The ketogenic diet is a high-fat adequate-protein low-carbohydrate diet that in medicine is used primarily to treat difficult-to-control (refractory) epilepsy in children. The diet forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates. Normally the carbohydrates contained in food are converted into glucose which is then transported around the body and is particularly important in fueling brain function. However if there is very little carbohydrate in the diet the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies. The ketone bodies pass into the brain and replace glucose as an energy source. An elevated level of ketone bodies in the blood a state known as ketosis leads to a reduction in the frequency of epileptic seizures.[1] Around half of children and young people with epilepsy who have tried some form of this diet saw the number of seizures drop by at least half and the effect persists even after discontinuing the diet.[2] Some evidence indicates that adults with epilepsy may benefit from the diet and that a less strict regimen such as a modified Atkins diet is similarly effective.[1] Potential side effects may include constipation high cholesterol growth slowing acidosis and kidney stones.[3]
The original therapeutic diet for paediatric epilepsy provides just enough protein for body growth and repair and sufficient calories[Note 1] to maintain the correct weight for age and height. The classic therapeutic ketogenic diet was developed for treatment of paediatric epilepsy in the 1920s and was widely used into the next decade but its popularity waned with the introduction of effective anticonvulsant medications. This classic ketogenic diet contains a 4:1 ratio by weight of fat to combined protein and carbohydrate. This is achieved by excluding high-carbohydrate foods such as starchy fruits and vegetables bread pasta grains and sugar while increasing the consumption of foods high in fat such as nuts cream and butter.[1] Most dietary fat is made of molecules called long-chain triglycerides (LCTs). However medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs)—made from fatty acids with shorter carbon chains than LCTs—are more ketogenic. A variant of the classic diet known as the MCT ketogenic diet uses a form of coconut oil which is rich in MCTs to provide around half the calories. As less overall fat is needed in this variant of the diet a greater proportion of carbohydrate and protein can be consumed allowing a greater variety of food choices.[4][5]
In the mid-1990s Hollywood producer Jim Abrahams whose son’s severe epilepsy was effectively controlled by the diet created the Charlie Foundation to promote it. Publicity included an appearance on NBC’s Dateline programme and …First Do No Harm (1997) a made-for-television film starring Meryl Streep. The foundation sponsored a multicentre research study the results of which—announced in 1996—marked the beginning of renewed scientific interest in the diet.[1]
Interest in the ketogenic diet was sparked by two now-obsolete clinical studies from the 1920s AJM Robinson and Samuel Grosfeld’s clinical studies on children with epilepsy. Dr. Robinson’s study found that 10 of 13 children put on the diet had a greater than 50% reduction in seizures while Dr. Grosfeld’s study found an 85% reduction in seizures among 9 of 15 children. Dr. Grosfeld later acknowledged that his study was significantly flawed due to its small sample size lack of statistical analysis and dubious assumptions about the efficacy of the diet.[1][2]
Despite the popularity of the ketogenic diet in the 1920s and 1930s it was largely abandoned in favour of new anticonvulsant drugs.[1] Most participants stuck to about 1500 calories per day during the study period while on the ketogenic diet they restricted their daily intake to just under 1000 calories.[2]
A systematic review in 2016 found and analysed seven randomized controlled trials of ketogenic diet in children and young people with epilepsy.[2] The trials were done among children and young people for whom drugs failed to control their seizures and only one of the trials compared a group assigned to the ketogenic diet with a group not assigned to the diet. The other trials compared types of diets or ways of introducing them to make them more tolerable.[2] Nearly 40% of the children and young people had half or fewer seizures with the diet compared with the group not assigned to the diet. Only about 10% were still on the diet after a few years.[2] Adverse effects such as hunger and loss of energy in that trial were common with about 30% experiencing constipation.[16]
In a systematic review of the literature published between January 1990 and December 2014 31 studies were identified that examined the efficacy of the ketogenic diet in children with epilepsy totaling 1081 participants. Of these 23 were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 8 were prospective cohort studies. Meta-analyses were performed for all RCTs comparing the ketogenic diet to: (1) a control group that received no intervention (2) another type of diet or (3) other anticonvulsant medications. The results of the meta-analyses showed that the ketogenic diet is efficacious in children with epilepsy with a greater effect observed in RCTs (odds ratio [OR] 5.79 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.88–8.57) than in prospective cohort studies (OR 3.13 95% CI 1.72–5.69). No significant adverse effects were identified. The most common side effects are detailed in Table 1.
The ketogenic diet is a promising therapeutic option for children with intractable epilepsy. Clinical trials have shown that the diet can achieve a >50% reduction in seizure frequency in over half of participants with a greater effect seen in RCTs than in prospective cohort studies. The diet is generally well-tolerated with the most common side effects being gastrointestinal in nature. Given the encouraging efficacy and tolerability data the ketogenic diet should be considered a treatment option for children with intractable epilepsy.
Are ostrich keto friendly?
Yes ostrich are keto friendly as they are very low in carbs and high in healthy fats.
How many carbs are in ostrich?
Ostriches are very low in carbs with only 1 gram of carbs per serving.
How many calories are in ostrich?
Ostriches are low in calories with only 140 calories per serving.
How much protein is in ostrich?
Ostriches are a good source of protein with 26 grams of protein per serving.
How much fat is in ostrich?
Ostriches are a good source of healthy fats with 6 grams of fat per serving.
What are the benefits of eating ostrich?
Ostriches are a lean source of protein that is low in calories and fat.
They are also a good source of iron and other nutrients.
Are there any drawbacks to eating ostrich?
There are no known drawbacks to eating ostrich.
How often should you eat ostrich?
You can eat ostrich as often as you like as long as it fits into your overall keto diet plan.
What are some other keto friendly protein options?
Some other keto friendly protein options include chicken beef pork and fish.
How do I cook ostrich?
You can cook ostrich in a variety of ways including grilling baking roasting and stir-frying.
What should I serve with ostrich?
You can serve ostrich with a variety of sides including vegetables salads and low carb grains.
How long does ostrich last?
cooked ostrich will last in the fridge for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 6 months.
What is the best way to store ostrich?
cooked ostrich can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Can I eat ostrich if I am on a keto diet?
Yes you can eat ostrich if you are on a keto diet.
What are some other keto friendly meat options?
Some other keto friendly meat options include chicken beef pork and fish.
