This program is a special diet for people (primarily, for children) who suffer from epilepsy1. It is based on high-fat foods and restricts intake of carbohydrate. A ketogenic eating plan is prescribed by a doctor and should be supervised by a dietician. Its name means “producing ketones2”.
Its first therapeutic variant was created in the 1920s. In the 1990s, it was promoted by Jim Abrahams, a movie producer, who launched the Charlie Foundation after the diet had helped to control his son’s epilepsy. This organization sponsored a research study and aroused interest in ketogenic diets.
Generally carbohydrates are the primary fuel for the body. They are converted into glucose3 and are carried in the bloodstream. Ketogenic diets are very low in carbohydrates and they make the body to use fat for fuel. It is broken down to ketones and fatty acids4. Thus, ketone bodies replace blood sugar as an energy source. This condition is called ketosis5 and it produces a number of beneficial effects, like improved epileptic seizure control, weight loss, treatment of diabetes, cancer, and many other diseases.
When a ketogenic diet is used as a cure for epilepsy, it should be launched in the hospital. As a rule, the child fasts for a day under medical supervision. Then the program is started by slowly raising the calories.
Children, going on the diet, continue taking their seizure medicines. Later, if an improvement is apparent, they may take fewer drugs or smaller doses. It is the neurologist who decides whether the medications many be lowered. Over time, the child should visit the doctor every one-three months. Usually the diet can be stopped if epileptic seizures have been successfully controlled for about two years.
Ketogenic diets are widely used to ameliorate epilepsy treatment. Scientific studies have proved that they really help to prevent and reduce seizures. Approximately half of children who tried some variant of this program saw a considerable improvement.
The diet is not recommended for grown-up people, though there is evidence that they may benefit from it too.
Doctors say that it is also effective for preventing and curing diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, heart disease, gluten allergy, and many other health issues.
Ketogenic diets have a number of other benefits:
You will experience many of these improvements during the first month on a ketogenic diet.
You may experience some side effects when you start following a ketogenic diet, but they are not that bad and, as a rule, they subside after a couple of weeks. Here are the most common ones: dizziness, fatigue, frequent urination, constipation, diarrhea, reactive hypoglycemia, sugar cravings, headaches, sleep disturbances, and muscle spasms.
A menu for ketogenic dieters should be high in fats, moderate in protein, and low in carbohydrate (no more than 4% of the total calorie intake). A normal meal includes natural fats (like lard, cream, coconut oil, beef tallow, olive oil, or butter), leafy green vegetables, and a small part of protein.
The traditional therapeutic diet recommends a 4:1 ratio of fat to combined carbohydrate and protein in the menu. A 3:1 ratio is preferable for adolescents, infants and children who for some reason require more carbs or protein.
Drink about six-eight glasses of pure water in a day. It is very important to stay hydrated when you lower the carbohydrate intake.
Dieticians advise taking vitamin supplements when you follow a ketogenic diet.
Ketogenic dieters should exclude foods containing much carbohydrate, such as bread, starchy vegetables and fruits, grains, pasta, sugar, etc.
When a ketogenic diet is implemented accurately by a professional dietician, it can be very powerful and effective. It does help to reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures, lose weight, and cure a number of diseases.
Before you start a ketogenic diet, you should consult a physician, because these programs should be followed under professional supervision. Moreover, you are recommended to read at least one of the scientific books, explaining everything that happens when you reduce the carbohydrate intake.
Below you will find some helpful tips.
Even if you decide to follow a ketogenic diet in order to lose excessive weight or improve your health, be careful and consult your doctor first.
Below you will see a sample menu for ketogenic dieters.
Breakfast
Lunch
Snack
Dinner