There are different types of the diet used by people and by doctors to treat a variety of disorders. The therapeutic ketogenic diet is a specialized high-fat diet that’s used as an alternative to treat epilepsy after many anticonvulsants have failed to show productive results. The therapeutic ketogenic diet is very strict and should one choose to attempt it, an inquiry to your doctor is first recommended. One can also research one of the hospitals and clinics listed on The Charlie Foundation website to see if the ketogenic diet is appropriate and safe for you or your loved ones. If you are considering the ketongenic diet for a child with epilepsy, we do not recommend you take it upon yourself to start your child on the diet without professional recommendation and further research. The ketogenic diet, however, can also be used to assist in weight loss and in many body building programs and methods for building muscle. It is important and essential to acknowledge that the ketogenic diet requires closely monitoring the level of ketones in the body in order to avoid an over-acidic level in the blood, which is a dangerous and unhealthy state known as ketoacidosis. The ketogenic diet removes sugars and carbohydrate-rich foods such as potatoes, cereal, pasta, bread and rice. The ketogenic diet primarily includes foods such as butter, cream, vegetables oils, vegetables, eggs, beef, poultry and pork, but the ketogenic diet is generally low protein. The foods on the ketogenic diet are measured by the gram on a precise scale in order to ensure effectiveness. The ketogenic diet attempts to substitute ketone bodies and fatty acids, converted from fat, for glucose in the brain as an alternative energy source. This is achieved by removing carbohydrates from the diet, thereby imitating certain characteristics that affect the body during starvation. This causes the body to begin burning fat as opposed to carbs in order to obtain energy. This leads to a increased level of ketone bodies in the bloodstream. This state is called ketosis, which has been proven to minimize the occurences of epileptic seizures many patients on the ketogenic diet. click here for more information
What is the Ketogenic Diet