The Evolution Of Keto: Tracing Its Roots And History

The ketogenic diet, commonly known as 'keto', is a high-fat, moderate-protein, and low-carbohydrate diet. The diet was first introduced in the 1920s by Dr Russell Wilder, a physician at the Mayo Clinic, as a treatment for epilepsy. Wilder's research found that by avoiding sugar and eating a high-fat, low-carb diet, one could mimic the effects of fasting, which was already being used to control seizures. The keto diet soon became the main paediatric epilepsy treatment for many years. However, with the introduction of new anti-convulsion seizure drugs in the 1930s, the diet lost popularity as patients and doctors found medication to be more convenient than dietary changes.

The keto diet was first used to control seizures

The ketogenic diet was first used to control seizures in the 1920s. The diet was developed to mimic the metabolism of fasting, which had been used to treat epilepsy since at least 500 BC.

In the early 1920s, Dr. Russell Wilder from the Wilder Clinic recognised the dangers of fasting for children and wanted to find a less restrictive treatment for epilepsy. He discovered that the effects of fasting could be replicated by avoiding sugar and consuming a high-fat, low-carb diet. Wilder tested this diet on children with epilepsy and found it to be very successful. His discovery marked the birth of the ketogenic diet, which became the main paediatric epilepsy treatment for many years.

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate dietary therapy. Normally, carbohydrates in food are converted into glucose, which is important for fuelling brain function. However, if there is only a small amount of carbohydrate in the diet, the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies. Ketone bodies then pass into the brain and replace glucose as an energy source. An elevated level of ketone bodies in the blood is called ketosis, which eventually lowers the frequency of epileptic seizures.

The classic therapeutic ketogenic diet was developed for the treatment of paediatric epilepsy and was widely used into the 1930s. However, its popularity declined with the introduction of effective anticonvulsant medications. By the end of the twentieth century, the therapy was only available in a small number of children's hospitals.

In the 1970s, the ketogenic diet began to regain popularity as a weight-loss method. However, it was not until the 1990s that the diet truly re-entered the mainstream. In 1994, a television programme reported on the case of Charlie, a two-year-old boy with severe epilepsy whose seizures were controlled by the ketogenic diet. The show sparked a surge of scientific interest in the diet, and in 1997, Charlie's father directed a film about their experience, which further popularised the diet.

It was discovered in the 1920s

The ketogenic diet was discovered in the 1920s by Dr. Russell Wilder at the Mayo Clinic. Wilder recognised the dangers of fasting for children and wanted to find a less restrictive treatment for epilepsy. He discovered that the effects of fasting could be replicated by avoiding sugar and eating a high-fat, low-carb diet.

Wilder's diet was designed to force the body to burn fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. Carbohydrates are usually our default energy source, but when they are not consumed, the body enters a fat-burning state to stay alive. This state is called ketosis, which occurs when the body has a high level of ketone bodies in the blood.

Wilder tested his diet on children with epilepsy, with very positive outcomes. His diet became the main paediatric epilepsy treatment for many years. The classic therapeutic ketogenic diet, with a 4:1 ratio of fat to combined protein and carbohydrates, was widely used into the 1930s. However, with the introduction of effective anticonvulsant medications, its use declined dramatically.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the use of the ketogenic diet, with growing interest from both the public and the scientific community. The diet has been found to have benefits beyond epilepsy treatment, including weight loss, improved neurological functioning, and increased mental clarity.

The diet was forgotten until the 1970s

The ketogenic diet was first introduced in the 1920s as a treatment for epilepsy. The diet was developed to reproduce the success of fasting in treating epilepsy, without the limitations of fasting. The classic ketogenic diet was widely used for two decades, but its popularity waned with the introduction of effective anticonvulsant medications. By the end of the twentieth century, the therapy was available in only a small number of children's hospitals.

The ketogenic diet gained further exposure in 1990 when NBC aired a show about the positive outcome of the diet on a two-year-old boy suffering from severe seizures. This led to a spike in PubMed publications relating to keto and renewed scientific interest in the diet. In 1997, a TV drama film, *First Do No Harm*, starring Meryl Streep, further popularised the diet. In the early 2000s, the Atkins Diet was rediscovered, and the low-carb movement gained momentum.

Since the 1970s, there has been a slow but steady growth in the popularity of the ketogenic diet, both for personal use and in scientific inquiry. The diet has evolved and been modified over the years, with new variations such as the modified Atkins diet and the low glycaemic index treatment emerging. Today, the ketogenic diet is not only used for epilepsy and weight loss but is also being studied for its potential therapeutic use in various other neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and sleep disorders.

It has been used to treat other neurological disorders

The ketogenic diet has been used to treat a wide range of neurological disorders, including:

• Alzheimer's disease
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Autism
• Brain trauma
• Depression
• Epilepsy
• Headache
• Migraine
• Mitochondrial disorders
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neurotrauma
• Pain
• Parkinson's disease
• Sleep disorders

The diet is also used for weight loss

The ketogenic diet has been used as a weight loss strategy since at least the 1860s, when a Victorian-era funeral director named William Banting lost 52 pounds by eliminating starches and sugars from his diet. Banting wrote a booklet called "Letter on Corpulence, Addressed to the Public," in which he described his daily meal plan of cordial, meat, vegetables, and tea. He felt that his weight loss was "almost [...] miraculous," and that his new diet had made him more comfortable and happier than he had been in decades.

The popularity of the ketogenic diet for weight loss waxed and waned over the next century. In the 1920s, the diet was used as a treatment for epilepsy, but its use declined with the introduction of effective anticonvulsant medications. It wasn't until the 1970s, when consumers expressed interest in weight loss and dieting, that the ketogenic diet was reborn as a weight loss strategy. In 1972, cardiologist Dr. Atkins published a book called *Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution*, which expounded on his years of medical research on low-carb dieting for weight loss and heart health. This put the high-fat/low-carb way of eating on the map.

In the early 2000s, the Atkins Diet was rediscovered and the low-carb movement gained momentum. In 2013, a study published in *Science* magazine showed the anti-aging and health benefits of a ketogenic diet, creating a big curiosity towards keto in the paleo and biohacking communities. In 2015, famous podcaster Tim Ferriss interviewed keto research scientist Dr. D'Agostino, pushing the ketogenic diet to the top of Google diet searches.

Today, the ketogenic diet is a popular weight loss strategy, with many people choosing the diet for its weight loss benefits. When the body is in a state of ketosis, it burns fat instead of glucose, leading to weight loss. The diet is particularly appealing to those looking to lose weight quickly, as it can cause a swift loss of water weight. However, it is important to note that the long-term effects of the diet are still unknown, and the medical establishment cautions that the emphasis on saturated fat and the lack of nutrients may affect heart health over time.

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