Cheese and the SCD Diet Infographic

Written by Sherry Lipp Published on November 7, 2014 in SCD Tips, The Diet

EDIT 11/12/2025:

When I published this post back in 2014, I just wanted to create a visual representation of what was in Breaking the Vicious Cycle about cheese. I only included the cheeses listed in the book and took note of what Elaine Gottschall had noted as occasional use, eat freely, and avoid. This was not intended to a full representation of all cheeses and only represented the book.

Now, I go by what I know about cheese. Aged cheeses that contain no, or virtually no, lactose are what I choose as part of SCD Diet. That includes cheese like the brick form of Mozzarella, which is very different than the fresh Mozzarella that is not aged and sold in a container with liquid to keep it soft.

This chart is simple guide that represents what is in Breaking the Vicious Cycle and does not represent my own thoughts or recommendations on what cheeses are allowed on SCD Diet.

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Do you ever lose track of what kinds of cheese are okay to eat on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet? I made this infographic to help you keep track of what kinds of cheese you can eat whenever you want, what kinds are for once in a while, and what kinds you should avoid altogether.

Author
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Sherry Lipp

Founder at Happy Gut For Life

Sherry is a Certificed Holistic Gut Practioner, author, and recipe creator. Sherry started the Specific Carbohydrate Diet in 2000 and has been creating delicious, grain and gluten-free recipes ever since. She is the author of the Don't Skip Dessert SCD cookbooks.

11 Comments

David Fenton
December 31, 2014 at 5:44 am · Reply

Would you be ok, if I posted this on the SCD facebook group I am a member of?
Thanks
David Fenton
- Sherry
  December 31, 2014 at 8:40 am · Reply
  
  Yes, please share as much as you want.
  - Sherry
    March 5, 2015 at 5:32 pm · Reply
    
    Chart has been updated.
Marie
February 22, 2015 at 9:57 pm · Reply

I see that Parmesan is on two lists, “eat freely”, and “eat occasionally”. Is there a mistake? Not sure how to interpret this. Also, what about goat cheese?
- Sherry
  February 25, 2015 at 12:08 am · Reply
  
  Yes, this is a mistake. It should be eat freely. I need to make a correction to the chart. Goat cheese is not allowed.
Jen
March 12, 2015 at 8:03 am · Reply

The Legal/Illegal list on the Breaking the Vicious Cycle website indicates that Gruyere is legal (http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/legal/listing/G/), but here it is listed as a cheese to avoid? Just want to make sure I don’t accidentally consume something I shouldn’t be!
- Sherry
  March 12, 2015 at 5:04 pm · Reply
  
  My version of Breaking the Vicious Cycle book says Guyere is illegal, so there is a discrepancy there – I have the 7th edition from 1999. I’m surprised the website doesn’t say anything about it since it is listed as illegal in the book – or at least the earlier editions. I’m hoping someone with a later edition can let me know if the list was updated in the books.
Annette Brogoitti
January 9, 2018 at 7:41 am · Reply

i am confused as a new SCD diet member- what ingredients should I look for in legal cheese? Most list milk as an ingredient??? Also can you help inform me about legal honey-raw/filtered/unfiltered/pasteurized/unpasteurized?? Thank you!
- Sherry Lipp
  January 17, 2018 at 12:14 pm · Reply
  
  Any of the cheeses listed in the Breaking the Vicious Cycle book or at BreakingtheViciousCycle.info http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/legal/listing/ are legal. For SCD you do want to stick with traditional milk-based cheese and not a vegan substitute like almond cheese.
  
  You can’t drink regular milk, but you can make SCD yogurt or eat SCD-legal cheeses that are made with milk.
  - Annette Brogoitti
    January 17, 2018 at 2:44 pm · Reply
    
    Can anyone tell me if Calcium Chloride is legal in canned tomatoes? Thank you!
    - Laura
      March 16, 2019 at 12:46 pm · Reply
      
      I’m trying to find out this same info about tomatoes!