
Lead researcher, Dr. David Suskind, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Seattle Children’s.
Can diet alone be used to treat Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC)? It’s a question Dr. David Suskind, a gastroenterologist at Seattle Children’s, has been researching for years.
Today, he finally has the answer: yes.
In a first-of-its-kind-study led by Suskind, published today in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, diet alone was shown to bring pediatric patients with active Crohn’s and UC into clinical remission.
“This changes the paradigm for how we may choose to treat children with inflammatory bowel disease,” said Suskind.
In the small, prospective study, patients were put on a special diet called the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) for 12 weeks as the sole intervention to treat their Crohn’s or UC. SCD is a nutritionally balanced diet that removes grains, dairy, processed foods and sugars, except for honey. The diet promotes only natural, nutrient-rich foods, which includes vegetables, fruits, meats and nuts.
At the end of the 12 weeks, eight out of the 10 patients who finished the study showed significant improvement and achieved remission from the dietary treatment alone.
Searching for a cure for IBD
At most centers, treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is limited and usually takes patients down one of two routes: steroids or medication, which can often lead to life-long side effects. Another concern is that medication and steroids only suppresses the immune system and don’t treat the underlying issue of the microbiome, the bacteria that lives in the digestive tract.
IBD refers to several related illnesses that affect the digestive tract. Crohn’s and UC are two forms of IBD. Doctors believe that IBD happens because something goes wrong between a child’s genetic makeup, their immune system and their microbiome. In most people, the bacteria in the digestive tract are harmless. Although in some cases, the microbiome goes awry and causes a person’s immune system to attack the bowel. It’s still unknown why this happens.
Suskind was determined to find better and more effective treatment options for IBD, and so he began spearheading research on the innovative diet known as SCD.
“For decades or longer, medicine has said diet doesn’t matter, that it doesn’t impact disease,” said Suskind. “Now we know that diet does have an impact, a strong impact. It works, and now there’s evidence.”
To date, there have only been a few case reports where a whole food diet, like SCD, has been used as a potential treatment for IBD. This study is the first to show, not just anecdotally, that the diet is safe and effective.
“Each person’s disease is unique, just as each person is unique,” said Suskind. “SCD is another tool in our tool belt to help treat these patients. It may not be the best treatment option for everyone, but it is an effective treatment for those who wish to try a dietary therapy.”
“There had to be a better way”

Adelynne, 11, was diagnosed with Crohn’s when she was 8 years old.
In October 2013, Nicole Kittelson noticed something wasn’t quite right with her then 8-year-old daughter Adelynne. Her skin and eyes had turned gray, her hair was brittle and she was losing weight.
“When we first took her to see her pediatrician, they simply said, ‘She’s a kid. She’s just active and needs more calories,’ but my gut was telling me something was wrong,” said Kittelson.
Shortly after, the family found themselves in the emergency room. Doctors tested Adelynne for leukemia and diabetes, but nothing came back with any answers as to what was going on inside Adelynne’s body. She was put on antibiotics and steroids and was sent home. For three weeks she was doing better, until one day things took a turn.
“She just started getting progressively worse,” said Kittelson.
Receiving an unexpected diagnosis

Adelynne started treatment on EEN, a formula based diet.
After multiple emergency room visits and months of uncertainty, Adelynne was admitted to Seattle Children’s where she met Suskind and was given a diagnosis: Crohn’s.
Common symptoms of Crohn’s include cramping, diarrhea and inflammation of the intestine. Crohn’s symptoms can range from mild pain to pain so severe a child may double over in pain. Additional complications can include dehydration, anemia and weight loss.
“Dr. Suskind walked us through the various treatment options,” said Kittelson. “He told us to think about which one we felt was best for our family. In the end, we wanted to try SCD. We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but in the long run, I didn’t want Adelynne to suffer the life-long side effects from medication or steroids. The diet was our best option. She was in so much pain from the Crohn’s, and I wanted to take that pain away.”
Seattle Children’s offers innovative therapies that are not offered at other centers across the country. Medicine isn’t always the answer for IBD. Diet, as Suskind has been advocating, plays a big role. At Seattle Children’s there are many alternative options including exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) and SCD that can help children feel better and reduce inflammation without medication or steroids.
For 15 weeks the family started treatment using EEN, a diet that consisted of only formula. After 15 weeks on EEN, the family transitioned Adelynne to SCD with the help of her care team at Seattle Children’s.
“It was hard at first,” said Kittelson. “We got really good at reading labels and learning what foods were illegal, but after a while it became second nature.”
A diet change, a life change

Today, Adelynne is thriving and in clinical remission from Crohn’s.
