Bipolarcast Episode 16: Denise Potter and Beth Zupec-Kania

[@BantuAzania]

Medical practitioners work a lot as silos and so the psychiatrist is scared to even talk about food lest she get sued. Psychologists will only admit to hearing about the diet but they "cannot say more" because they are not allowed to speak about things outside their area of training. So it becomes the responsibility of the client and their family to pool all the info. This means going into the academic space to get a more wholistic picture. An ordinary person doesn't think about going into academic journals or a dietician for psychosis, anxiety etc. I laughed though because I asked ChatGpt about mental health and it brought up diet as an upcoming treatment plan. Exciting times ahead. Well done Matt and Iain for another great conversation. Thank you to the guests for speaking so candidly.

[@ketobipolar]

It's great to hear from you Nohmle, what you say is so true! I've seen it so many times that those who survive bipolar and can live with it are often those with the most dedicated families who are willing to do the research. It shouldn't be this way. I believe that robust science working in sync with clear communication with doctors and psychiatrists will move us out of this dark age of mental health. 30-60% of us with bipolar attempting suicide even with the best modern treatments. So many families needlessly destroyed by this. It has to change.

[@heathersmith6177]

Please keep doing videos. The work you are doing and the information that you are sharing is life changing! I know WE know that but the world needs this info so desperately!

[@ketobipolar]

Thanks Heather! Yes, many more new episodes coming, they are some of the best yet.

[@scottphardin]

I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD, generalized anxiety disorder and depression. My depressions though feel more like an energy crisis and they come and go relatively rapidly. Stumbling across this channel I remembered how well I felt years ago while eating paleo. This morning I decided to buy some BHB supplements and my depression lifted inside of 20 minutes. Can’t wait to see where this diet /and or supplementation leads. I have lost years of life in deep depressions and maybe a little with hypo mania.

[@MichaelBLive]

Just enrolled in the study questionnaire. It felt good to be included in this study and get my experience as part of it. Thank you.

[@ketobipolar]

Thank you for contributing your experience to the scientific record! It will be there helping and informing others for many decade into the future.

[@dyaneharwood2023]

I was fortunate to have a fantastic session with Denise Potter to discuss my vegan ketogenic diet for bipolar one & perimenopause symptoms. I was referred to Denise by the bestselling author/keto-for-bipolar advocate Julie Fast. I've been having wonderful results over the past six months in which I've done a well-formulated ketogenic diet with a focus on MCT oil. Denise was incredibly helpful, down-to-earth, and encouraging. l look forward to meeting with her again this summer! Dyane Harwood, B.A. Author, "Birth of a New Brain-Healing from Postpartum Bipolar Disorder" endorsed by Kay Redfield Jamison et al. Member, The Vegan Society Researcher Network

[@denisepotter1864]

Thanks Dyane! I am so glad you're doing well!!!

[@ketobipolar]

Great to hear Keto is continuing to help you Dyane! Congratulations. Do you find using MCT oil gives better results in terms of mood stabilisation? Hope to find another date for the podcast sometime in the coming weeks.

[@dyaneharwood2023]

@@ketobipolar Hi there & thanks for another wonderful Bipolarcast episode! 👍 I definitely feel my daily tablespoon of MCT oil has helped stabilized my mood! During my consultation with Denise Potter, we discussed increasing my daily MCT oil intake quite a bit. Luckily I love the effect & taste of the precious oil -;) & I'm grateful I've never had adverse reactions to it. I'd love to re-schedule & I'll reach out to you via email to see what could work. 🙂

[@isabeldelrosario]

It would be great to have a video focused on vegetarians and vegans and keto diet. A lot of the videos I have listened to mention meat as an important part of the diet.

[@dyaneharwood2023]

@@isabeldelrosario I’m honored I’ll be sharing my vegan experience- we record next week! Thank you for suggesting this topic.

[@DrPaulThornburg464]

Such a great interview. I appreciate the sharing of frustration about resistance from other healthcare providers to ketogenic therapies. Denise and Beth are heroes to me. I'm gearing up to take their Keto Mastery Courses in the near future : ).

[@ketobipolar]

Yes, they are amazing and have done so much to develop best practices around ketogenic metabolic therapy. Great to hear you will do their courses!

[@MichaelBLive]

Dr Bernstein is my doc. Awesome to hear he is helping others as well.

[@jbl2270]

Matt was definitely priviledged to have that team and family support him

[@nictegki]

Thank you so so much from Mexico

[@cherylcore7053]

Thank-you for another important podcast! Is there any chance you have any recommendations for help in Albert Canada? We are able to find those who can help with the diet itself, but because our son is bipolar 1, we understand the importance of caution. Our family dr has told him he’ll be on meds his whole life, and basically accept it. If you have any advice, we would overwhelmingly welcome it! Thanks

[@denisepotter1864]

Beth and I have our contact information listed above if you would like to reach out.

[@cherylcore7053]

Thank-you!

[@FitnHealthyOne]

great video...I am starting keto today and feel hope that this lifestyle could be the answer for me to feel better finally.

