The basis of the ketogenic diet is the elimination of carbohydrates from the daily menu and their replacement by fats. The ketogenic diet is used for the treatment of epilepsy and is mainly recommended for those patients for whom the pharmacology does not have the expected effects.
The main source of energy is carbohydrates, so we consume them more (about 50%). Next to them are fats - 35%, in the daily diet - proteins (about 15%). When the body gets low carbohydrates, it needs energy from fats, which form the basis of the ketogenic diet. Fat can be 80 to 90 percent.
While quick use produces results and people who use it after a few days will notice the difference, this change doesn't last long. They are often malnourished and lack essential nutrients.
Contrary to appearances, the ketogenic diet is not the next "miracle" diet. This special menu was created for a specific purpose. Research shows that limiting carbohydrate intake to fat is ideal for people with refractory epilepsy.
Fat support therapy, diet for autism, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, some types of epilepsy and encephalopathy are also being considered.
The Ketogenic Diet - How Does It Work?
When fats become the body's main fuel during their decomposition, ketone bodies are formed: acetone, acetoacetate, and beta-hydroxybutyric acid. They reach the nervous system, where, instead of glucose, they feed the nerve cells.
Although the metabolic changes in this diet are similar to those that occur in hungry people, in the case of epilepsy they have a beneficial effect. A high concentration of ketone bodies in the blood blocks the onset of seizures.