Today, Adelynne has been in clinical remission for more than two years. She’s a healthy, happy and thriving 11-year-old girl.
“I can’t believe how far we’ve come. When we first walked into Seattle Children’s, she was an 8-year-old girl who was barely heavier than our 4-year-old. Now, she’s growing and foods are no longer an enemy.”
Adelynne and her family have embraced shopping local for natural, nutrient rich foods. And although it’s been an adjustment, the family now says the diet is just part of their every day life.
“Her lunch doesn’t look much different than other kids at school,” said Kittelson. “There are so many options out there. We haven’t felt like we’ve had to sacrifice. We’ve even adjusted holiday traditions to fit into our new lifestyle. Instead of candy for special occasions, we swap them for other things.”
For Adelynne and her family, SCD was the right treatment option. It’s helped Adelynne get back to her normal life and find a love for food again.
“I don’t have the words to thank Dr. Suskind for what he did for us,” said Kittelson. “We are so in love with that man. He’s an extraordinary doctor who weighed our concerns and continues to walk us through everything. To have a doctor that is willing to explore other options and is willing to try new things, it’s incredible. There is no one right option for everyone. No one responds the same way. He listened to us and was our advocate when we needed one.”
Is the Noval diet for children only? Do you believe older people could have favorable results as well?
We’ll check with our clinical team and get back to you as soon as we can with more information.
SCD has been promoted in the naturopath community for a while to fight IBD and IBS and it does help. I’m so glad Seattle Children’s is pursuing this and publishing the results.
This doctor is the best. So grateful for him.
This diet looks like a paleo diet or am I wrong?
No, the SCD works in stages. There is more info at http://www.pecanbread.com
It’s based on the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle.
http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/
It is also used for kids with autism. A lower starch version also has been known to help the anti-inflammatory disease Ankylosing Spondylitis.
You can read the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle to learn about the SCD diet. There are some good websites about the diet too. Super excited to see this research happening. I did this diet with my son for two years and it put his digestive problems into remission. Good for adults and kids who suffer from gut issues.
Will this diet help me? I have Celiac disease and have been gluten free for 5 years now but still have digestive problems that limit my travel and ability to enjoy eating out. Where can I find the entire diet description? Thank you.
Where am I able to get more specifics on diet.
Very interesting and encouraging that this research is showing results.
For more information about SCD you can read Dr. Suskind’s book, which includes details about the dietary therapy, advice, tips and recipes. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/NIMBAL-Therapy-David-L-Suskind/dp/0692430997
Encouraging to see conventional medicine begin to catch up to natural medicine. This basic diet (under various names) has worked very well for those with any of the 80+ autoimmune diseases. Me included.
Job well done Dr Suskind!
My son Max’s was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in December of 2012. He is symptoms free for the past 4 years. Max’s colon inflammation marker was reduced 28 folds on the SCD diet enjoying fresh fruits, cooked vegetables, organic meats, nuts and honey every day. http://www.nomoregrains.org
I’m in my late 20s, UC for 3 years, and have been eating the SCD diet (previously Paleo) to great success. I highly recommend it.
Does the SCD eradicate all the other symptoms of IBD, like fatigue and joint pain? If my child is on Remicade, can she still try the diet?
Let me check with our clinical team and get back to you with more information.
The diet does work for some in regards to extraintestinal manifestations of Crohn’s disease; but not as reliable as with the GI symptoms. Anyone can try the diet and we often do use diet and medication together, if medication is not working by itself. We recommend if a patient decides to follow the diet, it is done with the guidance from a dietician and their healthcare provider.
Having been diagnosed with full blow crohn’s I was offered steroids which I declined.
Went to a nat…changed my diet, leafy green vegs, orange vegs, white meat chicken, fish, almond butter, nuts, eggs,………made fresh soups with the vegs…..cant tell you how wonderful I feel, within 4 months I felt better!
In addition to the dramatic diet change, monthly IV infusion of meg vitamins/mineral drips,and Glutathion (antioxidant)…..I will never deviate from this regime.
Where do you get monthly infusions of vitamins?
Celiac, Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, and IBS all have similar symptoms and cures. All it requires is heating a clean, healthy, whole foods diet. No grains, dairy, or sugar (fake or real sugar). No processed foods. Organic meats. No side effects, give it a try!
