Does The Ketogenic Diet Consist Of All Processed Food?

A ketogenic diet is a specialized eating plan that forces your body to burn fat for energy rather than its normal main energy source, glucose. Doctors typically use this type of diet as a treatment for children with epilepsy. While ketogenic diets contain some processed food, they also contain non-processed foods.

Processed Foods

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines processed foods as "any food other than a raw agricultural commodity." Common processes that transform food from a raw state include cooking, canning, dehydrating, milling and freezing. The California Department of Public Health lists specific examples of processed foods in everyday diets, including pasta, baked goods, oils, candy and packaged or processed vegetables. Additional examples that might appear in your diet include luncheon meats, canned soups, pasteurized milk and dairy products such as cheese, ice cream and yogurt.

Ketogenic Diet Basics

By encouraging the burning of fat for energy, a ketogenic diet forces your body to make substances called ketones, according to Children's Memorial Epilepsy Center. In children with epilepsy, the presence of ketones diminishes seizure-related brain activity and can significantly reduce real-world seizure activity. To encourage your child's body to burn fat, a ketogenic diet derives 80 percent of its calories from fat sources, the Epilepsy Foundation reports. The remaining 20 percent comes from a combination of proteins and carbohydrates. Carbohydrate intake must be limited because foods in this category can easily lower your child's production of seizure-reducing ketones.

Common Ketogenic Foods

Many of the fat sources in your child's ketogenic diet will come in a processed form. Children's Memorial Epilepsy Center lists specific examples of these sources that include oils, mayonnaise, butter and heavy whipping cream. However, other foods in a ketogenic diet are not processed. Non-processed fat and protein options include eggs, beef, chicken and fish. Non-processed carbohydrate options include various fruits and vegetables such as lettuce, squash and asparagus.

Starting the Diet

In effect, a ketogenic diet mimics body processes associated with starvation, the Epilepsy Foundation explains. A the start of a ketogenic diet, your child will typically need to undergo a 24-hour fast in a hospital setting. This step is taken to wean him from any source of glucose and encourage his body to begin burning stored supplies of fat. Once, this fat-burning process is established, a ketogenic diet will extend it and ensure sufficient ketone production. After starting this type of diet, your child will need to strictly follow its requirements in order to achieve the desired anti-seizure results.

Considerations

Consumption of a ketogenic diet can significantly raise your child's cholesterol levels, Children's Memorial Epilepsy Center notes. However, most children remain on the diet for only about two years, and long-term cholesterol impact is typically minimal. Older children and teens with epilepsy can sometimes eat a modified diet that restricts carbohydrate intake but does not restrict protein or overall calories. Do not attempt to administer a ketogenic diet without full participation from your child's doctor and a qualified nutritionist. Consult your doctor for more information.