Dietary treatments for epilepsy
Dietary treatments for epilepsy have been around for over a hundred years.
There are a number of similar ketogenic diets that are used, but all are based on the same principle of using a controlled diet to enable the body to produce ketones – a chemical that reduces seizures.
The principles of the ketogenic diet are:
- High fat
- Low carbohydrate
- Controlled protein
This diet is not effective for everyone, but for some it may result in an improvement in seizures, with fewer side effects than other treatments.
Any dietary treatments for epilepsy should only be used under the supervision of a consultant and specialist dietician.
Read more about epilepsy and lifestyle
Further information
-
JMenuItem Object ( [id] => 190 [menutype] => mainmenu [title] => Antiepileptic medication [alias] => antipileptic-medication [note] => [route] => 2014-06-27-14-01-35/treatment-for-epilepsy/antipileptic-medication [link] => index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=42 [type] => component [level] => 3 [language] => * [browserNav] => 0 [access] => 1 [params:protected] => Joomla\Registry\Registry Object ( [data:protected] => stdClass Object ( [show_title] => [link_titles] => [show_intro] => [info_block_position] => [show_category] => [link_category] => [show_parent_category] => [link_parent_category] => [show_author] => [link_author] => [show_create_date] => [show_modify_date] => [show_publish_date] => [show_item_navigation] => [show_vote] => [show_icons] => [show_print_icon] => [show_email_icon] => [show_hits] => [show_tags] => [show_noauth] => [urls_position] => [menu-anchor_title] => [menu-anchor_css] => [menu_image] => [menu_text] => 1 [page_title] => [show_page_heading] => 0 [page_heading] => [pageclass_sfx] => [menu-meta_description] => [menu-meta_keywords] => [robots] => [secure] => 0 [dropdown_dropdown_width] => ) [initialized:protected] => 1 [separator] => . ) [home] => 0 [img] => [template_style_id] => 0 [component_id] => 22 [parent_id] => 167 [component] => com_content [tree] => Array ( [0] => 116 [1] => 167 [2] => 190 ) [query] => Array ( [option] => com_content [view] => article [id] => 42 ) [parent] => [deeper] => [shallower] => [level_diff] => 0 [active] => [flink] => /about-epilepsy/treatment-for-epilepsy/antipileptic-medication.html [anchor_css] => [anchor_title] => [anchor_rel] => [menu_image] => )Antiepileptic medication
-
JMenuItem Object ( [id] => 191 [menutype] => mainmenu [title] => Cannabidiol (pure CBD) [alias] => cannabidiol-pure-cbd [note] => [route] => 2014-06-27-14-01-35/treatment-for-epilepsy/cannabidiol-pure-cbd [link] => index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=43 [type] => component [level] => 3 [language] => * [browserNav] => 0 [access] => 1 [params:protected] => Joomla\Registry\Registry Object ( [data:protected] => stdClass Object ( [show_title] => [link_titles] => [show_intro] => [info_block_position] => [show_category] => [link_category] => [show_parent_category] => [link_parent_category] => [show_author] => [link_author] => [show_create_date] => [show_modify_date] => [show_publish_date] => [show_item_navigation] => [show_vote] => [show_icons] => [show_print_icon] => [show_email_icon] => [show_hits] => [show_tags] => [show_noauth] => [urls_position] => [menu-anchor_title] => [menu-anchor_css] => [menu_image] => [menu_text] => 1 [page_title] => [show_page_heading] => 0 [page_heading] => [pageclass_sfx] => [menu-meta_description] => [menu-meta_keywords] => [robots] => [secure] => 0 [dropdown_dropdown_width] => ) [initialized:protected] => 1 [separator] => . ) [home] => 0 [img] => [template_style_id] => 0 [component_id] => 22 [parent_id] => 167 [component] => com_content [tree] => Array ( [0] => 116 [1] => 167 [2] => 191 ) [query] => Array ( [option] => com_content [view] => article [id] => 43 ) [parent] => [deeper] => [shallower] => [level_diff] => 0 [active] => [flink] => /about-epilepsy/treatment-for-epilepsy/cannabis-oil-pure-cbd.html [anchor_css] => [anchor_title] => [anchor_rel] => [menu_image] => )Cannabidiol (pure CBD)
-
