Low carb, keto for children

[IanD]

Were moving to Peterchurch, Hereford, to be near family.

Our 5 yo granddaughter there suffers from epilepsy. I would like to lead her family in the direction of a keto diet, Has anyone experience with keto for children? She is not diabetic, thankfully. She's not a good eater, but she does enjoy cheese. Mum says she can't live on cheese & peanut butter. Poor girl had a fit & slumped face down into her porridge. I eat porridge - made with powdered nuts & topped with double cream.

I have used the low carb high fat diet for 10 years to restore my health after crippling diabetic neuropathy.

 

[archersuz]

@IanD can I ask why you would like to lead them in the direction of a keto diet? I certainly wouldn't have brought my children up on a keto diet at age 5.

 

[JoeT1]

@IanD can I ask why you would like to lead them in the direction of a keto diet? I certainly wouldn't have brought my children up on a keto diet at age 5.

Why not? I'm not stating that it should be the case, but am wondering what the reasoning behind not going with a low carb diet would be? Genuine question.

 

[Simon84]

Why not? I'm not stating that it should be the case, but am wondering what the reasoning behind not going with a low carb diet would be? Genuine question.

Ketogenic diets,I believe,have had some success in treating the symptoms of epilepsy in some children.

 

[Mbaker]

I am not sure about Keto levels of low carb, but low carb has been used for decades to aid epilepsy. Others would have to comment on Keto for children, but in some societies, especially hunter gather lower carb, high fibre was the default and they did well, certainly better than the obesogenic variants these days, so children would have eaten the same as the adults. I think it is important to remember that we only require a teaspoon of glucose in our systems, and when we require further glucose our liver makes this for us.

 

[archersuz]

@JoeT1 Although there are medical reasons for putting children on a ketodiet (which should be done under strict medical supervision), there are also lots of downsides to it

https://www.perfectketo.com/ketosis-for-children/

The main reasons for me are getting children to have a healthy relationship with food, and not being able to control their (keto) diet when they're not at home! They need to be able to socialise and eat with friends. I wouldn't want to isolate my children from parties, outings, school trips/treats, tea with friends etc. To me, that doesn't seem healthy! Education is best and if they are denied certain foods then they will crave them more.

 

[dipsydo]

I understand that Keto diets have been used since 1920s in some cases to ameliorate epilepsy and for particularly hard to control epilepsy which cannot be controlled by medicine or other means - see Epilepsy Action note on the internet

https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/treatment/ketogenic-diet

As noted in that article, it is important this is discussed with the health professionals who deals with your granddaughter as is not something which should not be considered without medical advice .

 

[bulkbiker]

Aren't babies in ketosis when breastfeeding?
Is ketosis a "natural" state for the human body?
Ketogenic diets are well known to help with epilepsy.

 

[archersuz]

Aren't babies in ketosis when breastfeeding?

Yes but we wean them! How many adults are living on breast milk alone?

 

[bulkbiker]

Yes but we wean them! How many adults are living on breast milk alone?

I am questioning those that say that ketosis is bad for kids... If babies grow and do well in ketosis then why should eating a healthy low carb diet be bad for them?

 

[wiflib]

Aren't babies in ketosis when breastfeeding?
Is ketosis a "natural" state for the human body?
Ketogenic diets are well known to help with epilepsy.

Yep, their breath smells of it. Ketones are essential for brain synapse development in the neonate.

If left to their own devices and not fed carbs as part of their normal diet, most children naturally choose sat fat food and survive very well on cheese and peanut butter!

@IanD hello! Is that the same child whose mum didn’t want them to eat cheese when weaning?

 

[wiflib]

Yes but we wean them! How many adults are living on breast milk alone?

There’s your clue. We are not supposed to wean babies, they are supposed to wean themselves onto food that we eat, not the carb based mush we are told to give them for someone’s profits. Their diet should be human milk for at least six months and weaning happens when they can place food in their own mouths. Many, many babies grow and thrive on human milk and little else way beyond a year old.

 

[wiflib]

I understand that Keto diets have been used since 1920s in some cases to ameliorate epilepsy and for particularly hard to control epilepsy which cannot be controlled by medicine or other means - see Epilepsy Action note on the internet

https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/treatment/ketogenic-diet

As noted in that article, it is important this is discussed with the health professionals who deals with your granddaughter as is not something which should not be considered without medical advice .

Why would removing g rice, pasta, wheat and potatoes from any child’s diet be bad for them?

 

[archersuz]

I am questioning those that say that ketosis is bad for kids.

I'm not sure anyone has said that. I said I wouldn't have brought my children up on a ketodiet - for social reasons as much as health reasons. Anyone who chooses a ketodiet for their child for medical reasons should do it in consultation with health professionals.

IanD states "Mum says she can't live on cheese & peanut butter." so if Mum isn't on board then the child certainly won't be. I can see this causing a family rift.

 

[archersuz]

Their diet should be human milk for at least six months and weaning happens when they can place food in their own mouths.

I breast fed my first for a year, and my second for 6 months. They decided when to stop. With my second it was over night and very painful for me! I weaned my children on healthy home made food and not carb based mush.

 

[wiflib]

Plenty of parents choose all sorts of different diets for their children. I am extremely worried about vegan diets for children, they are far more damaging but they are done. Think of all the different foods children eat over all the cultures in he world.

I have many cousins who were fed watered down carnation milk from birth and the Norther Irish Midwife who looked after me told me tales of babies being discharge from hospital at less than a week old being fed puréed carrots. Babies are bloody tough things and designed to survive, but the long term damage is done.

 

[wiflib]

I breast fed my first for a year, and my second for 6 months. They decided when to stop. With my second it was over night and very painful for me! I weaned my children on healthy home made food and not carb based mush.

I remember that feeling, Dolly Parton boobs and a saturated mattress! My daughter had a particular love for liver and onions and my oldest granddaughter has little interest in carbs.

 

[bulkbiker]

@archersuz
well you said

there are also lots of downsides to it

Although the article you linked to doesn't seem to mention any?

If @IanD wants to enlighten the parent that a keto diet may have many benefits for their child then where's the problem.
Especially if it can be shown to help.
Were I a parent I'd certainly try to keep my child away from the c**p that most people (and I used to) eat.

 

[archersuz]

Why would removing g rice, pasta, wheat and potatoes from any child’s diet be bad for them?

This is not my understanding of keto? Isn't keto very low carbs ie less than 30gm per day? Surely growing, developing chicldren should have a range of foods and by restricting them to 30g of carb then they are severely restricting food stuffs? Breast milk contains 7g carbs per 100ml. So that's a lot more than 30g carbs per day

 

[archersuz]

@bulkbiker quotes from article:

The ketogenic diet used by medical hospital teams might be higher in unhealthy fats (just look at the state of regular hospital food these days). Many hospitals will have their own formulas for keto foods, such as a blend of oils, shakes, or other pre-made foods with butter, heavy cream, and vegetable oils that are easier for kids. Parents might want to closely monitor the quality of ketogenic foods being used.

Children are pickier and it might be more of a struggle to get them to eat the right foods for a ketogenic diet.

There’s a fine line between making healthy choices for your kids and being so restrictive that a healthy relationship to food develops later in life.