There are, broadly speaking, two types of low-carb diets: weight-loss diets and diets for epilepsy. Low-carb diets work best as weight-loss diets if they are combined with a restriction of calories. Low-carb diets for epilepsy are most effective if they are high in fat and adequate in protein. They furthermore seem to have the greatest success rate in epileptics who don't respond to conventional seizure medicine.
Low-Carb Diets
As reported by Mayo Clinic, all low-carb diets, regardless of whether they are aimed at weight-loss or seizure prevention, cut the daily intake of carbohydrates. Foods and drinks high in carbohydrates include breakfast cereal, bagels, doughnuts, bread, burger buns, french fries, starchy vegetables, pasta, rice, breaded meat, fruit, ice cream, cake, soda and alcoholic drinks. This leaves a limited number of permissible food choices, consisting mostly of meat, fish, eggs and sugar free dairy products.
Ketosis
According to Epilepsy.com, low-carb diets work via a kind of brain metabolism called "ketosis." The brain ordinarily feasts on glucose, or blood sugar. When glucose is restricted, the brain can use a different energy source, known as "ketone bodies." When the brain uses mostly ketone bodies as an energy source, you are said to be in ketosis. Ketone bodies are produced when the liver breaks down fat into fatty acids and glycerol.
How to Restrict Glucose
There are several ways to restrict glucose. One is to eat a diet that consists mostly of fat. Only the glycerol component of fat can be converted into glucose. So, a diet that consists mostly of fat yields only a small amount of glucose. As this is not enough to fuel the brain, the brain will consume ketone bodies. The other way to make the brain switch mostly to ketone-body metabolism is to restrict carbohydrates and calories. As the American Medical Association reports, if calories are not restricted, excess protein can be converted into glucose for the brain to use, which means that it will not use ketone bodies as an energy source.
Weight-Loss Success
For a low-carb diet to be successful as a weight-loss diet, it must result in a restriction of calories. Weight loss occurs only if you consume fewer calories than you burn. So, if you want to lose weight, you cannot eat an unlimited amount of fat and protein. There is, however, usually no reason to count calories in addition to carbohydrates on a low-carb diet. As the American Medical Association points out, a diet high in fat and protein may be more filling than one that contains a lot of carbohydrates. As a result, you may eat less. The limited choice of food sources may also make you less interested in eating.
Success with Seizure Prevention
Low-carb diets that are successful as seizure-prevention or seizure reduction diets must induce a shift in brain metabolism. As reported by Epilepsy.com, the brain must consume mostly ketone bodies and only little glucose. No one really knows why brain consumption of ketone bodies can reduce the frequency and intensity of seizures. According to Epilepsy.com, one theory is that ketone bodies are more efficient energy sources, requiring cells to develop more mitochondria to turn the ketone bodies into energy. Mitochondria may function as cell stabilizers, making the cells less likely to get over-excited.
Member Comments