I just started a ketogenic diet, having struggled with weight issues all my life and having unbearable cravings with the standard 'balanced diet'. I'm also hoping it would get rid of my systemic candida and mild depression. Thanks for shedding some light on the subject.

I have been doing the low carb diet ( Atkins ) for many many years. As a matter of fact I have developed a stricter version of this as I get older. I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic and as I get closer to menopause I can see the need to become as ketogenic as I possibly can. My desire is indeed to see this diet used to treat dystonia. I have friends dealing with dystonia and I am growing anxious to see this diet used for them. I can't understand why it isn't used more!!!

I have been doing the low carb diet ( Atkins ) for many many years. As a matter of fact I have developed a stricter version of this as I get older. I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic and as I get closer to menopause I can see the need to become as ketogenic as I possibly can. My desire is indeed to see this diet used to treat dystonia. I have friends dealing with dystonia and I am growing anxious to see this diet used for them. I can't understand why it isn't used more!!!

You mentioned that low blood glucose level suppresses epileptic seizures and fasting is very beneficial for epilepsy. There are a lot of self-reported data that people who eat VLC or fast have higher BS level (especially when exercising in fasting state) due to physiological IR than people who just eat LC. I follow a ketogenic diet in order to control migraines, because It was found that during a migraine attack I have a brain electrical activity typical for epilepsy. Is it possible that people in my situation should check their BS in order to find out which type of carb restriction produces the lowest BS level? I had mild migraines couple times after exercising in fasted state, and , after reading your post, I suspect, my fasting BS could be too high. May be, it is better for me to slightly relax ketogenic diet if I want to fast.

Coconut oil, butter, lard and other animal fats
are perfectly good ways to induce ketosis.

Great article, and a must-read for anyone trying to lower blood sugar, insulin levels and/or lose weight. Over at: www.sugarfreegoodies.wordpress.com there's an on-going experiment with former HCG users to demonstrate that a ketogenic diet is safer, saner and a lot healthier than using HCG and starvation to lose weight. So far, that is exactly what participants have experienced: lower and more stable blood sugars, rapid loss of excess adipose fat and pounds, and an improved sense of well-being.

I started to lose weight, and I stay ketogenic because it's pretty much cured my severe depression of almost 30 years. Big claim I know, but I'm off antidepressants for over a year and a half without cycling down. So maybe "cured" is premature, but normally I would have cycled back into depression by now.