Those who suffer from epilepsy must include ketogenic diet in their lives. This diet is one of the oldest and best known treatments for epilepsy. The ketogenic diet can be beneficial in reducing seizures encountered by children. This high fat, low carbohydrate diet if followed strictly can work wonders to control and cure the disease.
Meaning of ketogenic diet
The ketogenic diet includes utilization of fats for energy and during this process; ketones are formed for improving seizure control. If this high fat, low carbohydrate diet is taken under the supervision of a dietitian, it can quickly help in recovering epilepsy. This diet is stricter as compared to modified Atkins diet and demands proper quantity of proteins, calories and fluids.
For whom does the diet work?
Doctors recommend ketogenic diet for children facing Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Generally, children who suffer from seizures need to follow this diet. It controls many epilepsy conditions such as Dravet syndrome, Rett syndrome, GLUT-1 deficiency and infantile spasms. The diet works well for children and however, is not recommended for adults due to the restricted food choices.
If followed strictly, the ketogenic diet works well for adults too. At the same time, it may not work for some people at all just as it doesn’t have similar effects on all individuals.
What is included in the ketogenic diet?
Also called the long chain triglyceride diet, ketogenic diet delivers 3-4 grams of fat for 1 gram of carbohydrate and protein. The carbohydrate and protein ratio must be 4:1. Epilepsy patients need to consume around 75 to 100 calories per kilogram. It is due to this complicated process that the diet cannot be followed without a dietitians help. Moreover, the ketogenic diet includes fatty foods like butter, mayonnaise, olive oil, canola oil and whipped cream. Patients cannot consume any other sources of carbohydrates.
When can the diet be stopped?
You cannot stop the diet at once as it may cause seizures. Only patients whose seizures are under control for about two years could follow the diet. Thereafter, children can continue to take their medicines according to their routine. However, if the diet leads to partial seizure control, such patients can prefer eating ketogenic diet for several years.
Ketogenic diet aims to create ketones in the body that regulate the fat burning metabolism, thereby helps in reducing and controlling seizures due to epilepsy.