DIET - Has it helped your Epilepsy???

[LuvMyTwins]

Awesome article that I now have to get to add to my collection. Maybe by the end of all of this, I'll be telling doctor's what to prescribe

[forward2007]

Hi,

Yes, diet saved my boy!

My son (9) is not on a healthy diet at all. But the (unhealthy) ketogenic diet sure has helped to control most of his intractable epilepsy in the past 5 years. He's been on 10 anti-epileptic drugs and benzo's but they didn't help at all.
He eats 90% fat (mayonaise, cream, oil, fat meat and cheese) and allmost no carbs + just enough protein. Each meal is stricktly calculated on calories. He can't eat any snacks and only drinks with no calories and no sugar (limited sweetners.) He gets mulitvitamines, calcium ,Q10 and carnitine supplementation each day.
We saw his seizures reduce from 50-100 a day to hardly any seizures at all. His EEG improved from 90-99% epileptic activity to less than 30%. He's free of all anti-epileptic drugs and benzo's now.

Similar results have been reached on the (modified) Atkins diet (as a treatment for epilepsy not used for loosing weight but on adequate calories and restricted carbs.) Sure worth a try!

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/press.../01_28_08.html

http://atkinsforseizures.com/

http://www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/pressoffice...y/ep_diet.html

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/j...TRY=1&SRETRY=0

That's a pretty incredible change. I'm glad you found something that worked that well.

[joan]

Diet has basically saved my daughter. She has been on Modified Atkins for Seizures since 6/09. She is doing WONDERFUL. It may not work for everyone but it certainly cant hurt to try.

I wish you all well,
joan*

[becool]

Hey Guys
My brother is autistic who has seizures say once in a month or in about 2 months.Is Ketogenic/Atkins diet recommended for him?I was reading the info regarding them and i am scared about the side effects so confused
Regards

[RobinN]

There are not any side effects to the Atkins Diet. I believe he is too old for the Keto Diet. I don't think most doctors will suggest it at his age.

[becool]

Thanks for the reply Mrs.Robin

Do you recommend Atkins Diet for my brother?Mam this page(i cant post the link here,according to the site i haven't been around long enough,anways after the site's name post this and hit enter to see that thread) shows side effects of Atkins Diet

/index.php?p=modified-atkins-diet

Regards

[RobinN]

I do not know if the Atkins for Seizures diet will help your brother, but it is my opinion, that all logical therapies should be considered. The Atkins has proven to be successful for many people, that is why doctors are now doing their own (limited) studies.

http://www.atkinsforseizures.com/

[becool]

Ok.I will consult the neurologist about the diet

Mam in your last post you said that my brother is old for Keto Diet.Look at post number 11 in this thread(i cant post the link here,according to the site i haven't been around long enough,anways after the site's name post this and hit enter to see that thread)

/forums/f42/prep-ing-4yo-keto-6292/

Ben's Mom has stated that they started the Keto Diet when Ben was 26 years old.I dont understand if Keto Diet is for kids,then how come they started it for Ben?

I checked the profile of Ben's Mom she never replied after that post.Do you know anything about the progress of Ben?

Regards

[RobinN]

From my reading, it is rare that a doctor would put an adult on the KD.
If this is something you are interested in, it has to be monitored by a medical professional. None of us here are able to help you with that. I believe the patient has to go into the hospital for one or two days, when starting the program.

I have no idea how Ben is doing. Sometimes when members are doing well, they aren't around CWE as frequently.

Word of caution: most neurologists won't discuss nutrition with you. Perhaps you will be lucky with your brothers doctor. Especially if you take in the research on the diet. You might have better luck with a specialist. However, then you run the risk that they do not understand seizures. At times it can be frustrating.

A nutritionist can help monitor it, support you, but only if they are up to date on current ideas in nutritional health. Following the old school nutritional pyramid isn't going to be helpful.

[becool]

Thanks for the reply Mrs.Robin and for all the wonderful advises

We will consult the doctor and hopefully he will be able to tell us about the diet

Yea i too hope Ben is doing great

Will keep you posted

Regards

[Endless]

Hey, Becool,

I asked a nutritionist about the Atkins diet, and about a Ketogenic diet for me. I'm an adult. Doctors don't recommend a Ketogenic diet for adults because of the possible cardiac system effects, plus compliance problems. Atkins diet she said the jury is still out - there haven't been enough studies to know what it really does.

If you are unsure what to do, or have concerns, find a good nutritionist. They are hard to find, like good doctors, but there are some out there. Ask in advance whether they work with ketogenic or Atkins diets.

[RobinN]

I wanted to add, that you do not need a doctor to eat well. You can experiment with extremes in nutritional choices, and journal / monitor as you go. If you feel better or see positive results then continue. If you see negative signs then tweak the plan.

There are NO downsides to eating well.

[alivenwell]

I totally agree there RobinN. I have swapped junk food, fast food, processed food, MSG based ingredients, gluten based ingredients for:

Fresh fruit, fresh veggies, high protein low fat Greek Yogurt, high protein low fat white organic chicken meat, high protein hard boiled eggs (no butter or salt), absolutely no bread, no high sodium laden soups or canned goods, no diet soda or artificial sweeteners and a lot of home made meals. If there's a favorite recipe, modify it to suit your needs.
Watch out for glucose levels lower than 100 since they may also cause one to pass out. Keep taking electrolytes with sports drinks that have no caffeine, no ginkgo biloba, no ginseng, no high fructose corn syrup and eat small meals all day on a regular basis.

I've been doing this for several years along with a workout that includes a 2 mile walk in cool weather or at least a half hour on an indoor treadmill. If you have been working out, keep it up. If you are starting an exercise regimen, with your doctor's permission, take it easy until you can add more intensity to the workout. Although swimming is a high calorie burning workout, personally go for the equipment that is more safe. Have a person by your side for a safety guard.

Frozen dinners have to either be ice cream, low sodium dinners (really rare there) or frozen organic vegetables. I feel really strongly about organic foods, especially because of growth hormones.

My chocolate/sweet fix is from a calcium chew. Healthy, and fights osteoporosis.

Keep a written log of everything you eat.

[becool]

Hi Endless,Mrs.Robin and alivenwell

Thanks for the reply.Actually i was thinking of consulting a doctor and ask him if he knows a good nutritionist.After reading your posts above,will find a nutritionist myself too.

About experimenting,well i am trying swapping fast foods from his diet,he loves them so sometimes i get it for him.Same is the case for processed food and soft drinks.Will try to make major changes in his diet and will keep you guys posted.

Regards