Keto For Mental Health Expert Panel Discussion

Ketogenic therapy, often in the form of a keto diet, is an emerging treatment for various mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and more. A group of expert clinicians, researchers, and individuals with lived experience met to discuss ketosis and metabolic psychiatry at the 8th Global Symposium on Ketogenic Therapies in Coronado, California. In this video, you can learn valuable insight about using metabolic and ketogenic therapies to improve mental health.
Featured in this video:
Dr. Shebani Sethi
profiles.stanford.edu/shebani...
Twitter/X: @ShebaniMD
Dr. Iain Campbell
www.bipolarketostudy.com/
Twitter/X: @IainCampbellPhD
Nicole Laurent
mentalhealthketo.com/nicole-l...
Twitter/X: @KetoCounselor
MJ Leman
www.dbsalliance.org/our-team/...
Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.
Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at metabolicmind.org/
About us:
Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.
Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
3:54 About Baszucki Group
7:26 Introduction to the panelists
16:20 How lived experience informs research for ketogenic therapy
19:47 Ketogenic therapy as a treatment for bipolar depression
20:49 One experience using keto for mental health
24:43 Designing ketogenic therapy research to impact clinical practice
26:45 How keto helps with psychiatric medication side effects
27:58 How to emotionally support someone using ketogenic therapy
35:18 Advice for supporting ketogenic therapy clinical trial patients
39:04 Parallels between ketogenic therapy for epilepsy and mental illness
40:31 Ketogenic therapy adherence & measuring ketone levels
45:31 Why do we need clinical trials for ketogenic therapy?
50:39 Keto for depression and eating disorders
53:59 Timeframe of seeing benefit from ketogenic therapy
56:09 Buy-in from others in the academic and psychiatric communities
57:49 Non-responders to keto for mental health
59:13 Treating substance abuse with ketogenic diet
1:00:55 Exogenous ketones
1:04:39 Conclusion
#MetabolicMind
#KetoForMentalHealth
#MetabolicPsychiatry
#Bipolar
#MetabolicNeuroscience
#KetogenicMetabolicTherapy
#NutritionalKetosis
#MentalIllness
#Bipolar
#Keto

[@leonaedwards7104]

After over 40 years of depression with some suicide attempts I started keto. I dropped my anti depressants from 300 mg per day to 37.5 a day with the help of my psychiatrist. I no longer need to see my psychiatrist and only yearly with my family doctor. I am 73 years old.

[@metabolicmind]

Please email us at [e-mail] if you are interested in sharing your story. Congratulations on your success!

[@replaceablehead]

My wife has bipolar type 1 with a rapid cycling course and almost no lucid intervals. Since starting keto 8 weeks ago she has had a dramatic improvement in symptoms, maybe as much as a 70% reduction.

[@bonnieo8]

I’m so glad for you both!

[@replaceablehead]

@@bonnieo8 Thanks, it's really quite extraordinary, I keep thinking it's just luck and we've timed the diet with a euthymic interval but as time goes on the more I think it really is working.

[@metabolicmind]

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your wife's success!

[@mimimo555]

Wow

[@michellemcdermott2026]

Our son has bipolar 1 and the meds are so hard on him. We would like to try this but we can't find a clinician that has availability. It's like being in limbo

[@pisquiatria.metabolica]

That´s very exciting to see a panel on this theme! As a psychiatrist working with ketogenic and metabolic therapies for Mental Ilness in Brazil, I´m still sort of a sole voice in the psyhiatric field here, but to be able to connect with colleagues such Dr. Sethi, Dr. Plamer, Dr. Ede, Dr. Campbell, gives me the sense of scientific comunity that pushes me forward! Thanks Dr. Scher for taking the lead in broadcasting Metabolic Mind.

[@jeremy454]

I am having to taper off of lithium after 27 years due to kidney health. I am going to implement keto prior to the taper. It seems like a great opportunity

[@TommysPianoCorner]

It’s good to see that this message is getting out. As with keto for blood pressure, cancer and even diabetes, the majority of the medical profession doesn’t believe that diet makes a difference (aside eating a ‘healthy’ - guidelines - diet). Luckily, people can choose for themselves what they want to eat. I settled on low carb for my diabetes. I suggested it to a friend for his hypertension that is now pretty much gone. If someone has a cancer diagnosis, then would cutting out the carbs actually do them any harm? So, for those suffering with mental disorders (which appear to be nigh on impossible to treat that successfully with drugs), then frankly I wouldn’t be waiting for my Dr’s permission to eat differently. The more people that know this is an option, the better as it will probably be a grass roots thing that changes the landscape!

