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Question About Chocolate And The Specific Carb Diet

Gentleheart

By Gentleheart
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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Gentleheart Enthusiast
Gentleheart
Posted

Why is chocolate or cocoa not allowed on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet? I was wondering if it was because of possible starch or sugar ingredients being added in the processing of it, or if there is something wrong with chocolate itself.

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Gentleheart Enthusiast
Gentleheart
Posted
  • Author
Why is chocolate or cocoa not allowed on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet? I was wondering if it was because of possible starch or sugar ingredients being added in the processing of it, or if there is something wrong with chocolate itself.

I realize that I'm replying to myself. But I went on some of the SCD sites to see what I could find. Chocolate appears to be some big mystery and no one seems to be able to give an answer as to why it can't be eaten on the diet. Anybody knowledgeable about this? Thanks!

Kit Newbie
Kit
Posted
I realize that I'm replying to myself. But I went on some of the SCD sites to see what I could find. Chocolate appears to be some big mystery and no one seems to be able to give an answer as to why it can't be eaten on the diet. Anybody knowledgeable about this? Thanks!
Kit Newbie
Kit
Posted
I realize that I'm replying to myself. But I went on some of the SCD sites to see what I could find. Chocolate appears to be some big mystery and no one seems to be able to give an answer as to why it can't be eaten on the diet. Anybody knowledgeable about this? Thanks!

Dear Gentleheart,

I've been wrestling with that question myself, of late. I am guessing the problem with, say, cocoa powder is that it's irritating to the digestive tract.

I am on the SCD too, but not for Crohn's or IBS. I just have some very uncomfortable bloating when I eat starch or polysaccarides. Since I don't have diarrhea or other digestive complaints, I'm a little looser than Elaine recommends.

I do stay off white sugar and obvious starches, but I eat some illegal things once in a while and have no trouble as long as I don't go overboard and I have lots of days between on strict SCD.

Today, though, in my coffee, I put in some delicious Droste's cocoa powder with the honey I always use. Dang it was good. I say try it once and see if you're alright unless you have cramping or diarrhea still.

I was diagnosed with celiac disease May 1, 2001.

Gentleheart Enthusiast
Gentleheart
Posted
  • Author
Dear Gentleheart,

I've been wrestling with that question myself, of late. I am guessing the problem with, say, cocoa powder is that it's irritating to the digestive tract.

I am on the SCD too, but not for Crohn's or IBS. I just have some very uncomfortable bloating when I eat starch or polysaccarides. Since I don't have diarrhea or other digestive complaints, I'm a little looser than Elaine recommends.

I do stay off white sugar and obvious starches, but I eat some illegal things once in a while and have no trouble as long as I don't go overboard and I have lots of days between on strict SCD.

Today, though, in my coffee, I put in some delicious Droste's cocoa powder with the honey I always use. Dang it was good. I say try it once and see if you're alright unless you have cramping or diarrhea still.

I was diagnosed with celiac disease May 1, 2001.

Thanks for your reply!

My symptoms are not typical. So I can't really tell immediately when something bothers me. I'm using the diet to troubleshoot ongoing health problems. It annoys me when diets are promoted without complete explanations for the restrictions. If you read the SCD books, they are usually very good about explaining 'why' most other foods are included or excluded. But when it comes to chocolate, no reason is given for some reason. Since my allergies require a particularly severe form of the SCD diet, chocolate becomes the only fun thing left. I'll certainly eliminate it if they can give me a good reason, but it's hard to do it without one.

  • 7 months later...
carolg Newbie
carolg
Posted

I know this is an old question, but thought i would reply in case anyone else is searching for answers as to why chocolate is not allowed on the SCD (specific carbohydrate diet). This is a quote I found on the Healing Crow website from Elaine Gottchell, author of Breaking the Vicious Cycle:

The chemistry of chocolate which is cocoa which is connected in a biochemical way to cocaine. I am not good enough a chemist or patient enough to research it again and again but Dr. Haas said "no chocolate" and I said "no chocolate". It is addictive; perhaps it is because one of the physiological effects of cocoa is "local anathesia.

It doesn't sound to me that chocolate is banned due to it's being a poly or disaccaride (and therefore not broken down in the small intestine) at least not from what Elaine says here. I guess you can use it at your own risk, and see if it bothers you. If you cheat with illegals though, keep in mind you are totally blowing the diet, and risking your chances of a cure. You must stay on the diet 100% until 1 year after you have had no symptoms. Then you should introduce (illegals) SLOWLY and see how it goes.

My 15 year old son is doing wonderfully on the diet, but had been really sick prior to starting SCD. He has been symptom-free for 1 1/2 months, and he has NEVER been symptom free since he was first diagnosed 5 years ago. I feel he is well on the way to a cure, and I wish you the best of health too!

mftnchn Explorer
mftnchn
Posted

Yes, I found another post that explains the components that are irritating to the gut but forget the details. Some of the foods were eliminated due to clinical practice--it didn't seem well tolerated.

I think it is true that it isn't the carb content.

I don't have too many symptoms either, but testing shows a lot of gut problems, so I don't think you can always equate the two. My sense is that we should stay away from it until healed then it can be one food to test and reinstate.

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ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted
If you cheat with illegals though, keep in mind you are totally blowing the diet, and risking your chances of a cure. You must stay on the diet 100% until 1 year after you have had no symptoms. Then you should introduce (illegals) SLOWLY and see how it goes.

This was just NOT my experience. I have had amazing results by following the diet loosely. I eat sweet potatoes and plantains (and a few others now and again) and I have really healed well. :)

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