The raison d'etre of this website is to provide you with hard scientific information which may help you make informed decisions in your quest for health (so far I have blogged concise summaries of over 1,500 scientific studies and have had three books published).

My research is mainly focused on the effects of cholesterol, saturated fat and statin drugs on health. If you know anyone who is worried about their cholesterol levels and heart disease, or has been told to take statin drugs you could send them a link to this website, and to my statin or cholesterol or heart disease books.

David Evans

Independent Health Researcher

Friday 23 April 2010

Ketogenic diets proven to be effective in the treatment of epilepsy

This post includes a summary of a paper published in Pediatrics Vol. 108 No. 4 October 2001, pp. 898-905 and a recipe for beef shanks with carrots and celery.

Study title and authors:
The Ketogenic Diet: A 3- to 6-Year Follow-Up of 150 Children Enrolled Prospectively
The Ketogenic Diet: A Treatment for Children and Others with Epilepsy
Books:
Cheryl Hemingway, John M. Freeman, Diana J. Pillas, and Paula L. Pyzik
From the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland.

This paper can be accessed at: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/108/4/898?ijkey=9967ef9a14533a12297163a194943547519fa0cb&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha

Hemingway concludes: "Three to 6 years after initiation, the ketogenic diet had proven to be effective in the control of difficult-to-control seizures in children. The diet often allows decrease or discontinuation of medication. It is more effective than many of the newer anticonvulsants and is well-tolerated when it is effective".

More information on this subject: Books : Scientific Studies : Other Websites : Videos : Food Mall 


Recipe of the day

Beef Shanks with Carrots and Celery

Ingredient list:
Omaha Steaks Gourmet Variety Packs
Food Mall: Beef
2 boneless beef shanks (about 1.5 pounds of meat)
1 pound of baby carrots
1 sweet yellow onion
3-4 stalks of celery
Extra virgin olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Ground cumin
Black pepper
Garlic powder
Paprika
Salt

Directions:
Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil to pressure cooker over medium heat. Season all sides of beef shanks with salt, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper to taste. Arrange shanks in pot and brown first side 4 minutes. Turn shanks and brown second side 4 minutes. Remove from pot to a plate. Chop onion and celery into bite-sized pieces. Add to pot and cook several minutes until soft, scraping up brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Return shanks to pressure cooker. Add a generous splash or two of balsamic vinegar and one cup of water. Lock top on pressure cooker. Increase heat to high. After achieving high pressure, reduce heat to the lowest level consistent with maintaining high pressure. Cook under high pressure for 20 minutes. Turn off heat, bring pressure down quickly with the fast-release method, and remove top. Add carrots, salt, garlic powder, and ground cumin to taste. I like a nice dusting of each. Lock top on pressure cooker. Increase heat to high. After achieving high pressure, reduce heat to the lowest level consistent with maintaining high pressure. Cook under high pressure for 5 minutes. Turn off heat, allow pressure to come down naturally, and remove top. Use a slotted spoon or ladle to transfer beef shanks and vegetables to plates. Enjoy!