living with CSID: tips for managing symptoms

CSID stands for congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency. The condition is an inherited metabolic disease and consists of an inability of the body to break down carbohydrates such as starches and sucrose.

If you or someone you love is suffering from CSID symptoms, such as severe gas, cramping, bloating, or diarrhea, there are ways you can manage your symptoms and reduce the pain. Here are a few tips to help you live in comfort and enjoy your food again, even if you have CSID.

start with research

As you may have noticed from the list of symptoms listed above, CSID has similar symptoms to many other intolerances as well as conditions like IBS. If you’ve self-diagnosed with CSID, it’s wise to confirm this diagnosis with a dietician or other medical professional.

From there, invest in further research on the subject. Study the causes of CSID, its symptoms, and what kind of foods can trigger them. Knowledge is always the first step in managing an ongoing intolerance.

adjust your diet

One of the most important ways you can manage an enzyme deficiency is by adjusting the kinds of foods that you’re eating. This primarily focuses on limiting sucrose, isomaltose, and maltose.

The good news is that you only need to limit these based on the severity of your symptoms. So, if your body merely struggles to generate enough of the sucrase-isomaltase enzyme (which is deficient in CSID individuals), you simply need to eat lower quantities of trigger foods. Only in more severe cases, when the enzyme is barely present in your system or not at all, should you need to avoid foods entirely.

Common foods to limit with a CSID diet include bread, rice, pasta, certain fruits and veggies, and table sugar.  Processed foods can also cause issues.

CSID Cares has created a comprehensive list of CSID foods. Some of these are okay for those with CSID to ingest. Others are foods that some people with CSID can manage while some are worth avoiding as much as possible.

use enzyme supplements

Finally, when you do eat foods with sucrose and starch in them, you can still manage your symptoms with enzyme dietary supplements. We specialize in making clean, high-quality supplements at Intoleran, one of which is Starchway. This uses a combination of the Glucoamylase and Invertase enzymes to help the body break down troublesome starches and sucrose.

If you struggle with CSID along with other intolerances, you can also use our Quatrase Forte. This features a unique enzyme mix that helps break down carbohydrates like sugar and starch as well as lactose, fructose, and other common digestional troublemakers.

don’t let CSID steal your joy

CSID is an unpleasant and uncomfortable inherited disease that can make life difficult. But it doesn’t need to steal your joy, even when you’re eating.

Through proper education, a balanced diet, and enzyme supplement support, you can manage your CSID symptoms and enjoy your food (and its after-effects) once again.