The Ketogenic Diet for Neurological and Epileptic Conditions

In the past decade, there has been a lot of interest in low carbohydrate eating mainly as a diet plan for losing weight. Many think of the famed Atkins diet (1972) named for cardiologist Dr. Robert C. Atkins who popularized low carbohydrate consumption combined with higher protein and fat intake as a way to reduce body fat. However, it was in 1921 that endocrinologist Dr. Rollin Woodyatt and internist Dr. Russell Wilder who initiated that by altering human metabolism to fuel itself on various types of dietary fat resulted in several unique health benefits. Carbohydrate intake is relatively high (55-65% of daily calories) in a typical westernized diet. However ketogenic diet carbohydrate intake is relatively low (5-10% of daily calories). This shift in fuel supply run primarily on fat will prompt the liver to convert fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies (in the form of beta-Hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone) in the blood, a state known as ketosis.