The ketogenic diet is basically a high fat, low carb diet that also includes adequate amounts of protein. It is designed in such a way that it mimics the various biochemical changes that take place when the body undergoes a prolonged period of starvation.
The ketogenic diet basically comprises of a high fat, extremely low carbohydrate diet, along with enough proteins, which are all carefully calculated according to each individual child. The calories in the diet are controlled, depending upon the activity and the age of the child. If the calories are calculated properly, it will result in the child neither gaining nor losing any significant amount of weight, with growth continuing normally.
However, the calories are reduced in case the child is overweight, until he/she reaches the ideal weight. There is also a restriction of fluids, although it is not quite clear the reasons for doing so. The ketogenic diet provides about 90 percent of the caloric needs of the child as fat, which includes butter, cream and mayonnaise, about 1 gram per kilogram of the weight of the child’s body as protein, and an extremely low intake of carbohydrate. Calcium and vitamin supplements must be taken when this diet is followed.
The ketogenic diet simulates the metabolic effects that occur during starvation. When the body gets into starvation mode, it first uses up the glucose and glycogen that is stored for energy, and after that is used up, it begins burning up the body fat that is stored.
When glucose is not available in sufficient amounts, the body is unable to burn the fats completely, which results in ketone bodies being formed, which are the residual matter of fat that is incompletely burned.
Exogenous fats, or dietary fat, are provided to the body to burn in a ketogenic diet, and carbohydrates are severely restricted in order to deprive the body of glucose, thereby helping it to build up high levels of ketone bodies. It is these ketone bodies that seem to help in suppressing epileptic seizures.
Despite some amount of misgivings, the ketogenic diet is not a "fad diet", but is an alternative treatment, which is approved medically, for children with epilepsy that is difficult to control. However, it is only under the strict supervision of a dietician and a physician that the diet should be used.
For more info, download Ketogenic Diet, a free ebook.
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