A seizure is the result of changes in the electrical activity in the brain, with symptoms that range from rapid blinking or staring to losing consciousness. A seizure can last a few seconds or several minutes. If you have suffered two or more seizures that can’t be explained by other medical conditions, you will be diagnosed as having epilepsy. Treatment for epilepsy varies, but the goal of treatment is the same no matter what the method – controlling seizures. Medications seem to work best for controlling seizures, but there are there is some research that suggest diet may be helpful for seizure control as well. This article will provide you with some ideas for diets you can try after discussing them with your doctor. This article does not constitute, or replace, medical advice.
Ketogenic Diet. A ketogenic diet has been shown to reduce seizures in some patients who have not had success with drugs in controlling their seizures. Ketogenic diets have also been shown to be effective for treating seizures in children with epilepsy. The classic ketogenic diet contains a four to one ratio of fat to combined protein and carbohydrate. This means for each serving of protein and carbohydrates that you eat, you will eat four servings of fat. This is achieved by excluding high-carbohydrate foods such as fruits, vegetables, bread, pasta, and sugar, while increasing the consumption of foods high in fat such as cream and butter.
Atkins Diet. The Atkins diet can induce a ketogenic state, and some studies have shown that this has helped patients with medically resistant epilepsy. The Atkins diet has you limit your carbohydrates to induce a state of ketosis, which then suppresses your appetite. The Atkins diet allows more protein and has fewer calorie restrictions than a ketogenic diet. (A ketogenic diet restricts the amount of calories to 75% of the recommended daily allowance – Atkins does not have a calorie restriction.) Go to www.atkins.com for more information on the Atkins diet.
Low Glycemic Diet. Low glycemic diets are similar to a ketogenic diet, but less strict. There is research that suggests this form of alternative treatment can help control your seizures. In fact, in one study ten out of twenty patients with epilepsy who tried this diet had a reduction of seizures that was greater than 90%. To follow a low glycemic diet, you should eat carbohydrates that have a glycemic index of under fifty. (Go to www.the-natural-path.com/glycemic-index.html for the glycemic index of some popular foods.) You should decrease the total carbohydrates you consume to 40-60 gm/day, or less than 10% of your calories. Divide the carbohydrates you do eat throughout the day, and balance them with protein and fat. Take in 20-30% of your calories from protein and 60-70% of your calories from fat. Discuss this diet with your doctor before beginning it, especially if you have other health concerns. The book Sugar Busters contains a good example of a low glycemic diet, and can be purchased at www.amazon.com.
There is also some evidence that calorie restriction suppresses seizures, even independent of ketosis. Do not go on a calorie restricted diet to control your seizures without first discussing the diet with your doctor.
Source List:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1176347/
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/index.php?p=cognitive-behavioral
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketogenic_diet
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/index.php?p=low-glycemic-index-diet
http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/guide/are-there-alternative-treatments
http://www.neurologyreviews.com/aug02/nr_aug02?epilepsyalt.htm