This is not a NOVEL diet. Breaking the Vicious Cycle was written quite some time ago. Ten years ago (after ten prior years of medication and worsening Crohn’s symptoms), when doctors at the Mayo Clinic told me I would have to have a colectomy, I searched high and low and found Elaine’s book. It saved my life. I immediately went on the SCD. Within three weeks I was in remission, but I loved my life so much that I stayed on the diet with no cheating for a full year. I have never had a problem since. I had seen myriad gastroenterologists, for a decade, and they all told me that diet had nothing to do with IBD. They told me that bacteria (the microbiome) had nothing to do with it. They were wrong. And every colonoscopy I have had since that diet, gastroenterologists can’t believe I had been 80 pounds, hospitalized, unable to move my fingers, hands, legs due to inflammation, terribly anemic from passing huge amounts of blood 20 times a day….. for ten years I battled Crohns with steroids, immuran, methotrexate….. and all I needed was to eat monosaccharides. It is so simple. Now maybe my doctors will believe me – it is ALL diet and bacteria. Thank you Dr. Suskind for bringing Elaine’s work to the mainstream. It really was about time. It will help so many people.
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s at 19 YO. I immediately began the Maker’s Diet, then shifted to SCD, and finally have settled on a modified paleo diet. I stay conscious of my stress levels as well as my vitamin D and probiotic intake. Thankful for 3.5 years of total remission. Love this article and the continued research in this area!
Cami, I had just about the same experience. Tried the Maker’s Diet years ago (briefly), then SCD years later, and now I eat a Paleo diet to keep my Crohn’s under control. I’ve been off Crohn’s meds and have had no hospitalizations or flares for three years now (I used to have up to four hospitalizations a year). Glad to see so many others having great results. Happy to see studies like this finally being published!
For those of you asking if this can work for adults too – I can tell you I found the SCD Diet 9 years ago when my specialist was about to put me on steroids for my UC. I was 31 then, and 2 years into diagnosis. I went 100% strict on it, even when I went to the pub I’d have vodka lime and soda instead of my usual pints of lager.
After 3 months I had stopped even taking my daily Asacol tablets. I’ve not been 100% strict to the diet since then, I occasionally cheat but I now know what I can cheat a little bit with and what I absolutely can’t. I also take probiotics every day alongside the SCD diet and it has changed my life completely. If I feel a flare up coming I go back to SCD 100%. I tell anyone I know about it who has UC or Chrohns. If in doubt, try it for a few months, you won’t regret it.
It is incredibly hard to follow. Very very limited in the foods you can eat (it’s not ALL fruits and veggies, it’s a specific list that have low carbs, so again, extremely limited) and you essentially have to make every single thing you put into your body from scratch. It provided me some relief, but I logistically couldn’t make it past a couple of weeks and the food was very boring.
After a lifetime of GI and immune related health challenges I spent a week at the Mayo Clinic being tested at the age of 40 and was surprisingly diagnosed with Crohns. The Mayo experts immediately put me on a full regimen of all the meds mentioned previously in this thread and I felt even worse on the meds. I had serious concern I wouldn’t be able to continue my career and provide for my family. My wife did great research and we agreed to try the SCD diet. The Mayo experts strongly discouraged this approach. Well, I just turned 50 and the SCD diet has changed my life. I powered through, painfully, the first 40 years of my life and have been given a gift to have the energy and health to thrive vs survive. I recognize it may not work for everyone but it was worth trying. I’m so grateful to finally see research being done on the diet as there has been a large community who have seen positive results. What I also offer to people new to the diet is that for me I had to stick to it 100 percent. If I cheated I paid the price. Also, it is a big shift but it also becomes the new normal. I am so willing to make food from scratch and stop eating many things I loved, but my health and well being are so much more important I beg you to stick with it. After ten years we have figured out how to make all kinds of great things and our friends usually like my food more than their own. Good luck and again – so grateful for others to see this.
I am 41 and have been on SCD for over 10 years. My relief did not happen over night as some report, however, I enjoy such a level of health that I would not go back to standard American diet. aka S.A.D. I use a combo of medication, diet and excercise plus I monitor stress. Oh, and probiotics. I love being creative and remaking my favorite foods. Plus there are web pages and cookbooks now for those who need a picture and directions. This is not hard. And hey!! You’re worth it.
There are so many great resources these days for easy, delicious recipes. Sure it’s challenging at first when you have been following a typical Standard American Diet but it gets much easier the longer you stick with it, just as the health benefits increase as well. Comfybelly.com and againstall grain.com are 2 wonderful resources. Both have websites and fantastic cook books. So worth the initial time and energy it takes to reap the long term benefits.
Graeme, I had exactly the same experience. At the age of 58, after 30 years with regular flareups of UC and not-very-effective medications, I found the SCD diet. Followed it strictly at first, now with a few modifications. I have been symptom-free for 3-plus years. The diet is easier than most people think.
