No. We would be lying if we said it was easy and didn’t require any particular commitment! People keen to adopt this way of eating need to be willing and able to make change, otherwise they will not get the desired results. In our experience, cancer and other chronically ill patients are a highly motivated patient group that are more than willing to break out of old patterns and adopt new habits.

We have an in-depth section in our book exploring who the low carb and keto approach may be most beneficial for- including a clever questionnaire developed by one of our experts writing in the foreword.

Also, there are clear contraindications to a ketogenic diet and it is important that you read this blog post here (internatl link to blog) before you consider starting the ketogenic lifestyle.

While there are many case reports and pre-clinical studies confirming the effectiveness and safety of the ketogenic diet, we are still waiting for the results of clinical trials. However, the ketogenic diet has been used in epileptic patients for many decades and has been proven safe in the long term.

We can’t emphasise enough that we don’t recommend doing the ketogenic diet as a stand-alone treatment (i.e. without doing conventional treatment) and suggest you always consult your oncologist before embarking on a ketogenic diet.

There’s an increasing amount of evidence showing how ketosis can enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatment and at the same time reduce side effects. While it can be challenging to stay in ketosis especially during chemotherapy, there are more and more tools available to practitioners to make this task as easy as possible for cancer patients. We dedicate a large section of the book to this topic and also have a chapter called “In Times of Treatment and Recovery”.

No. We always recommend using the ketogenic diet in conjunction with conventional treatments because there isn’t enough evidence at the moment to demonstrate its effectiveness as a stand-alone therapy. Please don’t use diet alone as a way to “cure cancer”. You will always hear of people who (seemingly) cured their illness with diet and lifestyle alone, but there isn’t enough data to back such an approach. If your cancer is not treatable (i.e. you’re not offered any options by your oncologist), please seek the support of a qualified and experienced health professional and avoid “self-experimentation”.

It’s possible to follow a vegetarian or vegan ketogenic diet, but it does require even more specialised guidance than a ketogenic diet that includes animal products. It’s do-able but not something we encourage based on current evidence. A vegan diet undoubtedly needs specific support with supplements.

Your best and most reliable bet is to follow Patricia’s blog on www.patriciadaly.com and her invaluable online learning resource at www.ketoforyou.com. There’s something for everybody – whether you’re just starting out or a more advanced practitioner, whether you prefer learning on your own or online with a small group with direct access to Patricia, but there are also opportunities coming up from time to time to work 1-on-1 with Patricia.

You have to visit Domini’s restaurant Alchemy (www.alchemyjuice.ie) on Leeson Street in Dublin! There are plenty of dishes for low carbers, like the Paleo Stew, Miso Salmon or Superfood Salad. For hard core ketoers, there are various options: a Bulletproof-like coffee, bone broth, Ketogenic porridge or a kale keto-crush smoothie.

As outlined by a number of highly regarded experts in the medical field at the very beginning of the book, “The Ketogenic Kitchen” will prove to be an invaluable resource for both patients needing guidelines and nutrient-packed recipes but also for healthcare practitioners who have gained professional knowledge in the implementation of the ketogenic approach.

“Ketogenic diet” in our view is not necessarily the correct term – some medical professionals prefer talking about “metabolic therapy”.  And as with any serious therapy, it can have side effects. This is why we recommend “going keto” under medical supervision, starting with a series of blood tests, especially when you suffer from a chronic illness. The book contains comprehensive information for medical professionals on blood tests for monitoring, contraindications, precautions and other useful advice.