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Showing posts with label keto diet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label keto diet. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Ketogenic diet for Drug-resistant Epilepsy

Ketogenic diet for Drug-resistant Epilepsy | healthbiztips
Ketogenic diet for Drug-resistant Epilepsy | healthbiztips

Keto diet, an Alternative Option for Drug-resistant Seizure


@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan | health blog

Ketogenic diet has become an alternative treatment for epileptic people when conventional antiseizure medicine fail to prevent an episode, but how can such a dietary regimen alleviate a serious medical condition?

The utilization of ketogenic diet for drug-resistant epilepsy is predominantly utilized in children, although it is not recommended for adults.

The Epilepsy Foundation claimed that:
  • Over half of children who go on the diet have at least a 50% reduction in the number of their seizures.
  • Some children, usually 10-15%, even become seizure-free.

According to this agency, keto diet proves helpful in medical conditions such as:
  • infantile spasms
  • Rett syndrome
  • tuberous sclerosis complex
  • Dravet syndrome
  • Doose syndrome
  • GLUT-1 deficiency

Studies by Rogawski and colleagues sheds some light into this topic:


Although the exact mechanism of ketogenic diet's success in averting seizure episode is hard to point out, it is known that keto diet's fundamental principle of mimicking the state of starvation induced by fasting is a key factor. However, do note that this diet does not withhold food intake, Instead, it drastically cuts down the portion of carbohydrate a person eats and replaces this main energy source with fat.

Without enough glucose to break down from the scanty carbohydrate, the body switches to fat as it's fuel. Fat is broken down and the liver produces ketone to serve as energy source. At this state, the person is said to be under the state of ketosis in which these ketone bodies floods the bloodstream.

The presence of ketone bodies have several metabolic effects that greatly benefit epileptic people:
  • increase in the production of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter
  • decrease in the production of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter
  • Increase production of adenosine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter
  • Increase in the mitochondrial biogenesis in the hippocampus
  • Increase in reduced gutathione (GSH)


Since each patient has varying medical case and history, it is worth knowing that keto diet is not effective for all people so make it a point to consult your health care provider before starting it.


Resources:

Rogawski, M. A., Löscher, W., & Rho, J. M. (2016). Mechanisms of Action of Antiseizure Drugs and the Ketogenic Diet. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine, 6(5), a022780. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a022780

Epilepsy Foundation. Ketogenic Diet. https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/dietary-therapies/ketogenic-diet

Monday, February 18, 2019

7 Facts about Keto Diet - Healthbiztips

7 Facts about Keto Diet

Keto or ketosis diet has gained popularity over the last few years. Here are some facts you should know about this diet.

7 Facts about Keto Diet - Healthbiztips
7 Facts about Keto Diet - Healthbiztips

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan
1. When you follow a standard ketogenic diet, you have to cut down your carbohydrate intake to less than 5%.

2. School taught us that we have 3 main energy source -- carbohydrate, protein, and fat. If you remember, it is emphasized that our main energy source should be carbohydrates. We'll, ketogenic diet is a diet that directly opposes that teaching. Instead of getting much of our energy needs from carbohydrates, ketogenic diet focuses on a diet high in fat while keeping carbohydrate intake minimal.

3. Did you know that glucose metabolism promotes inflammation? Whereas, when your body turns to ketones for energy, it helps prevents this damaging inflammatory response.

4. Ketogenic diet is a popular diet to loose weight, prevent and manage inflammatory diseases like Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

5. Since keto diet limits carbohydrate intake, the body is forced to turn into ketones as an energy source which induces the body into a state of ketosis (high ketones in the blood).

6. Ketogenic diet is claimed to benefit people suffering from diabetes as it brings blood sugar level down, however caution should still be taken to avoid diabetic ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a medical emergency in which ketone level in the blood reaches a dangerously high level, which turns blood acidic and interferes with the normal functioning of vital internal organs.

7. Ketogenic diet reduces cravings while it increases the amount of time you feel full.

Another good reason to cut on carbohydrate intake is it's positive effect of lowering triglyceride level in the blood. On the other hand, did you know that shifting to a low-fat diet can drastically increase triglyceride level?


Related blog posts:

What is Keto Diet? - Healthbiztips
What is Keto Diet? - Healthbiztips

7 Facts about Keto Diet - Healthbiztips
7 Facts about Keto Diet - Healthbiztips

Is Ketogenic Diet Effective? - Healthbiztips

Is Ketogenic Diet Effective?

If you're trying to cut down your fat intake so you can loose weight faster, your might cringe at ketogenic diet's theme of increasing fat intake while limiting carbohydrate consumption. Is it effective?

Is Ketogenic Diet Effective? - Healthbiztips
Is Ketogenic Diet Effective? - Healthbiztips

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan
There are several reasons why ketogenic diet appeals to a large number of person. For a start, it's a reputedly faster way to loose weight. By severely depleting the body's glucose source, we consequently enhance fat metabolism.
Numerous studies strongly support ketogenic diet's effectivity in loosing weight.
Let's look into several advantages of adapting a ketogenic diet:
  • Reduces appetite
  • Reduces cravings
  • Enables the body to burn more fat
  • Reduces the formation of new fat cells
  • Lowers inflammation
  • Lowers glucose (blood sugar)
  • Lowers risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

As convincing as keto diet's potential, it is not a diet that suits everybody. A good example of this is among diabetics who are taking anti-diabetic medication in which the potential for an occurrence of a life-threatening ketoacidosis is higher.

Ketogenic diet is not tailored made for everyone. Knowing about your own health condition is crucial to avoid unnecessary risks this diet can pose to you.

It is not advisable to adapt a ketogenic diet if you are currently pregnant or lactating, or if you have problems involving your kidney, liver, or pancreas.


Related blog posts:

What is Keto Diet? - Healthbiztips
What is Keto Diet? - Healthbiztips

7 Facts about Keto Diet - Healthbiztips
7 Facts about Keto Diet - Healthbiztips

What is Keto Diet? - Healthbiztips

What is Keto Diet?

Keto diet (short for ketogenic diet) is a diet that focuses on fat as the body's main energy source. So, in keto diet, you basically eat more fat but less carbohydrate.

What is Keto Diet? - Healthbiztips
What is Keto Diet? - Healthbiztips

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Ketogenic diet lies in the principle that when an individual consume less carbohydrate, glucose availability as an energy source is markedly reduced, so the liver then turns fatty acids into ketones as as an alternative fuel.
Glucose is the main fuel that drives our day to day function, however, in it's shortage, our body turns into ketones.
We'll you see, glucose metabolism does have it's downsides like  the fact that it promotes inflammation. But, don't get me wrong, inflammation is crucial to our survival as it helps clear off harmful foreign substances and facilitate healing, however, when inflammation is uncalled, it can do more harm than good. In fact, inflammation is a culprit of many chronic inflammatory diseases like asthma, Alzheimer's disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Keto diet markedly increase the body's ability to burn fat and decreases cravings, which is desirable for people who want to loose weight faster.


Related blog posts:

Is Ketogenic Diet Effective? - Healthbiztips
Is Ketogenic Diet Effective? - Healthbiztips

7 Facts about Keto Diet - Healthbiztips
7 Facts about Keto Diet - Healthbiztips