I am feeling very emotional reading this story, because now there is clinical research being published showing that diet definitely does worK and does matter.Ihave had UC for 30years and have all the usual stories as the above have had.Then nearly four years ago I was caravanning and far away from my doctors when I had a seriously major flare up.Long story short, I found the SCD and Paleo Diet and immediately changed my diet and followed it strictly, Within 3weeks I was symptom free and have been in remission since then.I love the nutritionally dense healthy food and would never consider eating any other way
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Folks get the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle, it’s all in there. The SCD diet is based on this book. There’s also a great website called SCDlifestyle which is another fantastic resource of recipes and articles completely surrounding this diet and how to live with it.
Hi Kathryn,
I’ve had a quite heavy IBD for a long time. I also have been consulted some special dietary treatments for people have bowel diseases including SCD. As far as I know, SCD is a dietary treatment that helps to limit the absorption of sugars, starches and carbohydrates directly to the body. The main foods of this diet are protein, vegetables, fruits and nuts.
I also found 2 other dietary treatments, they are GF and CF.
GF is a gluten diet which is found in wheat, barley, oats,.. CF is a casein diet, which is found in dairy foods, lactose,…
So can you tell me what dietary treatment that I can apply, or can i mix between those dietary treatment above?
Thank you !!
Read the book Gut by Giuliani Enders it will explain things really well
To all of you who ask about this diet… I’m 68
female and had Gut issues . My doctor came up with nothing. I read the book and started eating SDC in stages. I had lost 20lbs in 6 weeks. The diarrhea stopped after two days. I ate SDC for a year. I now eat most foods but do better when key items are eliminated. Sending my doctor this article. If your doctor
laughs at this diet, find another doc!
So glad that the medical community is looking at the natural answers that work. Jorden Rubin’s, The Makers Diet, was used to lead him out of Chrohn’s Disease after seeing doctors all over the nation who had nothing that worked. So, in answer to you, Danetta Banks, if this is anything like Dr. Ruben’s diet, it does work for adults.
Agree with you!
This dietary is very helpful for Gut.
I have been looking forward to the results of this study and although I’m not surprised about the outcome it feels like a great relief!
I have been diagnosed with CU some 20 years ago. Treatment has been steroids for about 15 years. Then, after reading Elaine’s book, overnight I stopped all medication and started the scdiet. My docter did not support me in any way, he was and still is a scepticus. After six weeks I was without complaints. And after 4 years I’m still without flare-ups. This diet has given me back a lot of quality of life.
I’m both very disciplined and creative in maintaining a strict diet. Yet I think most important is to enjoy life to the max. This includes following the rules and eating healthy food, but I always make sure to enjoy whatever I eat!
When I started the scdiet I found it hard to comprehend all the ins and outs of the diet. I wished I had known somebody who could have supported me, like a buddy. And now I think I can be a buddy myself;-)
If you feel like being a buddy, or feel the need to be guided by one, where should you turn to? Any suggestions anybody?
Rob, Amsterdam NL
I would like to know if any of the patients in his study had perianal disease and found healing through the SCD. Our doctor is saying that changing the diet alone won’t work for my teenage son’s Crohn’s because of an anal fissure which became an abcess and now a non-healing fistula. He has patches of inflammation in the esophagus, stomach, terminal ileum, colon, and last part of rectum. My son does not have cramping and bowel pain at this point. The foods he eats does not bother him. We would like to avoid getting on medications like the one we’re about to be prescribed (Humira), but it sounds like it is more of a risk of surgery,etc. if we DON’T go on a medication in his case. Please let me know if there are situations where medications are unavoidable.Thank you.
Wendy, I managed my crohn’s for about 10 years without the heavy drugs, but when it started flaring everywhere, I did go ahead with the Remicade – which is like the humira. After a decade of doing everything I could to stay in remission, it went beyond diet alone. The remicade cleared up the precancerous patches on my tongue I had to have cut out, and issues I had with systemic inflammation, as well as narrowing which was leading to blockages in my small intestine. After a year and a half on remicade, I feel better than ever, wishing I started it sooner- as the scarring in my intestines might not have happened if I got to the drugs that helped the inflammation sooner. Maybe diet can help some people with mild and early stages of the disease, but at some point some people need the serious drugs to keep their crohn’s in remission. There should be no shame in that. It’s saved my life. I’ve always been careful with diet – but at some point the medication was more effective than the diet for me.
Hello :))),
It’s so amazing to have such a wonderful doctor going against the grain…
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in January 2014, after being hospitalized in grave condition. I’ve been on the SCD diet for over two & a half years & have never felt better. I had tried different meds but was afraid of the side effects, plus my doctor said I’d need to have my colon removed at some point.
