In taking a holistic approach to the human body, mind and environment all effecting each other, one must especially take into effect the influence that diet has not only on our body, but also on our minds. I wanted to research information that may be of use to me as I work towards becoming a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with children with developmental disabilities and disorders. So, in attempting to research the effects of diet on people with autism, I found some interesting articles regarding a ketogenic diet. A ketogenic diet consists of low amounts of carbohydrates and higher amounts of fatty proteins. By providing less carbohydrates for the body to convert to energy, the body begins to use the fats instead. Although this seems like a nice way to lose weight, it also has some beneficial effects for some psychological disorders.
In 1924, Dr. Russell Wilder of the Mayo Clinic recognized that this diet was very effective at treating symptoms of epilepsy. (The Charlie Foundation, 2014) The diet creates a higher amount of ketones and reduces the number of epileptic seizures. There are many benefits to this diet for people with epilepsy. There is also research being done to see if this diet has a positive effect on other disorders. The Charlie Foundation is a group that specializes in educating people and providing support for people who choose to control seizures with a ketogenic diet. You can find more information at: https://www.charliefoundation.org/explore-ketogenic-diet/explore-1/introducing-the-diet
In 2015, researchers attempted to find a beneficial link between a ketogenic diet and autism spectrum disorder. They were unable to find evidence that it is a treatment for the disorder, but research did indicate that it was a promising therapy option. (Castro, et al., 2015)
In people with a genetic predisposition to cancers, depression is often easy to feel. They feel helplessness due to an inevitability of being diagnosed someday with cancer. I understand the feeling because there is a family history of breast cancer on my mother’s side of the family. However, recent research indicates that a ketogenic diet may suppress or delay the emergence of cancer (Klement & Kämmerer, 2011). By providing hope and preventing the feeling of inevitability, it can decrease the feelings of depression.
This diet is only one of many different diets, each with its own merits and uses. Although research is still being conducted as to alternative benefits of this diet, it may be a diet worth considering in order to promote physical and psychological health.
References
Castro, K., Faccioli, L. S., Baronio, D., Gottfried, C., Perry, I. S., & dos, S. R. (2015). Effect of a ketogenic diet on autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 20, 31-38. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1016/j.rasd.2015.08.005
Klement, R. J., & Kämmerer, U. (2011). Is there a role for carbohydrate restriction in the treatment and prevention of cancer? Nutrition & Metabolism, 8, 75. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1186/1743-7075-8-75
The Charlie Foundation. (2014). Explore Ketogenic Diets: Introducing the Diet. Retrieved from The Charlie Foundation: https://www.charliefoundation.org/explore-ketogenic-diet/explore-1/introducing-the-diet
Although a ketogenic diet seems similar to Atkins, it is different in a few ways. For one, it is recommended on the website I linked to in my blog, The Charlie Foundation, to only use this diet with medical supervision. All meals are weighed and measured, all calories counted, and meals are all planned. The benefit of this is that it provides a more rounded diet. Atkins diets are often estimated and although carbs are discouraged, they are allowed and most people don’t count the calories or fats. Those on a ketogenic diet are also taking vitamins and minerals.
Good read!
I’m completely on board with your position regarding a healthy diet. I heard about the Ketosis Diet several months back but once I looked deeper, it resembled the Atkins Diet. They are virtually the same with some slight modifications. The ketosis encourages most fruit and vegetables while the Atkins diet discouraged most fruit because of the high sugar content.
I am not knocking the ketosis diet but the founder of the Atkins diet, Robert Atkins, whom I assume practiced what he preached, died of a heart attack weighing 258lbs at 6’ tall. My main point is diets generally don’t work for most people. A “diet” by definition is a special course of food to which one restricts oneself, either to lose weight or for medical reasons. To take it a step further “special” is defined as better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual. Therein lies the problem, diets provoke people to undertake special rituals that are uncommon. I would bet if people could lose weight at the same rate of (name a diet) by simply walking backwards throughout the day; the failure rate would be markedly similar. Why, because you are asking people to do something they don’t normally do.
The medical benefits you wrote about are wonderful discoveries. Research should focus more on holistic remedies to treat injuries and disease instead of powered keg solutions from a laboratory. The root of ailments most people suffer, I believe, is the foods we are ingesting. The one similarity a California surfer, a Miami schoolteacher and a Wyoming rancher have in common is the corporate food source.