This groundbreaking book serves as a comprehensive guide for the Dairy-Free version of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet™ (SCD-DF). The original SCD (a grain-free, sugar-free, soy-free diet), introduced by Elaine Gottschall in Breaking the Vicious Cycle, has been further researched and developed into the SCD-DF, in order to help people with autism and ADHD.

According to the Center for Disease Control, the rate of autism diagnosis has now increased to 1 in 68 children. Most children (and adults) with autism or ADHD also suffer from digestive issues ranging from constipation and reflux to diarrhea and low vitamin/mineral levels. The behaviors that result from these discomforts are symptoms of underlying digestive issues that can be addressed through a change in diet, and therefore, gut microbiome. The SCD-DF can play a pivotal role in improving behavior, mood, cognition, and language.

The SCD for Autism and ADHD draws on over a decade of a nurse’s clinical experience with the SCD-DF (Pamela Ferro) written in collaboration with an established SCD author (Raman Prasad). The first part of the book explains the scientific research that supports the Dairy-Free Specific Carbohydrate Diet, and describes how conditions – from anxiety and eczema to reflux and motor coordination – are also tied to autism and ADHD. It guides families on how to start the SCD-DF: from building a support network and setting up the kitchen to shopping lists, meal plans, and what to expect on the first days of the diet.

The second part of this book contains over 150 SCD-DF recipes organized into categories such as Bakery, Breakfast, Snacks, Meats, Drinks, and Desserts; with child-friendly recipes ranging from Grandma’s Basic Pancakes and SCD Chicken Nuggets to Tater Tots and Lemon Vanilla Cake. This section also includes a sample transitional menu, weekly meal plans, and themed menu ideas.

It is imperative that we find a better way in which to address this health challenge faced by so many in our next generation. The premise for this dietary intervention has been adopted by the Johnson Center for Child Health & Development in Austin, Texas, where they have recently completed a pilot study of children with ASD implementing the SCD-DF dietary protocol. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet™ itself has been undergoing several pilot studies and clinical trials recently, most notably at Seattle Children’s Hospital, Stanford University, and Rush Medical Center.