Ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet. It has been used for decades, primarily to treat epilepsy, especially in children who do not respond to conventional medications. By dramatically cutting down on carbohydrates and replacing them with fat, the body enters a state of ketosis, where it burns fat instead of carbohydrates for energy.
In a classic ketogenic diet, 80-90% of calories come from fat, with the remainder provided by a combination of proteins and very limited carbohydrates. Breads, pastas, cereals and sugary snacks are replaced with fats such as nuts, cream, butter, and adequate protein sources.
“The ketogenic diet is proved to be effective for treatment-resistant epileptic seizures by reducing the excitability of brain neurons. We think it is worth exploring this treatment for psychiatric conditions,” says Shebani Sethi, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and first author of the new paperwork.
The study included 23 people aged 18 to 75 who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, were overweight, and had other metabolic side effects from taking psychiatric medications.
Psychiatric assessments were conducted at baseline, two months later and at the end of the study using standardized psychiatric scales to measure symptoms of depression, anxiety, and general mental status.
On average, the participants experienced a 10% decrease in body weight and an 11% decrease in waist circumference. In addition, the researchers observed reductions in blood pressure, body mass index, triglycerides, blood sugar levels, and insulin resistance.
The patients showed significant improvement in psychiatric conditions. The participants showed reductions in depression, anxiety, and overall severity of mental illness. They reported improvements in their energy, sleep, mood and quality of life.
The participants who followed the diet completely showed greater improvements compared to those who followed a less restrictive diet. This finding suggests a potential correlation between dieting and psychiatric relief.
Photos are from open sources.
