3 ms·

For treating epileptics yes, not as a diet recommended for general use. https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/dietary-therapies/ketogen

For treating epileptics yes, not as a diet recommended for general use. https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/dietary-therapies/ketogenic-diet https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epileps...

sjwright 8y ago
“Not a diet recommended for general use” can be legitimately said of many defined diets and can DEFINITELY be said of the actual eating habits of most western people. Keto (i.e. any diet that triggers ketones) is a compelling option for numerous reasons, not just epileptics. It’s definitely not a good default for the wider population. And it is of course environmentally and economically inefficient. But ketogenisis is a reality of our biochemistry and shouldn’t be dismissed in the same way as other diets.
- ubercow13 8y ago
  'Protein is more filling' is also a part of our biochemistry but I'd still be ok with carnivore diet being called a fad diet
  - sjwright 8y ago
    Keto isn’t a high protein diet.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
  - amelius 8y ago
    You can do a keto diet without eating meat.
- cageface 8y ago
  Replace the word fad with popular if that works better for you. There has definitely been a lot of buzz around it lately.
  - sjwright 8y ago
    I agree. It’s true of many (all?) diets that its proponents tend to overestimate the applicability of any one diet to all people. Dietary science is at its infancy. Contrary to what most people would assume, we have mountains of anecdotes, mountains of opinions, and very few hard facts. Navigating diet from a fact-first, science-first perspective is deeply frustrating.
keymone 8y ago
yeah, it wasn't recommended because for treating epilepsy they were using a powdered meal replacement (like soylent) and were missing some essential ingredients like phosphorus. it's absolutely a diet that can work for anybody, it does require a fair amount of reading though.
- cageface 8y ago
  I know. I'm not debating the merits of it, I'm just saying it wasn't a popular diet for the average Joe until recently.
  - keymone 8y ago
    well maybe the reason it's growing in popularity is the fact that generally accepted medical and regulatory advice has been idiotic, focused on reducing fats and replacing them with sugars and carbs which resulted in obesity and diabetic epidemic? that fad lasted for 50 years, taking that into account it's probably too early to call keto a fad - i barely meet people who even know about it, let alone practice rigorously for any prolonged amount of time.

sjwright 8y ago

“Not a diet recommended for general use” can be legitimately said of many defined diets and can DEFINITELY be said of the actual eating habits of most western people. Keto (i.e. any diet that triggers ketones) is a compelling option for numerous reasons, not just epileptics. It’s definitely not a good default for the wider population. And it is of course environmentally and economically inefficient. But ketogenisis is a reality of our biochemistry and shouldn’t be dismissed in the same way as other diets.

ubercow13 8y ago
'Protein is more filling' is also a part of our biochemistry but I'd still be ok with carnivore diet being called a fad diet
- sjwright 8y ago
  Keto isn’t a high protein diet.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
- amelius 8y ago
  You can do a keto diet without eating meat.
cageface 8y ago
Replace the word fad with popular if that works better for you. There has definitely been a lot of buzz around it lately.
- sjwright 8y ago
  I agree. It’s true of many (all?) diets that its proponents tend to overestimate the applicability of any one diet to all people. Dietary science is at its infancy. Contrary to what most people would assume, we have mountains of anecdotes, mountains of opinions, and very few hard facts. Navigating diet from a fact-first, science-first perspective is deeply frustrating.

keymone 8y ago

yeah, it wasn't recommended because for treating epilepsy they were using a powdered meal replacement (like soylent) and were missing some essential ingredients like phosphorus. it's absolutely a diet that can work for anybody, it does require a fair amount of reading though.

cageface 8y ago
I know. I'm not debating the merits of it, I'm just saying it wasn't a popular diet for the average Joe until recently.
- keymone 8y ago
  well maybe the reason it's growing in popularity is the fact that generally accepted medical and regulatory advice has been idiotic, focused on reducing fats and replacing them with sugars and carbs which resulted in obesity and diabetic epidemic? that fad lasted for 50 years, taking that into account it's probably too early to call keto a fad - i barely meet people who even know about it, let alone practice rigorously for any prolonged amount of time.