Epilepsy Awareness & Ketogenic Diet 

November is not only the month to raise awareness on men's health and prostate cancer, but it is also Epilepsy Awareness Month, during which people try to spread the word on epilepsy, why it happens, what to do if someone has a seizure, how epilepsy can be treated, etc…

In this blog, I will be talking about the ketogenic diet and how it is used as a treatment option for people whose seizures cannot be controlled with at least 2 anti-epileptic drugs.

As a trusted dietitian in Dubai, I perfectly know how diet can help reduce the severity of seizures as well as their occurrences.

Epilepsy is not just one condition. It refers to a group of diverse conditions, all linked by a shared characteristic: the tendency for seizures to originate in the brain. It can develop in anyone, at any age or stage of life. No one is immune to the possibility of experiencing it. It happens in people of all ages, races, and social classes, and it is most commonly diagnosed in children and in people over 65. You can learn more about epilepsy here.

It's a diet that is high in fats, low in carbohydrates, and carefully regulates protein intake. It has been used since the 1920s by our ancestors for the treatment of epilepsy. With this diet, the body uses fat as a source of energy through a process called ketosis, and produces chemicals called ketones, as well as a fatty acid called decanoic acid which contributes to the control of seizures.

There are several types of ketogenic diets that are effective in controlling seizures, such as the classical diet, which includes very little carbs and protein, and most of the fat in it comes from butter, cream, oil, and other natural fatty foods. Another diet is the medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) diet.

This diet allows for more carbohydrates, and the fat comes from naturally fatty foods and from a supplement of MCT oil, which is only available by prescription from a doctor.