The ABC's of the SCD, II

The short-short version of the theory, or basic etiology of UC and/or Chron's: (this does not take the place of reading Elaine's book, 'Breaking the Vicious Cycle', which contains much more detail. I recommend also delving into the medical literature. You'll be surprised what you find!

In those genetically predisposed, a major disruption to the bacterial flora balance in the gut happens (how many disruptions or how severe the disruption needed to produce permanent inflamation, ie chron's or colitis, is unknown). This could be from antibiotics, illness, etc. This distruption or series of disruptions causes a negative shift in the composition of the bacterial flora in the gut. This shift away from an ecosystem dominated by a suite of bacteria whose life cycles and respiration byproducts are well tolerated to an ecosystem dominated by bacteria (or bacteria and increased yeast) whose life cycles and respiration byproducts are not well tolerated is the most plausable theory I've come across. This 'new' composition of bacteria in the gut, their lifecycles and respiration byproducts are what trigger the epithelial immune system, and cause the inflamation. The SCD is essentially a natural version of the elemental diet, and proports many of the same effects (though it's not a substitute for the elemental diet, for obvious reasons). It allows no food which would feed the harmful bacteria and facilitates a positive shift in the floral composition of the gut; thus, reducing or in many cases eliminating the inflammation. If this theory is correct (it has proven so in my gut, at least), then we could consider UC and Chron's, not a disease, but a condition which, like mild diabetes, can be treated with diet and lifestyle changes. What a shift in thinking that would be!