Publisher's Synopsis
Ketogenic dietThe ketogenic diet is a high-fat, inadequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, which has been used clinically to treat restrictive (refractory) epilepsy in children. Food forces you to burn fats rather than carbohydrates. Typically, the carbohydrates in the diet are converted into glucose, which are then transported around the body and are crucial for stimulating brain function. However, if there is little carbohydrate in the diet, the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies. Ketone bodies go into the brain and convert glucose into an energy source. Elevated levels of ketone bodies in the blood, a condition known as ketosis, lead to a decrease in the frequency of seizures. Half of children and young people with epilepsy who have tried some form of this diet have seen the number of seizures decrease by at least half, and the effect continues even after discontinuation. Some evidence suggests that adults with epilepsy may benefit from a diet and that less stringent regulations, such as the modified Atkins diet, may be beneficial. Possible side effects may include constipation, excess cholesterol, growth retardation, acidity and kidney stones.The original treatment for childhood epilepsy provides enough protein for body growth and repair, and enough calories to maintain the right weight for age and height. The classic treatment ketogenic diet was developed in the 1920s to treat pediatric epilepsy and was widely used in the next decade, but its popularity diminished with the introduction of effective anticonvulsant drugs. This classic ketogenic diet has a 4: 1 ratio of protein and carbohydrates to fat by weight. This is achieved by avoiding high carbohydrate foods such as starchy fruits and vegetables, breads, pasta, cereals and sugar, while increasing the consumption of foods rich in fat, such as nuts, cream and butter. Most dietary fat is made up of molecules called long-chain triglycerides (LCDs). However, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) - made from fatty acids with lower carbon chains than LCDs - are ketogenic. One variation of the classic diet known as the MCD Ketogenic Diet is using coconut oil, which is rich in MCDs and provides half the calories. This variation of the diet requires a greater proportion of carbohydrates and protein, which in turn requires a greater amount of total fat, which allows for a wide variety of food choices. In 1994, Hollywood producer Jim Abrahams, who was effectively restricted to his son's severe epilepsy diet, formed the Charlie Foundation for Ketogenic Therapies to further promote dietary therapy. The ad appeared on NBC's Deadline Project and ... First to No Harm (1997), made for television starring Meryl Streep. The Foundation sponsored a research study, the results of which were announced in 1996 marked the beginning of renewed scientific interest in The Food. Possible therapeutic uses for the ketogenic diet have been studied for several additional neurological disorders, including: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, headache, neurotrauma, pain, Parkinson's disease and sleep disorders. The Keto Diet is a health plan that focuses on foods that provide plenty of healthy fats, adequate protein, and very low carbohydrates. The goal is to get more calories from fat than carbs. Food works by reducing the body of its sugar reserves. As a result, it can begin to break down fat for energy. This results in the production of molecules called ketones that are used for body fuel. When the body burns fat, it can lead to weight loss.There are many types of keto foods, including the Standard Ketogenic Diet and the Cycle Ketogenic Diet.