Wendy, the diet was originally made to treat & cure celiac disease by Dr Haas. It was nicknamed the banana diet. It was later popularized by Elain Gottschall to treat Crohn’s & colitis, but has shown to be effective in treating other maladies.
Rob, I’m in a Facebook support group called Breaking the Vicious Cycle. SCD Community. It’s wonderful to have a support community to help.
Does anyone know if this diet might work for juvenile arthritis?
Trying to find the Specific Carbohydrate Diet: I have UC and currently on a lot of meds, including taking the Remicade infusion; which at this time is not helping! Needing to change my diet and wanting something more ‘specific‘ to go by for eating habits, with my work I travel a lot, so it’s hard eating healthy, but I am wanting to commit to healthier eating! I would be very appreciative in someone to help me too attain this goal!
Thanks,
Kevin
Hello All,
My son was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in June 2017 who is 12 years old. Since July 2017, he is on SCD, his symptoms disappeared after being on SCD, he is growing and his fecal calprotectin tests were normal after being on SCD. In August 2018, he had endoscopy and colonoscopy, found inflammation and ulcers unchanged after being on SCD for a year. Does anyone is in same situation? Does anyone know how long it takes to heal ulcers after being on SCD? My son is happy, growing and no symptoms on SCD but ulcers didn’t heal – not sure if we need to try medicine or be on SCD hoping some day his ulcers will heal. Any inputs are appreciated.
Thanks,
Heena
Hi Heena,
I had the same results from my colonoscopy after a year on the diet but don’t let that discourage you. In Breaking the Vicious Cycle we are told it takes 2 years. That is what happened to me after sticking with it for 2 years I was told there were no ulcers, polyps or cancer. It was the best news I could have heard!! I wish that my family had known about this diet when I was young. I am now a senior and my colon is very scarred but this diet still makes a big difference in my life.
Hoping the best for your son,
Jean
Hi,
My 14 year old son was just diagbosed with Crohn’s disease 2 months ago. He is currently on ensure shakes, no food for 8 weeks. I would like to start him on SCD after he’s done with EEN. When I do start, do I stop giving him the ensure shakes or continue along with SCD?
Thanks,
Mai
Thank you for reaching out, Mai. You can learn more about SCD by visiting Dr. Suskind’s website about the diet at: https://www.nimbal.org/education/implementing-scd-into-your-daily-life. Specific medical questions about starting the diet should be discussed with your son’s primary gastroenterologist.
Anyone who thinks the scd is too restrictive has not suffered enough. It is miraculous. Parents who refuse to try it and give destructive medication to their suffering children instead because it’s too hard ought to think long and hard about that.
I was diagnosed with UC at 55 completely out of the blue. Had never had a digestive issue in my life and ate a fairly healthy diet although emphasis on pasta and rice. Initially did well on Pentasa but then spiraled with flare that lasted nearly 5 weeks in summer of 2017. GI wanted to move up to Humira or Remicade and I resisted. Read Breaking the Vicious Cycle and in October 2017 fully committed to SCD. Since then have been 100% compliant except maybe for five or six occasions. I am still taking Pentasa but can’t say enough about SCD. I feel great and am just waiting to hit the two year mark in October before introducing a few little “illegal” foods like white rice or Italian bread. I would strongly urge everyone to give it a try. It gets easier and easier to the point where you have no desire for any type of candy, cookie, brownie, processed foods etc.
Urgently need help we have been on scd diet for 8 months and sons 16y/o symptom free but craving wrong foods and depression is setting in again…. help
Hi Adele, thank you for your comment. To learn more about the treatments and services we provide for Crohn’s disease, please visit http://www.seattlechildrens.org/medical-conditions/digestive-gastrointestinal-conditions/crohns-disease/ or call our Gastroenterology and Hepatology clinic at 206-987-2521.
My eight year old granddaughter has just been diagnosed with Chrohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Celiac disease. I am looking for information on the SCD diet please.
We live on Sydney, Australia
I have a 12 year old son who has been unwell for the past 2 months. He is going for his first scope next week and they think it is likely chrones. I want to be as prepared as possible if it is and would want to treat him with a diet as opposed to meds if at all possible. I am wondering if any further research or trial have been done in the last year or so. Any information would be greatly appreciated so that I am prepared with clinical data to present to our doctors.
Hi Carey, Thank you for your comment. We have not done any further research within the last year; however, you can find the latest news, recipes, current research and education materials regarding SCD by visiting http://www.nimbal.org.