EFFECTIVENESS OF KETO DIET – BY NUTRITIONIST AVNI KAUL

If you know a child who is suffering from epilepsy, a diet loaded with butter, cream, cheese and mayonnaise may help him/her. Yes, it may sound strange but ketogenic diet is real and it has been working on epileptic kids.

The keto or Ketogenic diet was first invented in the year 1920 to fight against seizures and about 50% of kids who took Keto diet since then has experienced a big drop in their seizure episodes and as many as 1 in every 7 kid has stopped having seizures completely.

The “keto” in a ketogenic diet comes from the fact that it allows the body to produce small fuel molecules called “ketones”. Due to minimal intake of carbohydrate and moderate intake of protein under Keto diet, the liver starts to produce ketones from fat. These ketones then serve as a fuel source throughout the body, especially for the brain.

In other words, on a ketogenic diet, the person’s entire body switches its fuel supply to run mostly on fat. Even though Keto diet has been proven largely effective for epileptic kids for about a hundred years, the scientific world still doesn't know how it works.

The ketogenic diet is not something you try out casually. It's a big commitment, and starting it on your own is extremely risky. Doctors usually, recommend the ketogenic diet for children whose seizures have not responded to several different seizure medicines. Hence if the doctor has recommended Keto diet then remember a few important things like”

Initial doctor’s supervision: Keto diet generally is started in the hospital under doctor’s supervision. Pediatrics often wants to keep an eye on kids when they start the diet to make sure they're doing OK.

Dietician: Keto diet needs working closely with an expert dietician and nutritionist as it is tailored to each child. So, a dietician will give you detailed info on exactly what your child can eat and how much.

Supplements: Since the ketogenic diet is low in important nutrients, your child will probably need supplements of calcium, vitamin D, iron, folic acid, and others.

Stick to the diet for a few months at least. If it works, the child would experience fewer seizures by then. If the diet doesn't help, then be careful the child should gradually return to a normal eating plan. Otherwise, if he/ she stops the ketogenic diet suddenly, it could trigger seizures.

This article has been authored by the renowned dietitian, nutritionist, and wellness coach Avni Kaul.