The brand new or Modified Atkins Weight-reduction plan (MAD) is an altered model of the unique Atkins diet– a ketogenic, weight reduction consuming plan with a really low carbohydrate content material.
The modified food plan was developed at Johns Hopkins Hospital to supply an alternative choice to Atkins and provide a much less restrictive food plan, the place limitless quantities of protein may be eaten and the consumption of fat is extra strongly inspired.

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The MAD is one among three different diets used to deal with seizures in individuals with epilepsy, the opposite two being the MCT (medium chain triglyceride) food plan and LGIT (low glycemic index remedy).MAD is primarily used when sufferers who’ve seizures every day are usually not totally conscious of remedy.
The food plan plan consists of a 1:1 ratio of fats to carbohydrates and protein. Excessive-fat meals akin to butter, dense cream and greens are included within the food plan, together with protein-rich meals akin to fish, hen and crimson meat. All candy meals akin to biscuits and desserts are fully eradicated. Meals wealthy in carbohydrates akin to pasta, potatoes, bread and cereals are eradicated in the course of the first month, however then regularly launched later.
Research have proven that the efficacy of the food plan is just like the unique Atkins food plan. Research of youngsters who’ve stayed on MAD for lengthy durations present a 50% lower within the variety of seizures they expertise and a few are in a position to cut back their use of remedy. Some youngsters with particular epilepsy syndromes profit from even better charges of seizure discount.
Some additional benefits and downsides of the food plan are listed under.
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Positives
- There isn’t any want to limit fluid or calorie consumption
- Though fat are inspired, they don’t have to be weighed and measured and recipes don’t have to be exact
- Proteins are usually not restricted; normally, round 35% of the energy come from protein
- The food plan may be began outdoors of hospital
- There isn’t any must quick earlier than beginning the food plan
- The food plan can result in weight reduction, which is constructive for individuals who have been chubby earlier than beginning the food plan
- Not like the ketogenic traditional Atkins food plan, it’s uncommon to develop kidney stones
- In world areas with restricted assets, MAD could also be simpler and fewer time consuming to stick to than traditional Atkins
Negatives
- Some sufferers discover their ldl cholesterol degree will increase
- The ketosis (elevated ketone degree in bodily tissues) could make individuals really feel unwell and deter them from consuming or consuming
- The food plan doesn’t include adequate minerals and nutritional vitamins, so supplementation is required to forestall dietary deficiency.
- The most typical adversarial facet impact is constipation. P eople on the food plan must devour high-fiber greens to forestall this and in addition drink loads of water
As soon as a affected person has been freed from seizures for round two years, the food plan could generally be stopped, however it’s normally continued. Nonetheless, if no enhancements are seen with the food plan, it needs to be stopped in any case.