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Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes people to have sudden, uncontrollable seizures. A seizure is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause a variety of symptoms, including convulsions, loss of consciousness, and strange sensations or behaviour. These seizures can be controlled with over-the-counter anti-epileptic drugs.
Around 30% of people with epilepsy tend to get seizures even after trying different types of medications. It is termed refractory epilepsy. In cases where even surgery is not the right choice, some alternate ways are preferred along with medications. One such is diet modification recommended by an epileptologist.
In this blog, we will uncover all about the ketogenic diet for epilepsy that you can make to reduce epilepsy. Also, read the article on how epilepsy affects children to get detailed knowledge on the matter.
Ketogenic Diet - How Does Keto Diet Help Reduce Epilepsy?
A keto diet is when you increase your fat intake, with low protein and minimal intake of carbohydrates. This diet runs your body on ketones and is a more stable source of energy.
Metabolic Changes That Occur from the Keto Diet
With the change in the source of energy, the metabolism changes. Normally, a person's body runs on carbohydrates, which undergo metabolism to release energy from glucose. But, when the body runs on a keto diet, the fats start getting used as the source of energy because carbohydrate intake is restricted. This results in the formation of ketone bodies as a byproduct. Fat metabolism releases ketone bodies. The ketone bodies result in reduced epileptic seizures. There is not much evidence regarding any long-term side effects linked to this diet.
What Does a Keto Diet Look Like?
The keto diet for epilepsy adults consists of the following items:
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Fat items that are recommended include avocado, cheese, butter, coconut oil, duck fat, egg yolk, ghee, macadamia oil, MCT oil, olive oil, whole cream, and walnuts.
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Protein-rich food items in the keto diet are bacon, beef, cheese, chicken, duck, and eggs.
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Nuts and Seeds such as almonds, brazil nuts, and chia seeds.
How Does the Keto Diet Help Reduce Epilepsy?
The keto diet is beneficial for a lot of conditions and has been effective in many ways:
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The Keto diet helps in improving memory and cognitive function.
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The diet helps to reduce inflammation in the brain.
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It reduces epileptic seizures both in children and adults.
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The diet helps to increase the production of certain neurotransmitters (GABA), which have anti-epileptic effects.
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It may also help to improve mood.
Other benefits of the keto diet include a more efficient endocrine system, improved metabolism, and weight loss when done along with intermittent fasting. Hormonal balance is achieved with cruciferous vegetables recommended in the keto diet. It is advisable to consult a reputed neurologist at the best hospital for Neurology in Bangalore before you make any changes in your diet.
Foods to Avoid While on a Keto Diet
Following are the foods to avoid with epilepsy when on a keto diet:
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Corn
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Starches-rich items like potato
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Grains-oats, rice, wheat
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Legumes- Beans, chickpeas
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Most fruits except berries.
What Are the Side Effects of the Keto Diet?
In the early stages as the body shifts from the regular to the keto diet, some side effects may occur until the body gets used to the new diet. Common side effects of the keto diet include:
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Coldness in hands and feet
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Nausea
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Dry mouth
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Constipation
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Diarrhoea
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Rash
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Insomnia.
Keto flu is a term broadly used for such symptoms that arise as the body adapts to the keto diet. This is normal and goes away in a couple of days as the body gets used to it. While some may put up with the keto diet well, a few may not, and that led to the Atkins diet - another low-carb diet associated with reducing epilepsy symptoms.
Modified Atkins Diet
The Atkins diet is a modified version of the keto diet. Since few people can adapt to the keto diet, the modified Atkins diet can help. The modified Atkins diet is minimal in fat, but the protein intake is not restricted. This diet has also been shown to be beneficial for epilepsy.
Diet can play an important role in managing epilepsy. The keto diet has been a treatment for intractable epilepsy since 1920. It was proposed as a treatment option since it produced the same results as fasting, which is already recorded in the Hippocratic collection. It is important to note that the ketogenic diet is not a cure for epilepsy, but it can be an effective treatment for some people. The diet can be difficult to follow, and hence, work with the epileptologist in Bangalore or a dietitian to make sure that you are getting the nutrients that you need.
FAQs
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Is Epilepsy Curable with Diet?
The diet can help reduce seizures to some extent and is an easier option than opting for surgery. It is considered a soothing form of treatment to reduce seizure attacks.
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Is the Ketogenic diet Safe and Effective?
The keto diet is recommended for epilepsy. There are no known long-term side effects.
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Are there any other Diets one can Try for Epilepsy?
Apart from keto, other diet options include the modified Atkins diet.