[@timaj6580]

Started KETO about one month ago, and for the first time in 57 years, I feel normal. I'm no longer feeling like others are watching me and less anxious. There is a strong family history of schizoaffective disorder and anxiety disorders.

[@bother222]

Dr. Shebani Sethi rules ❤

[@asdf1991asdf]

I wonder about non-responders. I have struggled with mental health for many years and so did keto (meat and green veg) and then after a month of that i saw now real progress and so went to carnivore. On both diets i felt depressed and tired. And so even though i was fasting during the keto month but not the carnivorw stage, i began to reintroduce both fasting and 20-50 grams of carbs through sweet potatoes just recently. And its only been a few days but i am starting to feel better the i ever did on keto with green veg & carnivore. I think i need a low carb/keto diet BUT lowcarb/keto is of no real benefit to me without fasting. The fasting for me is the more fundamental and transformative aspect of keto. Ths low carb allows ketosis to occur more easily but the driving force of change is FASTING for me.

[@metabolicmind]

Thats very interesting to hear. Thank you for sharing your story. Did you notice a difference in your ketone levels with and without fasting?

[@asdf1991asdf]

@metabolicmind I sporadically check ketone levels, but not consistently. I feel more focused, clearer etc. when combining low carb with fasting. I think my point is that the generic ketogenic protocol is flawed, or at least does not offer enough variation perhaps.... some people need more protein, and perhaps a carb source other then green vegetables. Plus I believe they fasting is far more potent a form of igniting ketosis then just standard keto. There is a health/fitness coach online called Cole Robinson, and he can have 100 grams of carbs and return to ketosis in a matter of hours because he fasts so frequently by doing omad.

[@martinlang9615]

In my journey on strict Lion diet I sometimes ate one meal a day, mostly two within a 6 hour window. If the fatty ruminate meat content is high enough, your stress and sleep is under control (circadian rhythm is important), grounding/being in nature helps, you naturally are not hungry and sometimes need to remind yourself to eat, or skip till the next meal time. Cravings vanished. I find longer than one meal a day too difficult. But my meal sizes are fairly small (hand size) in area when fingers are together. I love reverse searing ribeye. It’s my favourite, but with increasing prices only buy when it’s on special. You can do a lot with cheaper cuts in casserole, or mince (not lean/“premium” mince) you can make so many things. Eggs help with this. I use minimal cheese as I find this can trigger cravings if eaten in more than two meals conservatively. I still drink water, but sometimes either a Macher tea or Coffee no sugar/sweetners.

[@bonnieo8]

Thank you for sharing your specific details that add to your success.

[@asdf1991asdf]

@martinlang9615 I would have loved to be able to adapt to carnivore but I tried for 5 months with no progress at all. Even if it only helped my energy levels I would have stuck with it, but because I was so tired and still depressed I had to give it up. I would like try it again but I have tries multiple times and don't have much time to waste again when I'm pretty certain the same result will occur. I can't even be sure that omad with low carb will be sustainable. I don't know why this diet stuff is so difficult for me but I don't get the high or the focus other people get. I am seeing a gradual improvement through fasting so hopefully that can give me a new baseline. How long did it take you to adapt to carnivore?

[@lexamdelac28]

Fantastic! So promising. I'd love to be on a modified keto diet someday but more comfortable sticking with strict keto for now! I sent metabolic mind info to my NP psychiatrist and I hope she really clicks with the info. The more support the better. Otherwise, just curious about non responders and what makes them so.

[@ClaireHurst-ce1ob]

Thanks so much for this. So very helpful;. Have just started to consider this as an option.

