SCD
As quoted from scdlifestyle.com, the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is a group of foods which are grain-free, sugar-free, starch-free, soy-free and unprocessed. While removing many foods that are toxic and digestively harmful, the diet remains natural, extremely nourishing and representative of what our ancestors ate.
Anyone can benefit from SCD, but many turn to it for digestive support and to treat specific ailments (e.g. Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis, Celiac Disease, etc.). For more information and to see a list of “legal” and “illegal” foods, please visit www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info.
Paleo
The Paleo lifestyle is based upon thousands of years of evolution and the notion of eating real, whole foods that our bodies were designed for. These foods were available to our early ancestors by way of hunting and gathering (meat, fish, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables). Through modernization, other forms of food became available for consumption, such as grains, dairy and processed foods, all of which are suboptimal forms of nutrition. The foods emphasized in the Paleo lifestyle provide the human body with long-lasting energy that also aid in burning fat.
The Paleo lifestyle emphasizes grass-fed meats, pasture-raised eggs, wild-caught fish and seafood, nuts and seeds, healthy fats, vegetables and fruit. Foods avoided include grains, legumes, soy, processed foods, refined sugars, and in a strict approach, dairy and alcohol too.
Make it right for you!
I personally consume some highly-fermented dairy like butter and homemade yogurt (grass-fed when possible) because I tolerate it well, and also drink occasional alcohol like dry wine or hard cider. The important thing to remember is that paleo is a template and an individual approach. A strict approach can be useful for a period of time (like for me when I was treating my SIBO), but is not always necessary, unless that’s what’s best for your body.
Remember that things can shift over time too and you may need to reevaluate, experiment and tweak your diet along the way. For instance, vegetarianism worked for me until it didn’t and then I started to reevaluate. Through dietary changes and healing, I got to where I am today. But even now, I reflect, reevaluate and explore as I notice shifts in my body.