Seizures and diet in adults

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The experts at NYU Langone recommend three different diets and offer advice on which one may be best based on the type of seizures or epilepsy a person has. The ketogenic diet consists primarily of foods high in fat, with most of the remaining calories supplied by protein. The diet includes very few carbohydrates and is intended to induce a metabolic state called ketosis. Ketosis mimics a fasting state, and research shows that seizures often lessen or disappear during periods of fasting in some people with epilepsy. Some people may be able to stop the ketogenic diet after a few years and remain seizure-free. The diet is used mostly in children with epilepsy , but adults may also use the diet.

The "classic" ketogenic diet is a special high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that helps to control seizures in some people with epilepsy. It is prescribed by a physician and carefully monitored by a dietitian. It is usually used in children with seizures that do not respond to medications.

One of the oldest treatments for epilepsy is the classic ketogenic diet , which involves consuming high-fat foods and very few carbohydrates. Johns Hopkins is a longstanding pioneer in this mode of therapy. In order to be successful, this therapy calls for strict compliance and plenty of patience, especially in the beginning.