Michael and Tammy Koski thought they’d never find a solution for their daughter’s seizures. She was suffering from up to 100 absence seizures per day and after four years of anti-seizure drugs, nothing was working. However, they were lucky enough to meet Dr. Eric Kossoff at the John Hopkins Center in Baltimore, where their little girl was put on the modified Atkins Diet. After just a few months, her seizures reduced dramatically and she is now medication free and having just 5 to 10 seizures per day.
The Koski’s have decided to share their experiences and have written a new book called, Atkins for Seizures. What is particularly great about this book is that it is written for parents, by parents. It’s not a complicated, medical read. It gives simple and practical advice, laying to rest any concerns and anxieties that parents may have about putting their child on a restricted diet.
There are interviews with Dr. Kossoff himself, alongside personal stories from the Koskis and other parents who have seen the incredible effects that the modified Atkins Diet can have on seizures. There are also two adults who talk about how the diet has reduced their seizures.
The Modified Atkins Diet explained
Research is showing that this diet can be extremely successful at reducing and in some cases eliminating seizures altogether. It is basically a “lighter dose” ketogenic diet, which is very high in fat and low in carbohydrates. The idea is that the diet induces a state of ketosis, whereby sugar and carbohydrates are not used for energy and fats and proteins are broken down instead, which is why the Atkins diet is also used for weight loss.
Whilst the modified Atkins Diet may not work for all children, for some it offers an effective treatment strategy that is less restrictive than the ketogenic diet. There are no restrictions on calories, fluids and protein and it also doesn’t require an initial fast or hospital admission, as is common for the ketogenic diet.
Kossoff has carried out a lot of research into the effectiveness of the modified Atkins diet for seizures. In the trial which involved Michael and Tammy’s daughter, 22 kids from the ages of 3 to 18 were given the diet for 6 months, with carbohydrates limited to 10g per day. At the end of the trial, at least 13 of the kids had more than a 50% improvement, seven had a 90% improvement and four were completely seizure free.
The great news is that Kossoff’s research continues, which means that with any luck the rest of the medical profession will begin to take notice of the importance of this diet as a treatment for seizures. Hopefully, this book will help out too by providing an excellent resource for parents and those in the medical profession to find out more.
Every parent knows that it’s difficult to make a dramatic change to your child’s diet. They might not like the new foods, or may hate feeling singled out and having to eat differently from their family and friends. What this book provides is practical tips, from parents who have “been there, done that.” It gives you recipes that children will actually enjoy, from no carb pizzas, to peanut butter muffins, brownies to delicious fries. Of course it’s not going to be easy following a restrictive diet, but the journey will be worth it if your child’s health improves dramatically. Atkins For Seizures is a must-read for any parent hoping to put their child on the modified Atkins diet, because it shows you that it can be done and that it can really have inspirational results!
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