Some children who have uncontrolled seizures may benefit from a special way of eating called the ketogenic diet. The diet consists of foods that are high in fat and low in carbohydrates, a combination that helps the body produce ketones which can help minimize seizures. The treatment is very specific and carries some risks, so a child should be monitored closely by a dietitian while on the ketogenic diet.
In this episode of CHOC Radio, clinical dietitians Jessica Brown and Lindsay Rypkema explain:
- How the ketogenic diet works and who may benefit from it
- Ways to maintain adequate nutrition while on the diet
- Sample recipes and ways to alter favorite meals to the plan
- Current research that considers whether other conditions, like tumors, could be managed by the ketogenic diet
- How CHOC is assisting families in adapting the ketogenic diet for their child.
