What is The Ketogenic Diet?
This diet is very high in fats and low in protein and carbohydrates. It produces a change in the body’s chemistry called ketosis, which has the effect of controlling seizures, or reducing their frequency, in two out of three children placed on the diet. A child who has poor seizure control, or a lot of side effects from anti-epileptic medications, may be treated with the diet which tricks the body into burning fat, instead of glucose, for energy. Although not all children benefit, parents report that children who do are more alert and active than they were previously. Like other treatments, the ketogenic diet has some side effects, which the medical team monitors through blood and urine tests and follow up visits.
The ketogenic diet is a special treatment for epilepsy in children and young adults. This strict diet is less effective in adults and must be monitored by a neurologist and a dietitian. The diet is high in fat and low in carbohydrates (sugars). Patients on the diet should not cheat, such as eating a candy bar, because it could cause seizures. The diet is effective in reducing seizure frequency or completely stopping seizures in about 50 percent of patients.
The Ketogenic Diet is a very precisely prescribed diet that is used to help control seizures in children with intractable epilepsy. The diet is very high in fat and low in sugar and carbohydrates. Calories and fluid are very strictly controlled and all food and fluids have to be precisely weighed and measured in order for the diet to work. The diet can be fairly complicated and will effect a family’s daily routine Source: John M.
Refers to the book written by Lyle McDonald, “The Ketogenic Diet – A Complete Guide for the Dieter and Practitioner” Morris Publishing; ISBN: 0967145600. (From description of the book at www.amazon.com ) “The Ketogenic Diet’ is a complete resource for anyone interested in low-carbohydrate diets (such as the Atkins Diet, Protein Power, Bodyopus or the Anabolic Diet). It looks objectively at the physiology behind such diets, including potential negative effects, and gives specific recommendations on how to optimize such a diet assuming an individual has chosen to do one. Two modified ketogenic diets (which involve the insertion of carbohydrates to sustain exercise performance) are also discussed in detail, along with specific guidelines. Exercise is discussed in great detail, including background physiology, the effects of exercise on fat loss, exercise guidelines and sample workouts. A great deal of basic physiology information, dealing with both nutrition and exercise topics, is includ
