Epilepsy and Diet
Mary Montgomery MS, RD, CDN has extensive training and experience managing medical nutrition therapy for Adult and Pediatric Epilepsy Dietary Treatment Programs. She is the co-author of Enteral and Parenteral Applications of Ketogenic Diet Therapy (ICAN October 2011), and a member of the Keto411 Forum. Her primary goal is to work closely with families to develop effective dietary therapies customized to the needs of each patient.
Dietary options available include the ketogenic diet, which is a precisely calculated diet to help promote seizure control. The diet is high in fat, which is the primary energy source, low in carbohydrates, and has enough protein to meet each child's needs for growth and development. Since the the ketogenic diet is a restrictive structured diet, Mary works closely with families to follow their child's health and nutritional needs. Less restrictive dietary treatment options include the low glycemic index and the modified Atkins diets. In the Pediatric Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, the team of pediatric doctors and registered dietitians work together closely to calculate the right diet to help control each child's seizures.
