Key takeaways

  • A balanced diet that includes foods like beans, non-starchy vegetables, yogurt, cheese, fish, apples, berries, and whole grains is recommended for people with epilepsy to help maintain energy levels and overall health. Staying hydrated is also very important.
  • It’s best to limit foods that can cause spikes in blood sugar, such as those high in sugar or salt, processed foods, alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and chocolate.
  • If medications are not fully effective in managing seizures, a doctor may suggest a ketogenic or modified Atkins diet, which involves high fat and low carbohydrate intake. But it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional before making significant dietary changes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 3 million American adults are living with epilepsy. To help these individuals manage their seizures, doctors may suggest medications, lifestyle changes, and, in some cases, brain surgery.

Depending on the cause and type of seizures you experience, a doctor may recommend eating or avoiding certain foods. They may even suggest a ketogenic or modified Atkins diet to lower the number of seizures you experience.

This article reviews foods to eat and avoid and diets you might want to follow if you have epilepsy or another seizure disorder.

Proper nutrition is important to managing epilepsy. Most individuals with epilepsy and seizure disorders can eat a wide variety of foods and should try to do so to ensure they get sufficient essential nutrients. This is important for your overall health, too.

Some foods that can be included in a balanced diet and may help maintain energy levels include:

  • beans
  • non-starchy vegetables (such as broccoli and leafy greens)
  • yogurt
  • cheese
  • fish
  • apples
  • berries
  • whole grain breads

Dehydration may also increase your risk of seizures, so it’s important to make sure that you’re staying well hydrated, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.

Food shouldn’t replace necessary antiseizure medications. Some medications may interfere with how the body processes nutrients, so it’s important to talk with a doctor if you believe you may be showing signs of a deficiency.

If you have epilepsy or a seizure disorder, you may wish to avoid foods that will spike your blood sugar levels, as this can lead to seizures.

Some things you may wish to avoid consuming, as they may trigger blood sugar spikes or trigger the nervous system, include:

Some foods may also affect the speed at which medications are absorbed.

It’s a good idea to check with a doctor or pharmacist to see whether your medications should be consumed with food and if you should avoid caffeine or any other foods while taking them.

Individuals with a type of epilepsy called reflex epilepsy may have seizures triggered by flashing lights, loud noises, and, in some rare cases, the taste or smell of certain foods. A doctor or a dietitian can help you to determine a balanced diet that avoids these foods, if necessary.

A ketogenic diet (often called the “keto diet”) is often encouraged for children whose seizures aren’t fully responsive to medication. It may also be suggested if medication side effects are a concern.

Growing research has found that the keto diet may also benefit teenagers and adults with seizures.

Keto diet

If a doctor recommends a keto diet, the foods you consume will be high in fat and lower in carbohydrates. This is designed to put the body in a state of ketosis. It’s not fully understood how this helps to reduce seizures, but it’s likely a combination of many factors.

One downside of adopting a keto diet is how restrictive it can be. It may not provide sufficient essential nutrients, and you’ll usually need to be on supplements along with it.

Modified Atkins diet

A modified Atkins diet is another highly suggested option that’s less restrictive. Both diets have been able to offer similar seizure reduction results after 3 and 6 months.

Talk with a doctor before committing to any diet or dietary changes

It’s important to discuss any dietary changes with a doctor or dietitian before making them.

If you’re on either a keto diet or a modified Atkins diet for seizure relief, you want to make sure you’re getting sufficient essential nutrients.

Most of the time, you can eat a wide variety of foods if you have epilepsy or another seizure condition. But in some rare cases, seizures may be triggered by specific foods that should try to be avoided.

If medications aren’t able to fully manage your seizures, a doctor may recommend a keto or modified Atkins diet.

Whichever diet you decide to follow, you’ll want to make sure that you’re consuming sufficient essential nutrients.

Before making any large changes to your diet, try to have a conversation with a doctor. They’ll consider your overall health and make sure the foods you’re eating won’t interfere with any medications you may be taking.