JMenuItem Object ( [id] => 192 [menutype] => mainmenu [title] => Deep brain stimulation [alias] => deep-brain-stimulation [note] => [route] => 2014-06-27-14-01-35/treatment-for-epilepsy/deep-brain-stimulation [link] => index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44 [type] => component [level] => 3 [language] => * [browserNav] => 0 [access] => 1 [params:protected] => Joomla\Registry\Registry Object ( [data:protected] => stdClass Object ( [show_title] => [link_titles] => [show_intro] => [info_block_position] => [show_category] => [link_category] => [show_parent_category] => [link_parent_category] => [show_author] => [link_author] => [show_create_date] => [show_modify_date] => [show_publish_date] => [show_item_navigation] => [show_vote] => [show_tags] => [show_icons] => [show_print_icon] => [show_email_icon] => [show_hits] => [show_noauth] => [urls_position] => [menu-anchor_title] => [menu-anchor_css] => [menu_image] => [menu_text] => 1 [page_title] => [show_page_heading] => 0 [page_heading] => [pageclass_sfx] => [menu-meta_description] => [menu-meta_keywords] => [robots] => [secure] => 0 [dropdown_dropdown_width] => ) [initialized:protected] => 1 [separator] => . ) [home] => 0 [img] => [template_style_id] => 0 [component_id] => 22 [parent_id] => 167 [component] => com_content [tree] => Array ( [0] => 116 [1] => 167 [2] => 192 ) [query] => Array ( [option] => com_content [view] => article [id] => 44 ) [parent] => [deeper] => [shallower] => [level_diff] => 0 [active] => [flink] => /about-epilepsy/treatment-for-epilepsy/deep-brain-stimulation.html [anchor_css] => [anchor_title] => [anchor_rel] => [menu_image] => )Deep brain stimulation
-
JMenuItem Object ( [id] => 193 [menutype] => mainmenu [title] => Epilepsy emergency medication [alias] => epilepsy-emergency-medication [note] => [route] => 2014-06-27-14-01-35/treatment-for-epilepsy/epilepsy-emergency-medication [link] => index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45 [type] => component [level] => 3 [language] => * [browserNav] => 0 [access] => 1 [params:protected] => Joomla\Registry\Registry Object ( [data:protected] => stdClass Object ( [show_title] => [link_titles] => [show_intro] => [info_block_position] => [show_category] => [link_category] => [show_parent_category] => [link_parent_category] => [show_author] => [link_author] => [show_create_date] => [show_modify_date] => [show_publish_date] => [show_item_navigation] => [show_vote] => [show_tags] => [show_icons] => [show_print_icon] => [show_email_icon] => [show_hits] => [show_noauth] => [urls_position] => [menu-anchor_title] => [menu-anchor_css] => [menu_image] => [menu_text] => 1 [page_title] => [show_page_heading] => 0 [page_heading] => [pageclass_sfx] => [menu-meta_description] => [menu-meta_keywords] => [robots] => [secure] => 0 [dropdown_dropdown_width] => ) [initialized:protected] => 1 [separator] => . ) [home] => 0 [img] => [template_style_id] => 0 [component_id] => 22 [parent_id] => 167 [component] => com_content [tree] => Array ( [0] => 116 [1] => 167 [2] => 193 ) [query] => Array ( [option] => com_content [view] => article [id] => 45 ) [parent] => [deeper] => [shallower] => [level_diff] => 0 [active] => [flink] => /about-epilepsy/treatment-for-epilepsy/epilepsy-emergency-medication.html [anchor_css] => [anchor_title] => [anchor_rel] => [menu_image] => )Epilepsy emergency medication
-
JMenuItem Object ( [id] => 194 [menutype] => mainmenu [title] => Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) [alias] => vagus-nerve-stimulation-vns [note] => [route] => 2014-06-27-14-01-35/treatment-for-epilepsy/vagus-nerve-stimulation-vns [link] => index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46 [type] => component [level] => 3 [language] => * [browserNav] => 0 [access] => 1 [params:protected] => Joomla\Registry\Registry Object ( [data:protected] => stdClass Object ( [show_title] => [link_titles] => [show_intro] => [info_block_position] => [show_category] => [link_category] => [show_parent_category] => [link_parent_category] => [show_author] => [link_author] => [show_create_date] => [show_modify_date] => [show_publish_date] => [show_item_navigation] => [show_vote] => [show_tags] => [show_icons] => [show_print_icon] => [show_email_icon] => [show_hits] => [show_noauth] => [urls_position] => [menu-anchor_title] => [menu-anchor_css] => [menu_image] => [menu_text] => 