Following an Epilepsy Diet

Reduce Dependence on Seizure Medicine With a Low Carb Diet Program

Sep 8, 2009

Epilepsy diets, also known as ketogenic diets, have been proven successful in the reduction of epileptic seizures, which reduces the need for anti-seizure medication.

Epilepsy treatments can be extremely invasive, including brain surgery, and may involve high dosages of seizure medication. Following a ketogenic diet is helpful in the reduction or elimination of epileptic seizures for many individuals, particularly children. This alternative approach to treating epilepsy can allow epileptics to avoid more invasive methods of treatment, as well as reducing dosages of seizure medicine.

Treating Epilepsy with a Ketogenic Diet

A ketogenic diet is a way of eating in which the body goes into a state called ketosis. When carbohydrates are consumed, they are converted into glucose, and sent into the bloodstream to provide energy, or fuel, for the body's needs. Ketosis occurs when there is not enough carbohydrate in the diet to provide fuel for the body. This typically happens with an extremely low level of carbohydrate intake.

During ketosis, in order to provide energy to the body, fat stores are broken down into glycogen. The glycogen is used as an alternate fuel source for the body. A ketogenic diet typically leads to weight loss, due to the break-down of fat stores, and should be monitored carefully by a physician to ensure that the keto diet is providing all necessary nutrients while it is used in treating epilepsy.

Ketosis Reduces Epileptic Seizures

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, epilepsy has been treated with ketogenic diets for at least 80 years. Theories vary as to the reasons for the success of this type of treatment, but the high incidence of improvement with a keto diet remains.

Low Carbohydrate Foods Produce Ketosis

A ketogenic diet contains mostly fat and protein, with very little carbohydrate. Low carbohydrate vegetables such as broccoli should be steamed, rather than boiled. This ensures that the highest possible nutritional value is available, due to small portion sizes. Foods such as mayonnaise, eggs, and many cuts of meat, are present at a much higher ratio than carbohydrate foods.

Choosing Good Carbs

Most ketogenic diets are more concerned with maintaining a ratio of fat/protein to carbohydrate, in order to maintain ketosis. Due to the small portions of carbohydrate allowed, it is important to ensure that all carbs included in a keto diet are nutrient-rich carbs, such as vegetables, rather than 'empty' carbs, such as candy or white bread.

Following a low-carb diet program as part of alternative epilepsy treatments allows an epileptic to reduce seizures. While the anti-seizure medications are often still required, the dosage is often decreased significantly over time. On occasion, following a ketogenic diet even eliminates the need for seizure medicine entirely.

With a low-carb diabetic diet, it is possible to lower dependence on insulin injections, improve diabetic health, and maintain a normal blood sugar range.

Reactive hypoglycemia can be avoided by following a low blood sugar diet, which avoids foods that increase blood sugar levels too sharply.

A 2008 study shows that eating a low-carb diet helps to lower cholesterol naturally, and produces a 20% reduction in the ratio of total cholesterol to LDL cholesterol.

The copyright of the article Following an Epilepsy Diet in Nutrition is owned by Victoria Nicks. Permission to republish Following an Epilepsy Diet in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.