Keto for Mental Health

What if mental illness was an energy problem?  Dr. Chris Palmer certainly thinks this is the case.  In his book, Brain Energy, he writes that all mental disorders are metabolic disorders of the brain.  He draws attention to the links between disorders that are clearly understood to be due to metabolic dysfunction, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer's and mental disorders like depression. In fact there is a strong association between any of these medical conditions and almost any of the chronic mental disorders.

How are these physical conditions and brain disorders related?  Problems with mitochondrial function are found in all of them.  Mitochondria are often called the powerhouse of the cell, because they are responsible for the creation of energy.  However, they do so much more.  They play a role in immune function as well as the production and release of neurotransmitters.  Mitochondria can be negatively affected by a variety of things, such as stress, trauma, toxins, hormonal imbalances, chronic inflammation and poor sleep. 

A program designed to improve mitochondrial function can include many interventions including sleep hygiene, exercise, stress reduction, various supplements and use of hormones.  One of the most powerful steps that can improve the function of mitochondria is the ketogenic diet or therapeutic nutritional ketosis.  Mitochondria love to run on fat!  And the ketone bodies that are created can also help balance brain chemicals in other health promoting ways. 

For additional information on the role of therapeutic nutritional ketosis, I encourage you to start watching the Metabolic Mind channel on YouTube.  It’s a philanthropic effort of the Bazuki group.  The Bazukis want to spread the message that ketogenic diets can help those with serious mental illness after their son recovered from Bipolar illness using a keto diet.  https://www.youtube.com/@metabolicmind