The ketogenic diet continues to be popular all over the world. Once it was a diet intended for the treatment of some neurological disorders such as epilepsy, today it has become a real fashion. Underlying it all would be the spontaneous formation of ketones caused by an extreme reduction of carbohydrates in favor of fats. All this, despite the prejudices and appearances, leads to a drastic weight reduction. But not only that: according to some scientists it could also improve many mental health problems. Ketogenic Diet Anxiety and Depression
According to the results obtained from recent research, following a ketogenic diet could bring significant benefits to our health. These include the reduction of mental health problems, anxiety and depression.How the ketogenic diet works
To understand how the ketogenic diet works we need to think about the physiology of our body. Our bodies generally using two main fuels, fats and glucose. The classic Western diet, by preference, prefers a greater amount of carbohydrates (glucose). Without these two main energy sources, our heart and brain would not function properly. But the ketogenic diet reverses the two types of foods by minimizing glucose sources (such as carbohydrates) to less than 50 grams per day and increasing that of fat. Ketogenesis
By minimizing glucose and increasing fat, our body initiates a process known as ketogenesis. At this juncture, our liver breaks down fats into particular compounds called ketones. In the absence of other essential fuels, therefore, the human body goes into ketosis and begins to use most of the fats, including those in reserve. This is why there is a noticeable weight loss. Ketone Diet and Mental Health
If you are wondering what mental health has to do with all this, and quickly said: ketones in addition to replacing glucose as the main source of energy, also make changes in the brain. In particular towards some types of neurotransmitters. This is why anxiety and stress would also be reduced. This was suggested by some researchers from the University of Tasmania who published their results in Frontiers in Psychiatry. Benefits of the ketogenic diet
Previous research appears to have found improvements in health status in some patients with autism and bipolar disorder. In these subjects, the diet appears to have improved their ability to relate. These results show, however, that it is necessary to carry out further studies on the benefits deriving from this diet. “While the improvements observed in anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder may be related to changes in neurotransmitters during diet, this is the tip of the iceberg and much more research is needed to clarify the role of the ketogenic diet in mental disorders.” explains Dr Emmanuelle Bostock of the University of Tasmania.Avoid DIY on the ketogenic diet
According to Bostock, even though the diet has numerous benefits in different respects, medical supervision is necessary when deciding to follow it. “Also, at the beginning of the diet – when you switch from a supposedly standard diet – you can experience the ketone influence.” It is a period in which the body begins to regulate itself in order to use fat as an energy reserve. In the early days, many people may experience strange symptoms related to low carbohydrate intake. “After two days of consuming less than 30 grams of carbohydrates, I experienced a period of low energy and weakness. I woke up sore, lazy, confused and depressed, ”wrote journalist Susie Neilson in The Cut after experimenting with the diet. Anxiety and the ketogenic diet
“On Thursday, I noticed that my anxiety was gone: I was just too tired to be nervous about anything. But my depression had deepened, throwing me into a deep fog. I struggled with depression and physical exhaustion for ten days straight, and again, my ketone “flu” was raging. ” This means that symptoms are likely to get worse before benefits are achieved. So, as always, it’s best to avoid doing it yourself and ask your doctor for advice before drastically changing your diet.
