional cheat wont kill you. the key is to know often you do it and in what amount and those times do affect you. that will help you know when you can and cant cheat cos sometimes cheating will make you sick so it may not be worth it. but some pork here and there and a sandwich with white bread on the rare occasion wont kill you. i believe the better you stick to the protocol though the better off you will be in the long run. a cheat can be even construed as eating non-organic depending on your pov of the diet.

remember though the diet is not a cure, but i believe it could help alleviate symptoms and help you feel better. (ind results do vary...)

best of luck!

I am posting a reply because I am looking at different diets and this thread is so good others may find it helpful also. Thank you all for your insight. BTW, I am taking the first steps to be SCD legal.
David

man, i came up with a good post (pat self on back)...glad you all liked it.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61341020100204

Study fails to link saturated fat, heart disease

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The saturated fat found mainly in meat and dairy products has a bad reputation, but a new analysis of published studies finds no clear link between people's intake of saturated fat and their risk of developing heart disease.

Research has shown that saturated fat can raise blood levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol, and elevated LDL is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Because of this, experts generally advise people to limit their intake of fatty meat, butter and full-fat dairy.

The American Heart Association (AHA) suggests that adults get no more than 7 percent of their daily calories from the fat; for someone who eats 2,000 calories a day, that translates into fewer than 16 grams of saturated fat per day.

But in the new analysis, which combined the results of 21 previous studies, researchers found no clear evidence that higher saturated fat intakes led to higher risks of heart disease or stroke.

The findings, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, may sound like good news for steak lovers, but a past AHA president cautioned against "over interpreting" the results.

"No one is saying that some saturated fat is going to harm you...people should enjoy their food," said Dr. Robert H. Eckel, a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver.

But, he pointed out, many studies have shown that dietary saturated fat can raise people's cholesterol, and the new analysis is not going to change recommendations to keep saturated fat intake in check.

Perhaps more importantly, though, Eckel said that the thinking on diet and heart health is moving away from a focus on single nutrients and toward "dietary patterns."

A number of studies have linked the so-called Western diet to greater heart disease risks; that diet pattern is defined as one high in red and processed meats and saturated fats -- but also high in sweets and other refined carbohydrates like white bread.

On the other hand, diets described as Mediterranean or "prudent" -- generally high in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, unsaturated fats from vegetable oil -- may help lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.

It's that type of eating pattern that people should strive for, Eckel said.

For the current study, researchers led by Dr. Ronald M. Krauss, of the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Center in California, pooled data from 21 studies that included a total of nearly 348,000 adults.

Participants, who were generally healthy to start, were surveyed about their diet habits and then followed for anywhere from five to 23 years. Over that time, 11,000 developed heart disease or suffered a stroke.

Overall, Krauss and his colleagues found, there was no difference in the risks of heart disease and stroke between people with the lowest and highest intakes of saturated fat.

The analysis included what are known as epidemiological studies -- where the researchers looked for associations between people's reported diet habits and their risk of heart disease and stroke. These types of studies have inherent limitations, like depending on people's recollection of their eating habits.

In addition, the study could not address whether saturated fat intake has different effects on heart disease and stroke risk for different age groups. Nor could it look at the effects of replacing saturated fat in the diet with polyunsaturated fats -- like those found in vegetable oils and fish -- or with carbohydrates.

Some other studies, the researchers write, have shown that consuming polyunsaturated fats in place of saturated ones may lower heart disease risk.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, online January 13, 2010.

Plus, if your steak comes from a grass fed cow, there is more omega 3 fat in it then omega 6. Grass fed also has a ton of CLA. I wish they would go back to feeding animals their proper diet.

If your just starting off with SCD and not strictly 100%, then you might as well not waste your time. Just looking at your short post, 2 of the things probably illegal ingredients. You really can't call it SCD. Good luck.

Thank you much for the feedback. I am going to relook at what I am doing. I do not know the answers to some of your questions so for sure I am breaking the diet even more than I think I am. I am going to post answers as an when I get them cause I am really trying to figure this out. I did just by a yogourmet maker and there probiotic starter. That was going to be my next step but it seems I need to rethink my commitment to the program.
One additional headache for me is I travel a lot for work and this makes eating right a little more challenging for me. Although theses excuses are not making my gut feel better
Again thank you!!!
David

Consider going to http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/BTVC-SCD/ and posting. There are several people there who deal with traveling while on SCD. They could definitely give you some tips.