Depression cured by a low carb diet?

Yes, you heard right! Does a low carb diet play a role in stabilizing mood disorders, including depression? Or maybe I should say so; Do ketones play a role in our brain energy profile?

What are ketones?

Let me explain a little more the previous sentence. When we eat carbohydrates, our bodies break it down into glucose. This passes the blood brain barrier and feeds our brain. Our bodies always choose to use glucose as an energy source before using another fuel source.

When we eliminate carbohydrates from our diets, we cannot use glucose as a fuel source. Then, our bodies begin to process the protein and fat we eat instead. Process these proteins and fats in ketones.

These ketones can also be used as fuel and can also pass the blood brain barrier. And this different type of fuel for the brain seems to alter it.

Why do ketones work?

One of the best known effects of a ketogenic diet is its remarkable effect on seizures in epileptic patients. Some people have been freed from attacks while others have a substantial reduction in their attacks. The effects of the ketogenic diet remain even after carbohydrates have been reintroduced.

There is talk that a ketogenic diet can benefit many mental disorders, such as depression, bipolar and Alzheimer’s. If this diet could only help a faction of people suffering from these conditions, it would be revolutionary!

We are not completely sure why and how these ketones affect the brain. But some theories suspect that this fuel other than ketones helps with global cerebral hypometabolism. It seems that the brain can use ketones more efficiently. It is also believed that ketosis lowers intracellular sodium concentrations, which is exactly what mood stabilizers do.

Not many human trials have to do to see the benefits of a ketogenic diet in mental disorders. But it is definitely guaranteed!

What exactly is a ketogenic diet?

Ok great. So, now that we know what ketones are and how they work. Let’s take a look at what you would have to do to follow a ketogenic diet.

A ketogenic diet is a diet that really reduces carbohydrates to a minimum. The most accepted version of the ketogenic diet is to have less than 20 g of carbohydrates a day.

But we are all different and some people can still respond with higher amounts of carbohydrates a day.

Ketosis, therefore, when we are producing ketones, can be controlled by using keto-sticks.

Keeping 20 g of carbohydrates a day is a challenge, trust me.

Where do we find carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are found in a variety of natural foods and products.

The most obvious place to find carbohydrates is in sugar. This includes the sugar that has been added to beverages, food products, sweets, cakes and chocolate.

We also find carbohydrates in our starches, such as rice, couscous, bread, oatmeal and pasta. These are usually cut completely in a ketogenic diet.

The fruit also contains fructose, which is a sugar, and will also increase your carbohydrate intake. Fruit intake is usually controlled quite strictly.

Other types of sugar, mainly lactose, are found in dairy products.

A ketogenic diet is not for the faint of heart!

So what can I eat?

As you can see, a lot of food is removed from the equation when we are on a ketogenic diet. What can be eaten in large quantities are non-starchy vegetables, so vegetables that have very few carbohydrates. And then we can eat all our meat, eggs and fish. These are usually cooked with unlimited amounts of fat.

It is not an easy diet to follow, but once people feel the benefit, they say they will never return. It is advisable to work with a nutritionist and support doctor when trying the ketogenic diet.

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