When our daughter Sarah was first diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2003, I came across Elaine Gottschall’s book about the specific carbohydrate diet. Although I desperately did not want Sarah to take medicines, I must say as I thumbed through the book, I felt rather overwhelmed by the restrictions of the SCdiet. However, I did have intentions to try to convince our daughter to follow the diet.
Everything changed when I read about Dr. Poley on page 8 and realized that his office was only a 2 hour trip from us. As I read further in the book, I found that Elaine had cited his research a number of times. We were thrilled that we were able to make an appointment to see him.
At our first appointment with Dr. Poley, I referenced the book where I had seen his name and research cited. Imagine my surprise when I soon learned from him that his interpretation of his research was very different from how Elaine had interpreted it.
A brief explanation from Dr. Poley about the digestion process may shed some light on his valid reasons for his recommendations... “With starches it goes as follows: first it is broken down by pancreatic amylase in the very upper small intestine, and is further worked on by gluco-amylase to the end product of glucose, which is then quickly absorbed. Sucrose is probably digested all along the small intestine, but it is in the terminal ileum where there is relative stasis until the digesta enter the cecum through the ileocecal valve, which may cause a slow-go, hence there is always increased bacterial activity, and those buggers have a hay-day.”
Since starches are quickly absorbed, Dr. Poley feels that sucrose is the main culprit for feeding the overgrowth of bacteria in the GI tract. Along with the restricted-sucrose diet, he suggests eating yogurt and taking Culturelle probiotic to bring balance to the gut bacteria.
Although we do not follow the SCdiet, I am truly grateful that Elaine wrote the book because it led us in the direction to find Dr. Poley. Maybe in time all of the pieces of the puzzle to IBD will come together. We hope this information is helpful in figuring out what works for you.
I have included a recipe for banana oatmeal cookies that I hope you will enjoy. They have the texture of a chewy cookie and are gluten free, dairy free and egg free...an especially good cookie if you have any allergies to those foods.
Many blessings!
MarthaRecipe for Banana Oat Cookies-
1 ½ cups oats
½ cup oat flour
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 Tablespoons chopped nuts
2 medium bananas, mashed.
3/8 cup oil.
Raisins or Grain-sweetened chocolate chips (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients.
In separate bowl, mix mashed bananas and oil, then add to the dry ingredients.
Drop by heaping teaspoons onto cookie sheet. Place pecan on top if desired. Bake 10-15 minutes.