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When Mrs. Weiss was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, her first reaction was, “Baruch Hashem! My suffering has a name.”
The doctor wrote out a prescription for antibiotics and Mrs. Weiss was overjoyed. Naively, she assumed her condition
was similar to strep throat — ten days of antibiotics, and it would be behind her.
Little did she imagine the journey upon which that diagnosis would launch her. Today, in both her personal and
professional life, Mrs. Weiss guides and encourages hundreds of people towards greater intestinal health.
I t all began with distressing,
uncomfortable symptoms that
Mrs. Weiss more or less came to terms
with. There was little awareness then
of food allergies and food intolerance,
but she chalked it up to lactose
intolerance gone haywire.
Approximately ten years passed in
this manner. Then she found herself
with high fever following the birth of
one of her children. The doctors
ordered a CT scan, and that was when
she was diagnosed with Crohn’s
disease.
Her relief at the diagnosis and the
prospect of a cure expressed itself
almost as exhilaration. The medical
Eat, Drink, personnel patiently explained that
Crohn’s is actually not so exciting!
and Be Healthy
Mrs. Weiss soon learned that the
medication was actually not a cure,
just a sort of “Band-aid” method of
quieting the bacteria for a short while
A diet driven by desperation — delivers! and providing some relief. Each round
was another battle won, but it was not
going to win the war. With time, the
BINAH • MARCH 29, 2010
prescribed medication would only
increase in strength, and the wary
Beily Paluch Mrs. Weiss began seeking alternatives.
132
She stopped eating dairy, but it was
way too late for that to make any real
difference. It would take more to heal
her ravaged digestive tract.
One day, a woman with ulcerative
colitis called her to share experiences.
She introduced Mrs. Weiss to the book
that eventually turned her life around.
The book, Breaking the Vicious Cycle, by
Elaine Gottschall, was meant to help
alleviate symptoms of intestinal
disease, including ulcerative colitis,
Crohn’s disease, celiac, diverticulitis,
and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
She lent Mrs. Weiss the book, but a
quick review of the contents told her
this would never work. (“You don’t
know me, I love good food,” she
declared when we reached this point
in our interview.)
So she set the book aside, and it lay
atop a bookshelf for a full year.
That year, Mrs. Weiss spent
She discovered that she had great
cooking and baking talents. Nothing
could stop her.
thousands of dollars on natural
doctors and their purported cures. Her
symptoms only grew worse.
“Then the day came when I reached
the ‘two Ds,’ as I call them:
Desperation and Determination. On
that day, I made a commitment, and I
set out to try the diet ‘only for two
weeks.’
“All I had was the book, and the few
recipes it contained. And what can I
say? I was miserable; I so desperately
missed my kokosh cake (my basic food
staple) and my other regular foods.”
Then, amazingly, misery gave way
to excitement; after only three days,
Mrs. Weiss’s symptoms subsided. “I
heard my body telling me, ‘Yes! I like
this diet. Keep it up!’”
She copied Elaine Gottschall’s
number from the book, and for the
next few months (and over the course
of the next few years), Elaine coached
BINAH • 14 NISSAN 5770
133

and guided her, as well as providing
her with additional numbers for more
support.
And yet, Mrs. Weiss was famished;
she kept opening and closing the
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cupboard doors looking for food.
Surely there were better dishes she
could make? She took her list of
allowed ingredients, and her regular
recipe book, and lo and behold,
discovered that she had great cooking
and baking talents. She had found
latent creativity, and nothing could
stop her. She made all her favorite
foods — farfel, cake, ice cream,
blintzes, and cheesecake.
And best of all, she hadn’t felt so
good in years. She was bursting with
her discovery, and she felt she must
share her find with others.
The first step was a brief newspaper
article, just to let the good word out,
explaining her success. The phone did
not stop ringing. One Rabbi
Rosenbaum from Israel called in
response to this article, experienced
his own personal miracle, and
spearheaded a highly successful
program in Israel, with hundreds of
members, providing support and
awareness of digestive health.
Mrs. Weiss invited panicky
beginners to her house and personally
gave them a crash course on cooking
and baking the most delicious dishes.
She found herself spending precious
time giving out recipes, and so she
printed them in a little recipe book, for
which people blessed her.
As the Specific Carbohydrate Diet
(SCD) community around Mrs. Weiss
grew, the need to organize ingredients,
food, and services on a larger, more
consistent scale became apparent.
