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Questions about yogurt, probiotics, and the SCD Diet - Can your CD handle yogurt?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/14/2009 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone,

I have been gluten and dairy free for a while now and see a lot of improvement in my symptoms, but I would like to see more. I'm considering trying the SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet) but I see that the SCD allows some cheeses and homemade yogurt, and I'm a little nervous about reintroducing any dairy. Anyone have any experience with this? Can anyone here handle yogurt?

The SCD also seems to frown on probiotic supplements, prefers instead the homemade yogurt. I currently use VSL and other oral probiotics. Wouldn't I get the same benefit from the oral probiotics without the worry of having to introduce dairy with the homemade yogurt?

(I tried to do a Search on the forum for "yogurt" and "SCD" but I just can't get the Search function to work for me. It always comes up with nothing, no matter what I search for.)

Thanks for reading and sharing your advice with me.

Angela, age 43

dx Ulcerative Proctitis 2008 after colonoscopy

dx Crohn's 2009 after small capsule endoscopy

Symptoms on and off for more than 10 years

Mild to moderate

Currently taking no medications

Gluten/dairy free/low sugar diet plus VSL/probiotics and vitamin supplements

Posted 4/14/2009 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Is it the lactose or casein that bothers you? If it's the lactose, you would be fine because the yogurt is lactose free. If it's the casein, you have a few options. 1. You can try goat yogurt, because people who don't tolerate cow can generally tolerate goat. 2. You can make yogurt from almond milk. 3. You can take a probiotic that contains only acidophilus (VSL isn't SCD legal because it contains bifidus). A lot of people like the Scdophilus from GI Pro Health (http://www.giprohealth.com/scdophilusnext.aspx) because it's completely dairy free (which I guess is hard to find).

Dairy is completely optional with SCD, so you never have to try it if you don't want too. I personally don't have a problem with it, but I've never been dairy free. If you do decide to try the yogurt, its recommended you eat as small as an 1/8 of a teaspoon a day to see if you tolerate it, and then slowly increase the amount.

Good luck! Also, consider joining the SCD group at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/BTVC-SCD/ because it has some very knowledgeable people who have been on the diet for years.
Posted 4/14/2009 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
Taking a good probiotic daily and indefinitely can be very beneficial as well.

:)
Posted 4/14/2009 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
Yogurt does not upset my tummy but Skyr does if anyone knows what that is hehe..
http://skyr.is/products/blueberry/

I drink alot of milk with corn flakes and it goes okey in my stomach but if i drink to much i get a heartburn.
Posted 4/14/2009 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
If you haven't tried yogurt since going dairy-free, it's probably worth it to try. I never seem to have trouble with dairy or lactose, so I'm fine with the yogurt and cheese on SCD, however my dad (who also has a lot of digestive issues) can't do dairy at all general has no problem with yogurt.
If it's the lactose that's your problem, the homemade SCD should be better than regular yogurt, since the 24-hour fermentation means it contains even less lactose. Like spookyhurst said, you could also try yogurt made from goat's milk.
A lot of probiotics and other supplements are also "illegal" on the diet because they contain additives or fillers that aren't allowed. Although I'm giving the diet a try, I'm personally a little skeptical of some of Elaine Gottschall's theories and rules, including her claim that bifidus is bad, but who knows.

If you don't mind my asking, how long after going dairy and gluten-free did you notice a change in your symptoms? I'm 3 weeks into SCD and not sure yet if it's helping.
Posted 4/15/2009 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
Elaine says bifudus is bad for those of us with bad guts, because it tends to overgrow. Here's a link to more info: http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/knowledge_base/kb/bifidus.htm

S. Boulardii is also legal. I haven't bought any yet, but want to. S.Thermophilus and L.Bulgaricus are legal too, because that's what's in the starter to make yogurt. If you buy a non-dairy starter for the goat yogurt, it has L. Casei in it. I think that's it for legal strains.

I felt decent my first month of SCD, but it wasn't until I'd been on it 3 months that I noticed a real difference (constipation resolved *crosses fingers it stays that way*, cramping mostly gone, hemmies shrunk, and fatigue getting better). At 4 1/2 months into the diet, I think I would recommend people go 100% SCD for at least 6 months before giving up.
Posted 4/15/2009 3:56 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Angela and welcome!  I would only re-state what spookyhurst said about the yogurt--start with tiny amounts and gradually build.  If you feel like your issue is casein, then consider making the yogurt with an alternative.  

Also, you might want to consider adding other fermented foods to your diet for their beneficial bacteria.  A great book that has a detailed section on how to ferment foods is Nourishing Traditions, by Sally Fallon.  Besides yogurt, you can make fermented vegetables and fruits.  Some listed in the book are: sauerkraut, pickled cucumbers, pickled vegetables I hadn't even thought of, mint chutney, fruit chutney, pineapple chutney, etc.  This book is one of the most interesting "cook books" I've ever read!  It has extra articles and sections on long-lost techniques.  It's truly fascinating! Does anyone else out there have this book besides CrazyHarry who recommended it to me about 18 months ago?  (And many of the recipes are SCD "legal"!)        

Posted 4/15/2009 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
I just bought Nourishing Traditions for my mom, but we haven't read much of it yet. But I already have her soaking her flax seed and oatmeal in a bit of yogurt overnight before she cooks it in the morning :).
Posted 4/15/2009 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Oh good, Spooky! I'm glad to hear you've got it! It's so interesting--more like a good novel! smilewinkgrin
Posted 4/16/2009 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hello!

Have you tried goat products yet? After being diagnosed I became (like so many others) lactose intolerant so have switched to goat products.

I now drink goats milk and eat lots and lots of goat yogurt (for the probiotics). They also make goat kefir and I drink that sometimes too. I eat normal cheese and crackers every now and then, but have to be very careful, otherwise I get crazy bloating and tummy pain.

Good luck!!
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