Is the book really needed for the SCD diet?

The book explains a lot of the rationale. It is helpful as a motivator to understand the chemistry and biology behind the treatment. There are also recipes that are helpful for trying to live on this diet. Having said that, if you believe you can eliminate these foods from your diet -- and it does mean eliminate. Not a whiff of the offending foods is allowed or they say the diet won't work -- it's your choice as to whether you need the book. The thing is though, it is almost impossible to eliminate these foods from a diet that contains any processed or commercially prepared foods. Wheat, corn, rice, fructose, and all the other sugars are in the ingrediant lists for just about every processed food. If you know where these things might be hidden in the ingrediant lists go for it, but they are pervasive and just because it doesn't say corn, doesn't mean there isn't a corn by-product in the ingrediants. This is not an easy job. Kudoos to you if you are willing to do the work necessary to go on the SCD diet.

yes goto the library and get the book..if u don't start it right, you will waste your time :)

with the on-line resource available for this diet, i'd have to say that technically no. however i like having the book. i can mark it up and it is always a handy reference - beats always having to turn on the computer or print out a bunch of pages. if you want to save a few bucks, try it using the on-line stuff, or as previously suggested check it out from the library and see if it is worth buying.