Why Keto Works for Childhood Epilepsy with Denise Potter RDN, CDCES

Why do epilepsy medications fail so many patients—especially children—and what actually works when drugs stop working?

In this episode, Jenny Mitich sits down with Denise Potter, a leading expert in therapeutic ketogenic diets for epilepsy, to break down the real science behind medication-resistant epilepsy, childhood epilepsy, and why keto works when seizure meds fail.

We cover:

• Why anti-seizure medications often fail in childhood epilepsy

• What drug-resistant epilepsy really means

• The history of ketogenic diets for epilepsy (used for over 100 years)

• How ketones impact brain metabolism and seizure activity

• Different types of therapeutic ketogenic diets (TKD, classic keto, MAD, MCT)

• Why keto is a first-line therapy for some epilepsy syndromes

• Ketone targets for kids vs adults

• How long children typically stay on a ketogenic diet for epilepsy

• What the clinical research actually shows about seizure reduction

• Where families and professionals can get proper TKD training and education

This conversation is essential viewing for:

• Parents navigating childhood epilepsy

• Families dealing with refractory or medication-resistant seizures

• Clinicians and practitioners interested in metabolic therapy

• Anyone researching keto for seizures or dietary epilepsy treatment

⚠️ This video is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always work with a qualified medical team when managing epilepsy or implementing a therapeutic ketogenic diet.

The Charlie Foundation: https://charliefoundation.org/

You can work with Denise by booking a call at this website: https://advancedketogenictherapies.com/

Denise's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/advancedketogenictherapies/

Optimal clinical management of children receiving dietary therapies for epilepsy: Updated recommendations of the International Ketogenic Diet Study Group: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5983110/

ORDER MY BOOK COMPLETE CARNIVORE:

Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4oFNsgj⁠⁠⁠

B&N: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/complete-carnivore-jenny-mitich/1146838850?ean=9781628605761&st=AFF&2sid=Random%20House%20Inc_8373827_NA&sourceId=AFFRandom%20House%20Inc⁠⁠⁠

Target: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=9781628605761&clkid=90438253N6c2f11eea9df03dae139e2fb&cpng=PTID1&lnm=81938&afid=Penguin%20Random%20House&ref=tgt_adv_xasd0002⁠⁠⁠

For international viewers: ⁠⁠⁠https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Complete-Carnivore-by-Jenny-Mitich/9781628605761⁠⁠⁠