A Remarkable Journey to Seizure Freedom Through the Ketogenic Diet

This week on Seizing Life ® Jim Abrahams, creator of some of the biggest comedy films of all-time, shares his son’s troubling and remarkable epilepsy journey to seizure freedom through the ketogenic diet. Jim details his son Charlie’s first subtle seizures as an infant, recounts his family’s frustrating journey through the healthcare system in hopes of finding a treatment that would control Charlie’s seizures, and reveals how a trip to the UCLA medical library led to him to the ketogenic diet which ultimately brought seizure freedom for his son.
In 1993, producer, writer, director, Jim Abrahams was riding a wave of success from creating blockbuster comedy films like Airplane, Top Secret, and The Naked Gun, but, at the same time, Jim was experiencing a parent’s worst nightmare: a child’s severe medical issue resulting in an epilepsy diagnosis. After visiting some of the country’s top neurologists and epileptologists and exhausting available medications, Jim and his wife Nancy were told that Charlie’s prognosis was a life of “continued seizures and progressive retardation”. Desperate to help their son, the family turned to “alternative treatments”, ultimately arriving at the ketogenic diet - a therapy that had never been discussed with them by any of the specialists they had visited and was dismissed by Charlie’s doctor at the time. The instantaneous and, in Jim’s words, “miraculous” results of the diet, led to him to found The Charlie Foundation to advance awareness of ketogenic therapeutics and provide families with resources and information on the ketogenic diet. Jim’s story is both distressing and inspiring and highlights issues within the healthcare industry and the necessity of parental tenacity and advocacy in epilepsy care decisions.

[@lindsaybezet3517]

Thank you for sharing this interview. Anyone considering keto, I recommend it after seeking assistance from a dietitian. You don't want to do it alone. My son is on modified Atkins for epilepsy. Thank you, sir, for fighting for your son and countless other patients like my son! God bless you.

[@tammyreed7284]

Have you tried a Carnivore diet? You don’t have to measure and keep up with carbs. Ive seen other videos of ppl using it for epilepsy

[@emilyp3338]

My sister is a big believer in and she's on the carnivore diet, not for epilepsy or seizures. Awhile ago, I watched 7 or 8 videos on the topic of the carnivore diet. From what I gathered, there are many health issues the diet helps with, and if I'm understanding correctly, the carnivore diet is keto.

[@emilyp3338]

The carnivore diet puts your body into the same state (ketosis) as the keto diet. It may be more keto than the keto diet as far as what happens in the body and what the body then uses for fuel. I think, because it is a zero carb diet, it is a keto diet.

[@davidhenry1156]

have polymicrogyria myself,had first seizure when i was 21 and am 46 now. I spent 8 months practically bedridden in 2023 due to having very large amount of seizures and spent years on massive doses of meds for years before that after being 95+% steady before getting a new consultant who changed my medications after my first one retired. I always mentioned natural remedies to try but always got the "only medications will work" line every time. After years trying my meds were finally lowered a little after years of trying very hard to get my cunsultant to even pay attention(i was on a lower dose when steadied years ago) a bit and the main stronger seizures have stopped and only have the odd light absence now. Being bedridden i lost alot of strength and muscle mass and became extreemely heavy but few weeks ago started a ketovore/Carnivore diet for that puropose and am seeing and esp feeling amazing results. I only remembered that people used and do use the Ketogenic diets for seizure control also i think it was one of the main treatments for eplepsy until Big Pharma came along. I'm not fully Carnivore as i take Coconut oil for the fat and Ketones.i have been taking it for a long time and it helped lessen medication side effects as i'm on very large doses. Being 99.9% or 100% Carnivore is very easy to follow also,just meat and animal products,no carbs,high fat and eat until you're full.

[@diannadeerodriguez3718]

I actually tried this diet and it triggered back my seizures after being seizure free for 3 years!

[@n.n9035]

Did u stop it

[@philipalexander2075]

Thank you for this great interview!😀

[@qbert2395]

Thank you to Jim Abrahams, loved his movies, now i love him more, thank you for sharing such a personal, relatable journey!!!! Curious to why keto is mentioned “advisable after 2 failed medications”? I understand it’s still not convenient today, or is it liver concerns, or the fact children like carbs? Any info is much appreciated, as always, thank you for your efforts!

[@trappsters3]

wow!!!! What an amazing interview:::: such insight.... we are on the keto diet now... reaffirms we are on the right path.;;; GREAT GREAT JOB to CURE EPILEPSY... you guys are the focus of CONTROLING HEALTH:; SHOWING: " Food is thy medicine" ... Teresa & Jarrett

[@marthatsehaye8176]

Yes I found it better when I give my daughter ketogenic diet but unfortunately I’m doing it myself without a dietitian because asked the doctor once and she said it’s too difficult for me. So I’m still following my desire and doing whatever I can.

[@emilyp3338]

Think about looking into carnivore diet. From my understanding, it is a keto diet because it has zero carbs. You can look up videos on the topic of seizures/epilepsy and carnivore diet here on KZbin. It may be better than just keto. The carnivore diet seems to help/cure/control many different health issues.

[@emilyp3338]

Look up videos on carnivore diet too. This diet puts the body into ketosis just like the keto diet, but is much easier to follow/understand. You should watch some videos on the topic though, and there are very good teachers on KZbin. You need to know things like on the diet your body needs meats with a high fat content.

[@bobcocampo]

Like and share to help save lives

[@JJ-sh9qw]

Thanku for this video.....I am indian

[@b.c.664]

Thank you 🙏

[@neziarushani5959]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@viveksundar]

We have been following keto for the past 1 and half years. Till 1 year there was a good control of seizures. After one year there was gradual increase in head drops and sudden increase of frequency in GTCS episodes. Does this mean keto is not working or still there is a possibility for control of seizures?

[@emilyp3338]

Think about looking into carnivore diet. From my understanding, it is a keto diet because it has zero carbs. You can look up videos on the topic of seizures/epilepsy and carnivore diet here on KZbin. It may be better than just keto. The carnivore diet seems to help/cure/control many different health issues.

[@emilyp3338]

Look up videos on carnivore diet too. This diet puts the body into ketosis just like the keto diet, but is much easier to follow/understand. You should watch some videos on the topic though, and there are very good teachers on KZbin. You need to know things like on the diet your body needs meats with a high fat content.

[@meelauramee]

😲

[@neziarushani5959]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