[@heathersmith6177]

I would love to know of any research or experience that you all have had regarding addiction (substance abuse disorder) and the ketogenic diet. I am getting ready to go into two sober living facilities to work with them on how to eat using a simple LCHF ketogenic diet. My background is in nutrition/dietetics and all that I learned in college was wrong. I also have degrees in clinical exercise physiology and counseling. With that being said my own experience with bipolar disorder, addiction and the ketogenic diet has been nothing short of miraculous. Alcohol addiction, opiates and then food during sobriety…spot on what Matt said about the sugar, root beer nonsense in psych wards and rehabs. It’s just horrendous. My experience with brain healing and the ketogenic diet has been life changing. It is the ONLY treatment that has ever worked for my bipolar 2 and real healing of the addicted brain in my own life. I would love any personal experience or journal articles that address this. Thank you for all you do! Incredible interview.

[@ketobipolar]

Hi Heather, thanks for your comment and for sharing your experience. I'll send you some studies. Please drop me an email at [e-mail]

[@ketobipolar]

Also, your experiences are so valuable to science and furthering research. If you have time, please take a look at this questionnaire study I'm working on: edinburgh.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/ketogenic-diet-questionnaire-study Thank you!

[@jan_ellison_baszucki]

@@ketobipolar And we did just learn of a study in the military looking at ketogenic diets and alcohol use disorder. So studies are underway!

[@heathersmith6177]

Thank you all so much! This is game changing! Especially since we see mental illness especially bipolar disorder co-existing with substance abuse disorder. I will certainly fill out the questionnaire with my own experience. I would also love to pass it along to the ladies that I will be working with at the sober-living facilities. I also have many practitioner friends who have had similar experience with this miraculous metabolic treatment. Blessings on all you do and thank you for passing on this information and research!

[@leyzafool]

Hi Iain and Matt, do you know if there are any studies or well versed keto practitioners in Australia in regards to using keto for bipolar? I was finally diagnosed last year with bipolar after 4 years of my first symptoms onset. I have an interesting history in that I went keto in 2017 to stop sugar and carb cravings, and I adhered to the diet well and felt great. But after being prescribed antidepressants in 2019 with catastrophic side effects (which I now know is highly likely because of my undiagnosed bipolar disorder) so subsequently, I struggled to get back on track with keto. It was medication roulette for me in 2019. I've been on and off about 16 medications in four years. I found your channel when I was looking for more information about bipolar. So to hear about the research in regards to a ketogenic diet, gives me hope to try and utilise the diet again. I'm seeing my psychiatrist this week to have a chat about starting the ketogenic diet again. I appreciate all the work yourselves and other doctors are putting into researching treating bipolar and other mental disorders with a ketogenic diet. I can also attest to the dietary options being appalling in inpatient treatment, as Matt states in this discussion. I struggled to avoid sugar and carbs when being treated in the mental health unit last year. Wishing you both well. Keep up the great work

[@felix1989vermeulen]

Hey, lovely interview! Question: how long does it usually taken before mental health gets better after starting the keto-diet? Thanks you for replying!

[@miamendez2878]

I'm JUST circling back to catch up/finish some episodes. .. Dr Iain, thank you so much for asking Denise and Beth on my behalf, about how I might further my knowledge and competence as a keto coach more expeditiously. Commiting to an expensive 7 year formal education pathway is not in the cards... especially when I've already been able to safely help others on this path with the knowledge I currently have. So grateful for this podcast! Grateful for your support!

[@ketobipolar]

You rock Mia!

[@fionen]

People saying don't DIY it but honestly it's not that hard to figure out.

[@ketobipolar]

Hi MJ, with the best interests of listeners in mind, we always recommend doing this with dietician and psychiatrist. This is based on lots of feedback from patients and clinicians. I've recorded detailed testimonials from 90+ people and have spoken to countless more as well as leading a pilot study with 27 participants under close medical supervision. I only hear of lasting, consistent results in those who do this alongside a psychiatrist and dietician who can help to balance the complexity of life adjustments needed to sustain ketosis and manage changes in medication and lifestyle.

[@fionen]

@@ketobipolar I definitely agree with having a psychiatrist on your side but dieticians aren't telling you anything you can't find out on your own. There's a learning curve for sure, but if they can learn it so can I or anyone else who's motivated enough. Sure, it would be nice to have a team helping you but remember most of us barely have the money for basic needs let alone paying dieticians, personal chefs etc. Even the testing equipment is pricey. Your guests acknowledged the cost factor in the video.

[@lauraartuso3188]

I would have used a dietician to avoid the pitfalls of DIY Keto had I known earlier that there is a lot more to it than I thought. I suffered needlessly.

[@FitnHealthyOne]

any advice? today is day 1 for me @@lauraartuso3188

[@JustineCline]

Do you have more information on the clinic at The University of Toledo?

[@ketobipolar]

Please share more if you can find info!

[@JustineCline]

@@ketobipolar In this video Denise Potter was speaking about a psychiatrist at the University of Toledo who was going to be starting a clinic at the end of next summer. She spoke about this towards the end of the video around the 54 minute mark. I couldn't find information on this when I searched. Do you have more information on this clinic or psychiatrist?

[@michaelratcliff1735]

I am in the Houston area. Is there anyone that can help me with my bipolar son

[@nictegki]

Where can I find the KETO CALCULATOR?

[@ketobipolar]

Here you go: ketodietcalculator.org/

[@felix1989vermeulen]

Hey, lovely interview! Question: how long does it usually taken before mental health gets better after starting the keto-diet? Thanks you for replying!