Ketogenic diet initiation

The ketogenic diet is a dietary regimen characterized by a high fat content, an adequate amount of protein, and a low carbohydrate content. This dietary regimen promotes weight loss and the prevention of such chronic diseases as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and various types of dementia, and it reduces the risk of oncological diseases and of ischemic disease of the heart and brain. In its stricter regimens, the diet is intended for the treatment of children and adults suffering from epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases, and various endocrine pathologies.

When the ketogenic diet is used, the body's energy pathway changes. As a result, the main part of its energy is obtained through the breakdown of so-called ketone bodies — substances present in the body in a small amount even under a normal dietary system, but significantly increasing in quantity on the ketogenic diet.

The ketogenic diet is a serious change in the patient's eating habits and, in many respects, in their way of life.

It requires careful adherence to the caloric content and the ratio of substances in the food consumed, and a strict prohibition on additional meals not provided for by the diet.

There are several variants of the ketogenic diet:

• PKD (paleoketodiet) — the paleoketo diet. A strict elimination regimen — meat, fat, water.
• Carnivore — only products of animal origin, without carbohydrates.
• Standard keto — (20–30 g of carbohydrates from permitted products)
• KLS / low-carbohydrate nutrition — about 50 g of carbohydrates is permissible.
• Ketogenic diet (therapeutic protocol).

You can read about the variants of the ketogenic diet in Dr. Generalov's book "The Keto Diet. You Can Eat Fat!"

We remind you that children should be brought into ketosis only under the supervision of physicians and preferably at our clinic. There must be indications for ketosis. We strongly advise against bringing children into ketosis on your own! For this reason, outside the clinic we prescribe children the CFGFLCHF (casein-free, gluten-free, low-carbohydrate, high-fat) diet.

All questions about starting the ketogenic diet at our clinic may be directed to the head of the department, Candidate of Medical Sciences, neurologist-epileptologist Timur Ruslanovich Sadykov at the email videoeeg@mail.ru

Plan for starting the ketogenic diet at the clinic:

Day 1

• Measurement of the starting level of ketones and glucose. Instruction in taking these tests independently.
• Taking a starting complete blood count and biochemical blood test.
• Blood, urine, and saliva testing according to the immuno-mitochondrial protocol.
• A regular (non-ketogenic) breakfast.
• Work in the kitchen, instruction in using the keto calculator, calculation of the necessary amount of protein, calories, and keto ratio. Preparation of ketogenic dishes for the meals of that day and breakfast of the following day.
• Starting video-EEG monitoring.
• Consumption of ketogenic dishes (in the calculated amount).
• In the evening, a single measurement of the level of ketones and glucose.

Days 2–4

• Measurement of the level of ketones and glucose before each meal.
• Work in the kitchen, preparation of ketogenic dishes for the meals of that day and breakfast of the following day.
• Consumption of ketogenic dishes (in the calculated amount).
• After reaching the target level of ketones (3–6 mmol/L), conducting a follow-up video-EEG monitoring.

Day 5

• Measurement of the level of ketones and glucose before each meal.
• Work in the kitchen, preparation of ketogenic dishes for the meals of that day and breakfast of the following day.
• Consumption of ketogenic dishes (in the calculated amount).
• Follow-up complete blood count and biochemical blood test (the same indicators).

Days 6–9

• Measurement of the level of ketones and glucose before each meal.
• Work in the kitchen, preparation of ketogenic dishes for the meals of that day and breakfast of the following day.
• Consumption of ketogenic dishes (in the calculated amount).

Day 10

• Measurement of the level of ketones and glucose before each meal.
• Work in the kitchen, preparation of ketogenic dishes.
• Consumption of ketogenic dishes (in the calculated amount).
• Follow-up video-EEG monitoring.