The history of the ketogenic diet begins in biblical times, when fasting was used to cure what were known as "fits". Later, in the early 1900's abstaining from food for several days was found to result in cessation of seizing activity. However, while fasting did have temporary benefits, it could not be used to treat seizures indefinitely. Since then, many researchers have studied the effects of fasting on seizures, but the development of the Ketogenic Diet can be credited to Dr. R.M. Wilder at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. His idea for the diet stemmed from the knowledge that during starvation, the body undergoes a state of ketosis. Ketosis is the result of fat being burned in the presence of little carbohydrate. Examples of ketones are beta-hydroxybutyric acid, acetone, and acetoacetic acid. Therefore in 1921, Dr. Wilder proposed a diet that was high in fat and low in carbohydrate to produce ketosis in the body that could be maintained on a long term basis.