What is the Ketogenic diet?
The Ketogenic diet is a very specialized diet that should only be tried under the very close guidance of a doctor. The Ketogenic diet is high fat, low carbohydrate, low protein diet. The Ketogenic diet was developed especially for young children who suffer from epilepsy. This manner of eating creates a high, high blood concentration of incompletely burned fat molecules. These incompletely burned fat molecules are called ketone bodies. The Ketogenic diet is a strict, rigid diet only used in extremely rare circumstances. Sometimes persons undergoing a Ketogenic diet will also have to take less fluids, as lower fluid levels in the body make the ketone bodies even more effective. Doctors aren’t sure just why the Ketogenic diet is effective for controlling seizures. There aren’t a lot of answers. One thing that is known, however, is that the Ketogenic diet isn’t something that should be tried without a doctor’s approval, and can be very harmful and unhealthy if misapplied.
What foods are high in carbohydrates?
The Ketogenic diet cuts out foods that are high in carbohydrates, or at least cuts down on them so that the patient is eating as few carbohydrates as possible. Foods that are high in carbohydrates include all sorts of natural foods, including fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and grains. Fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and grains are all high in carbohydrates. Certain things can be done to them to lower the amount of carbohydrates they carry. The Ketogenic diet takes advantage of these practices for the benefit of the patient. Bread, cereal, oatmeal – these food are very high in carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are necessary for energy and alertness. The Ketogenic diet, however, restricts carbohydrates as they tend to worsen seizures. With the Ketogenic diet, fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and beans are all carefully monitored for high carbohydrate levels, and high fat, low carbohydrate foods are substituted in their place. The Ketogenic diet is a very specialized diet that is usually followed for a maximum of two years. The Ketogenic diet is usually began in a hospital, and amounts and kinds of food are calculated very scientifically. The patient eats only certain things at certain times, with no wiggle room.
What foods are high in protein?
Animal products are often high in protein. Animal products include meat, cheese, cream, milk, and eggs. All of these products are high in protein, and are therefore restricted by the Ketogenic diet. They are also the foods highest in fat, however, so that the Ketogenic diet has developed special methods of dealing with them. Beans and nuts are also high in protein, and high in fat. The Ketogenic diet is obviously a very unique diet, as it prescribes a lifestyle that’s exactly the reverse or the opposite of most other diets. Children suffering from epilepsy are often put on the Ketogenic diet.
What are the pros and cons of the Ketogenic diet?
We can use a simple rating scale to answer this question.
Cost – 5. The Ketogenic diet is expensive because it’s administered by doctors and hospitals.
Health – 9. The Ketogenic diet has proven to be very influential in certain cases.
Ease of adherence – 4. The Ketogenic diet is difficult to get used to, and does not result in a lot of positive feelings.
Ease of implementation – 4. The Ketogenic diet is difficult to begin, because it’s so different from a normal diet.
Speed – 6. The Ketogenic diet takes time as it has to be so carefully administered.
Long-term potential – 7. The Ketogenic diet usually lasts for as long as two years.
Busy lifestyle rating – 6. The Ketogenic diet is painstaking and complicated.
Family friendly – 7. Families should be able to adjust to a family member needing to subscribe to the Ketogenic diet.