1. Implement the Ketogenic Diet Under a Physician's Supervision
If you have severe, intractable seizures that have not responded to anticonvulsants, your physician may place you on a ketogenic diet. Though it was created for epileptic children in the 1920s, this rigid dietary plan can lower the number of seizures significantly in some adult patients as well. The theory of the diet is that drastically decreasing carbohydrates increases ketones in the blood, aiding in seizure control. The ketogenic diet requires an inpatient fasting period in a hospital or clinic setting in order to clear the blood of stored glucose. The hospital fast is especially important for kids, who may also need acute inpatient treatment for health complications that arise during the fasting period.
After the initial fast, your body will begin to use fat stores for energy. The ketogenic diet, which is high in fat and low in carbohydrates, encourages this fat-burning process. Unfortunately, the diet is hard to stick with due to its low-carb, low-protein, high-fat nature, as each meal is made of up of 80-percent fat versus 20-percent protein and carbs. You may become bored and frustrated with your dietary options, especially if you were used to a food plan high in fruits and other complex carbs.
The ketogenic diet can cause side effects like dehydration, constipation, slowed menstrual cycles, pancreatitis and decreased bone density. It is considered a full-blown medical treatment rather than a do-it-yourself diet plan, so it's crucial to see a doctor regularly for checkups and lab tests when you are on this restrictive program.
2. Follow a Modified Atkins Diet
The Atkins-like diet is also designed to build the body's ketone compounds but does not require a medically observed fasting period. In addition, dieters can take in more carbohydrates and proteins instead of being limited by caloric intake. If you are physically or mentally unable to adhere to a ketogenic program, the modified Atkins plan provides similar results, without the same restrictions. The diet still gets most of its calories from fat products like eggs, meats, oils and heavy cream, but participants can take in at least 15 g of carbohydrates and unlimited amounts of protein and no-calorie beverages. A Johns Hopkins' study indicated that around 30 percent of study participants on an Atkins-like program lowered their seizure rates by at least 50 percent. While it requires discipline and is not a good fit for all patients, the modified Atkins plan has a high therapeutic success rate, especially if you don't have drug and surgical options.
3. Experiment With a Low-Glycemic-Index Treatment
Another alternative to the hardcore ketogenic program, the low-glycemic-index diet was created in 2002. Bumping up carb intake to 40 to 60 g a day, the number of calories from fat is lowered to 60 percent.
4. Check in for Follow-up Care
Due to the risk of vitamin deficiency on any of these diet programs, your doctor will most likely prescribe supplementary multivitamin, mineral and calcium pills to compensate. In addition, it is helpful to meet with a nutritionist or dietary specialist who can help you design an epilepsy diet that lowers seizure rates while maintaining your health. If your seizures are reduced or even stopped completely, you may want to discuss the possibility of reintroducing a more normalized diet when you meet with your health practitioners.
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