The Ketogenic Diet: A Treatment for Children and Others with Epilepsy - Softcover

Freeman, John; Kossoff, M.D. Eric H.; Freeman, Jennifer B.; Kelly, R.D. Millicent T.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1932603182 ISBN 13: 9781932603187

Publisher: Demos Health, 2006

Synopsis

I was pushing my son, Charlie, in a swing when his head twitched and he threw his right arm in the air. That was the beginning of an agony I am without words to describe. Nine months later, ... Charlie's seizures were unchecked, his development delayed, and he had a prognosis of continued seizures and progressive retardation. Since Charlie started the (ketogenic) diet, he has been virtually seizure-free, completely drug-free, and a terrific little boy. He has had to remain on a modified version of the ketogenic diet after being on the full diet for two years, but he goes to school and leads a normal, happy life.

One in five children with epilepsy has seizures that are resistant to medications. Even when seizures are fairly well under control, medication may affect childrens alertness and mental clarity, impairing their ability to learn and reach their full potential. Many parents are looking beyond currently available medications for a satisfying solution to seizure treatment.

The ketogenic diet is such an answer. This rigid, mathematically calculated, doctor-supervised diet is high in fat and low in carbohydrate and protein, and strictly limits both calories and liquid intake. The diet helps to control seizures and allows many children to become both seizure-free and drug-free.

This extensively updated edition covers the many advances that have been made in understanding how the diet works, how it should be used, and its future role as a treatment for children with epilepsy.

Get all the facts for the ketogenic diet, plus:

Clear instructions for calculating and managing the diet on a daily basis

Full listing of acceptable foods, with nutritional information, that can be used with the food plan

The best approaches for coping with the limitations and restrictions of this eating plan

NEW! Expanded section of recipes and 35 sample meals, including some developed by professional chefs with children on the diet

NEW! A discussion of how the Atkins and modified ketogenic diets may in some cases be used as alternatives to control epilepsy in children

The Ketogenic Diet: A Treatment for Children and Others with Epilepsy, Fourth Edition is an indispensable resource for any parent, medical professional, or dietician working with children on this strict but highly effective diet plan.

Check out the new companion to The Ketogenic Diet, Keto Kid: Helping Your Child Succeed on the Ketogenic Diet.

About this title

About the Author:

John M. Freeman, MD is Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics and has spent most of his career at Johns Hopkins University, where he has spent most of his career. In 1969, he created and assumed directorship of the Johns Hopkins Child Neurology Program. His contributions have made the Center a leader in the field. He has written nearly 150 articles, 41 book chapters and seven books or editions of books including, The Ketogenic Diet: A Treatment for Children and Others with Epilepsy, and the award-winning Seizures and Epilepsy in Childhood: A Guide

Review:

"While this is a profoundly rigorous diet, with potentially serious side effects, Freeman, Kossoff, et al. discuss every facet of the process with clarity and professionally restrained optimism. Under proper guidance and with real dedication, this diet may be the path to recovery for children with difficult-to-control seizures." -- Kirkus Reports

"A 'must'...Very highly recommended as a top alternative to medication for kids with epilepsy."--The Midwest Book Review

"This book is easy to read... Anecdotes from families that have used the ketogenic diet are interspersed throughout the chapters and make the...text more interesting, and bring the diet to life... This book is highly recommended for pediatric consumer health libraries."--CAPHIS Consumer Connections

"The book is highly recommended for physicians who are dealing with epileptic patients particularly in the pediatric age group... The book is highly recommended to dieticians and parents who may embark on the path of the ketogenic diet for drug resistant seizures." -- Saudi Medical Journal

"If we had had the information in this book fifteen months earlier, a vast majority of Charlie's $100,000 of medical, surgical, and drug treatment would not have been necessary, a vast majority of Charlie's seizures would not have occurred." -- From the Foreword by Jim Abrahams, Director, The Charlie Foundation to Help Cure Pediatric Epilepsy ("From the Foreword by Jim Abrahams, Director, The Charlie Foundation to Help Cure Pediatric Epilepsy" 2010-05-03)

About this edition

• Publisher: Demos Health
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1932603182
• ISBN 13: 9781932603187
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 254