Children with difficult to control seizures may be put on a special diet to treat epilepsy. It's called the ketogenic diet, and it tricks the body into burning fat, instead of sugar, for energy. About a third of children placed on it do very well; another third have fewer seizures. The remaining children do not benefit. The diet has been tried in some adults, with similar results.
The diet is high in fats. It causes a change in the body, called ketosis. This controls seizures, or results in less of them. A special team works with the ketogenic diet. Food has to be carefully calculated and weighed on a scale.
The ketogenic diet is a very strict diet. Even a few cookie crumbs can cancel its effects and cause seizures.
For more information about the ketogenic diet as a treatment option, please click on the picture.
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