The intestine’s job is to break down food so nutrients can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Inflammation from IBD can make it hard for your child to get enough nutrients to grow and develop. Nutritional support can help correct any shortfalls. In times when inflammation is under control, nutritional support is still important to maintain a healthy and balanced diet.
Nutritional support can mean changing what or how your child eats or using nutritional therapies (formulas or special diets).
The IBD Center team designs a complete nutrition plan for your child so they get enough calories and eat a range of foods, including fruits and vegetables.
There’s mounting evidence that certain nutritional therapies can reduce inflammation in IBD. At the IBD Center, we embrace nutritional therapies and help families decide whether this type of treatment is right for their child and how to use it.
The center team can give you details and resources about the options. We work with you to decide the best ways to track your child’s progress and tell whether the therapy is working for them.
Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)
Seattle Children’s offers innovative therapies that are not offered everywhere. As a leader in nutritional therapies, we offer diet therapy, including the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD).
This diet removes all grains, dairy (except for yogurt fermented 24 hours), processed foods, sugars and sweeteners except for honey. It promotes only natural, nutrient-rich foods, which includes vegetables, fruits, meats and nuts.
In addition to being offered both as a sole (primary) and adjunct treatment for IBD, the SCD diet is being researched for its effect on IBD and the fecal microbiome – the trillions of bacteria living in our digestive tract. Talk to your child’s doctor to see if your child may be eligible to participate in a study.