Armed with the blessing of a tzaddik,
Mrs. Weiss founded Digestive
Wellness. She hired a professional
baker, taught him her original recipes,
and made the finished products
available to grateful customers. She
BINAH • MARCH 29, 2010
also launched a website,
digestivewellness.com, where one can
find the most delicious baked goods,
134
Aliza’s Story
ingredients and hard-to-find items, all
compatible with the Specific
Aliza’s story is just one of many success stories in which children, teenagers, and Carbohydrate Diet. A busy warehouse
adults have been able to live symptom-free through the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. ships items nationwide on a daily basis.
And still Mrs. Weiss worked on
Aliza Gross was a top student, very popular and loved by all. In her early spreading awareness. On impulse, she
adolescence, stomachaches became the norm, along with weight loss and a asked Elaine Gottschall, “If I put
lack of energy. She was finally diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and began together a small group, would you fly
standard medical treatment. When that failed, the doctor recommended in from Canada to speak for us?” With
switching to more potent medication. Mrs. Gross, being an informed a little prodding, the elderly woman
consumer, did some research and discovered (to her utter dismay!) the (eighty years old at the time) finally
possibly devastating side-effects these drugs carried. agreed, and it was up to Mrs. Weiss,
With tremendous hashgachah pratis, she came across an article that who had no organizational
opened a new window of hope. Rabbi Rosenbaum explained his success with experience, to pull it off.
the SCD diet in rich detail and with his characteristic enthusiasm. Mrs. With tremendous siyatta diShmaya,
Gross’s interest was piqued. She purchased the DVD from the most recent everything fell into place — the hall,
Intestinal Awareness Seminar (presented by Digestive Wellness in 2008), and the speakers, and sponsors for
was convinced. This was worth a try. advertisements. As the event loomed
Mrs. Gross broached the topic with both her daughter’s pediatrician and nearer, Mrs. Weiss was having
her gastroenterologist, but both were skeptical. They had watched patients nightmares that it would be an
try other diet modifications with no success. However, they had never heard embarrassment. What if no one
of SCD, and after listening to Mrs. Gross’s explanation, encouraged her to give showed? She calmed down a bit when
it a shot. Elaine assured her it was worth
In the tradition of many SCD beginners, Aliza first undertook a two-week coming even for five people.
trial period. Baruch Hashem, she passed the two-week milestone and has been To the surprise of all, people came
continuing day by day ever since. pouring in. They came from
She learned to enjoy her allowed foods, and Digestive Wellness is a everywhere, representing the full
lifesaver for SCD-compatible baked goods and other treats. The wonderful spectrum of Judaism. A few hundred
SCD food gemach also relieves some of the stress of preparing special dishes. people sat glued to their chairs,
During the inevitable rough spots, Mrs. Gross found ways to compensate desperate to hear anything positive
Aliza and keep her going, including promising her a trip to her grandparents about intestinal health.
overseas when the initial two years are over. One speaker said words his
Aliza has been a case study for both of her doctors, as they have watched audience would long remember: “You
her steady improvement with amazement. Over the course of the first year, only have to keep the diet the first few
Aliza’s symptoms all but disappeared. Where she had been sluggish and days. After that, the diet keeps you.”
significantly underweight, Aliza is now energetic, has gained weight, and Elaine Gottschall, when she stepped
looks and feels great. She’s actually back to feeling “normal,” watching her down from the podium, shared her
weight like the rest of her friends. feelings with Mrs. Weiss. “I felt like I
Despite her diet restrictions, Aliza never misses out on any fun. She was in the clouds; I felt G-d was with
continues to be a star among her friends, who have no inkling of her me.”
condition. No matter what the challenge may be, whether a school lunch, a Since then, Digestive Wellness has
Shabbaton, or a summer at camp, Aliza and her mother stretch their creativity been at the forefront of disseminating
and resourcefulness, and make it work. information, while providing practical,
As Aliza’s two years on the diet draw to a close, she is optimistic that she hands-on guidance about keeping the
will soon be able to put SCD behind her, though she hopes her newfound SCD diet. Mrs. Weiss is available by
appreciation for Hashem’s naturally delicious foods will stay with her long- phone or email for assistance and
term. The Gross fridge is always fully stocked with fresh salads, soups, fruit, support.
tuna, and chicken, and the whole family’s eating habits have changed. “It’s amazing how, with the same
Mrs. Gross recalls her introduction to SCD with tremendous hakaras hatov. ingredients, we still keep coming up
“Someone took the trouble to write the article that gave my daughter a new
chance at conquering her illness with less medicine. Now it’s my turn to Digestive Wellness has been at the
hopefully do the same for someone else.”
forefront of disseminating information.
with new recipes,” she enthuses. “For
years, I’ve been trying to replicate a
scrumptious apple crumb cake recipe
that I loved in my pre-SCD days. I
came close a few times, but like I said,
I love good food, and I would not settle
for less than the real thing. Then last
week, I did it!”
