A study published in the journal Epilepsia has determined that individuals with a specific form of epilepsy may benefit the most from a meat-rich diet.

Researchers found that the majority of children with myoclonic-astatic epilepsy who switched from a modified Atkins diet to a ketogenic diet reduced their seizures by at least 10 percent.

The ketogenic diet is similar to the Atkins regimen. Both consist primarily of protein-heavy meals, eaten with little or no carbohydrates.

The ketogenic diet simply has more restrictions on the types of fats, proteins and fluids that an individual may consume.

The study’s authors concluded that its stringency may make the ketogenic plan impart a “higher dose” of epilepsy therapy per meal.

A diet almost exclusively of protein and fat forces the body to replace glucose with other energy sources, a switch that may ameliorate seizure activity. It is often suggested by physicians after a patient has not responded to multiple courses of prescription drugs.

The concept of a ketogenic diet has existed for more than two millennia. Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates wrote about its effect on epilepsy around the year 400 BC, according to Stafstrom and Rho’s Epilepsy and the Ketogenic Diet.