1 [page_title] => [show_page_heading] => 0 [page_heading] => [pageclass_sfx] => [menu-meta_description] => [menu-meta_keywords] => [robots] => [secure] => 0 [dropdown_dropdown_width] => ) [initialized:protected] => 1 [separator] => . ) [home] => 0 [img] => [template_style_id] => 0 [component_id] => 22 [parent_id] => 167 [component] => com_content [tree] => Array ( [0] => 116 [1] => 167 [2] => 194 ) [query] => Array ( [option] => com_content [view] => article [id] => 46 ) [parent] => [deeper] => [shallower] => [level_diff] => 0 [active] => [flink] => /about-epilepsy/treatment-for-epilepsy/vagus-nerve-stimulation-vns.html [anchor_css] => [anchor_title] => [anchor_rel] => [menu_image] => )Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)
-
JMenuItem Object ( [id] => 195 [menutype] => mainmenu [title] => Neurosurgery [alias] => neurosurgery [note] => [route] => 2014-06-27-14-01-35/treatment-for-epilepsy/neurosurgery [link] => index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47 [type] => component [level] => 3 [language] => * [browserNav] => 0 [access] => 1 [params:protected] => Joomla\Registry\Registry Object ( [data:protected] => stdClass Object ( [show_title] => [link_titles] => [show_intro] => [info_block_position] => [show_category] => [link_category] => [show_parent_category] => [link_parent_category] => [show_author] => [link_author] => [show_create_date] => [show_modify_date] => [show_publish_date] => [show_item_navigation] => [show_vote] => [show_tags] => [show_icons] => [show_print_icon] => [show_email_icon] => [show_hits] => [show_noauth] => [urls_position] => [menu-anchor_title] => [menu-anchor_css] => [menu_image] => [menu_text] => 1 [page_title] => [show_page_heading] => 0 [page_heading] => [pageclass_sfx] => [menu-meta_description] => [menu-meta_keywords] => [robots] => [secure] => 0 [dropdown_dropdown_width] => ) [initialized:protected] => 1 [separator] => . ) [home] => 0 [img] => [template_style_id] => 0 [component_id] => 22 [parent_id] => 167 [component] => com_content [tree] => Array ( [0] => 116 [1] => 167 [2] => 195 ) [query] => Array ( [option] => com_content [view] => article [id] => 47 ) [parent] => [deeper] => [shallower] => [level_diff] => 0 [active] => [flink] => /about-epilepsy/treatment-for-epilepsy/neurosurgery.html [anchor_css] => [anchor_title] => [anchor_rel] => [menu_image] => )Neurosurgery
-
JMenuItem Object ( [id] => 196 [menutype] => mainmenu [title] => Dietary treatments for epilepsy [alias] => dietary-treatments [note] => [route] => 2014-06-27-14-01-35/treatment-for-epilepsy/dietary-treatments [link] => index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48 [type] => component [level] => 3 [language] => * [browserNav] => 0 [access] => 1 [params:protected] => Joomla\Registry\Registry Object ( [data:protected] => stdClass Object ( [show_title] => [link_titles] => [show_intro] => [info_block_position] => [show_category] => [link_category] => [show_parent_category] => [link_parent_category] => [show_author] => [link_author] => [show_create_date] => [show_modify_date] => [show_publish_date] => [show_item_navigation] => [show_vote] => [show_icons] => [show_print_icon] => [show_email_icon] => [show_hits] => [show_tags] => [show_noauth] => [urls_position] => [menu-anchor_title] => [menu-anchor_css] => [menu_image] => [menu_text] => 1 [page_title] => [show_page_heading] => 0 [page_heading] => [pageclass_sfx] => [menu-meta_description] => [menu-meta_keywords] => [robots] => [secure] => 0 [dropdown_dropdown_width] => ) [initialized:protected] => 1 [separator] => . ) [home] => 0 [img] => [template_style_id] => 0 [component_id] => 22 [parent_id] => 167 [component] => com_content [tree] => Array ( [0] => 116 [1] => 167 [2] => 196 ) [query] => Array ( [option] => com_content [view] => article [id] => 48 ) [parent] => [deeper] => [shallower] => [level_diff] => 0 [active] => [flink] => /about-epilepsy/treatment-for-epilepsy/dietary-treatments.html [anchor_css] => [anchor_title] => [anchor_rel] => [menu_image] => )Dietary treatments for epilepsy
Young Epilepsy is the operating name of The National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy (NCYPE).