Images flit through my mind of
other acquaintances who have
undertaken various diets, and I shake
my head in wonder at the stark
contrast between their “I would never
even want cheesecake anymore!” and
Mrs. Weiss’s open admission of
enjoying and embracing good food.
Mrs. Weiss’s goal is to make SCD
inviting, exciting, alive, and delicious,
and as I chuckle through our
interview, I realize that there is no
better person for the job. B
Please note: The SCD diet does not in
any way replace medical care; this diet
together with highly qualified medical care
will enable the patient to be treated with
the minimum amount of medication, for
the shortest time possible.
Mrs. Weiss can be contacted at 845-
356-4557 or emailed at info@digestive
wellness.com.
An amazing SCD cookbook is in the
process of being published (another few
months). The “I Can’t Believe It” Cookbook
will include mouthwatering recipes along
with magnificent images. The recipes are
all gluten-free, starch-free, and refined
sugar-free. In addition to recipes, the
cookbook will also include techniques on
stress management and the mind-body
connection.
The information and recipes in this
book will be beneficial for everyone: for
healthy people as a preventive; for
intestinal sufferers, diabetics, and those
with high cholesterol/triglycerides as a
healing and maintenance program.
Almond Muffins
Muffins and SCD go hand in
hand. Choose from a delicious
variety of flavors. They are great for
breakfast, an afternoon snack with
a cup of tea, or even dessert.
Ingredients
4 eggs, separated
½ cup honey
¼ cup oil
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp pure vanilla extract
2¼ cups almond flour
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 325
degrees Fahrenheit. Place paper
liners in 18 muffin cups.
2. In an electric mixer, beat the
egg whites on high until stiff.
3. Reduce the speed and add the
yolks one at a time.
4. Add the honey, oil, baking
soda, vanilla extract, and your
choice of the additions below
(except blueberries, which
should be added last), and mix
gently.
5. Add the almond flour last,
mixing minimally until just
about combined.
6. Fill each muffin cup two-thirds
BINAH • 14 NISSAN 5770
full of batter.
7. Bake the muffins for
continued on page 136
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Butternut Squash Salad
Those with and without SCD will
love this guilt-free version of potato
salad. Delightfully tasty without
that heavy aftertaste... you’re sure
to make it again and again.
Ingredients
1 medium butternut squash,
peeled and cubed
1-2 sour pickles, grated
½ carrot, grated
1/3 cup pickle juice
¼ cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp honey, dissolved in a
small amount of hot water
½ tsp salt, dissolved in a small
amount of hot water
Directions
1. Steam squash in a steamer
until just about soft.
2. When squash has cooled,
transfer to a bowl and add the
rest of the ingredients. Mix well
and serve chilled.
BINAH • MARCH 29, 2010
136
continued from page 135
approximately 30 minutes. • 1/3 tsp cinnamon
Muffins are done when the top • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
springs back when pressed with a (omit oil)
finger. • ½ cup crushed pineapple (omit oil)
• 2/3 ripe banana, mashed
Variations (omit oil)
You may add one of the following: • ½ cup blueberries
Butter Pecan Cookies
These irresistible pareve cookies
have a crunch similar to chocolate
chip cookies. The recipe has been
adapted from the Grain-Free Gourmet:
Delicious Recipes for Healthy Living.
Ingredients
2 cups almond flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda
1 cup chopped pecans
½ tsp pure vanilla extract
1 egg
1/3 cup coconut oil or palm oil
1/3 cup honey
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees
Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet sized portions of batter about 2
with parchment paper. inches apart on the cookie sheet.
2. Combine the almond flour, 6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or
cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and until the cookies are lightly
pecans in a bowl. browned. Remove cookies from
3. Combine the vanilla, egg, oil, oven and cool completely.
and honey in another bowl. 7. Set oven temp to 170 degrees
4. Add the dry ingredients to the Fahrenheit. Bake cookies for an
wet and mix well. additional 2 hours. Store cookies
5. Drop heaping 2-tablespoon- in an airtight container.