[@haydeeramos7839]

Thanks for this wonderful opportunity to hear all this from you experts

[@georgiawhiley2481]

Thanks so much for this wonderful research! I am living in Australia and my 24yo son has schizophrenia. He is stable now and into his 4th month on Clozapine, which is working well although I am very concerned about its side effects. Does anyone know of any psychiatrists here in Australia who work with keto and schizophrenia? I know of the clinical trials taking place with Dr Zoltan Sarnyai, however he is not taking on patients not involved in the trial. Thanks!

[@metabolicmind]

Here is a good place to start to look for an experienced clinician to work with. We hope it helps! www.diagnosisdiet.com/directory

[@craiglatta6378]

They are planing to open a clinic soon 🤞otherwise we may need to travel outside Austraila my son also stated cloz and keto pt training and intermittent fasting now the taper starts and feel like we’re on our own I hope things start to get better for you

[@georgiawhiley2481]

@@craiglatta6378 thanks for that. Where in Australia are you? I am in northern nsw. Do you know where the clinic might open and who would be opening it? Are you doing the keto and tapering on your own or with the guidance of a psych? Best wishes to you and your son!

[@craiglatta6378]

@@georgiawhiley2481 we’re down south in Victoria Soon to be heading north for winter Trying to find a psychiatrist that can help us my son always gets unwell after winter so we will try some more vitamin D this winter I would consider going internationally but concerned about an episode while abroad I do have an rv in the USA so if we can’t find help here we may travel

[@marilynroper5739]

Clinical trials are needed because the powers that be who decide what is taught in med schools need to be convinced.

[@griffinharvey3910]

In fact the keto diet is the most well researched diet in the world. It goes back well over a 100 years ago, when it was discovered how amazingly helpful it is for people with epilepsy.

[@anniealex7965]

So what are the best dietary options in detail? Please reply. Thank you 🙏

[@metabolicmind]

Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, we cant say what the best options are for each individual. However, we hope people will learn about the potential benefits of ketogenic therapy and discuss it as a potential option with their healthcare team.

[@betsyfleetwoodgraver3682]

Read Dr. Georgia Ede’s new book “change your diet, change your mind”. It’s excellent and very thorough with several options to try. Step by step. It’s the book we’ve all been waiting for, in my opinion. Good luck and don’t give up. ❤️

[@scoobtoober2975]

Lots of methods, lots of options now a days. One channel on here is low carb down under. You can be vegan, vegetarian, carnivore (meat eggs) what ever flavor you like. Get a ketone meter for blood testing if you worry your not in ketosis. I've done a few two day fast no water and that is a big reset. But go slow and easy. If it feels wrong/ill back off. Find a good keto doctor if you need. Charlie foundation site has some small amount of doctors listed in various areas.

[@nhboy34]

I haven’t found a specific discussion on this yet, but is there any evidence on what the diet does to help someone who is BP1 but experiences mostly manic episodes ? I think this is less common in the west, its not that unusual for countries closer to the equator

[@metabolicmind]

Please see our interviews with Hannah Warren and Matt Baszucki, who both experienced Bipolar 1 with mania.

[@Rebecca-wc5th]

Is there any experience with keto diet and severe OCD?

[@metabolicmind]

Dr Lori Calabrese wrote an article on this topic. We hope it helps! www.loricalabresemd.com/blog/ketogenic-psychiatry-quiet-ocd/

[@OIOnaut]

I hear Gary Taubes at 54 minutes in ;) I wonder how many years we have to suffer to see what is the root cause of Un-Illness. I spent ten years in food-molecular cell biology. Got all the benefits, but not any deeper undestanding. Only after going sub molecular and even sub atomic, I saw the light (pun intended). Maybe everyone should look more into mitochondrial complex 4 and 5. Four makes metabolic water and five is there to collect electromagnetic energy as an equivalent to plant photo-synthesis or what for us the mammals is called photo-phosphorylation. We and plants are not that different. Water, light, air and earth are the connector. These life forces are governed by quantum effects in our semiconducting nano-machinery. Why wasting time in food wars and big pharma stuff? So instead go looking for more info on topics such as MELANIN, POMC, DEUTERIUM. Info that explaines insulin resistance, connects lepitin resistance to it. Proton pumping, Mithochondrial dysfunction, Membrane instability, ROS action, sulfuration, methylation, amylation. It is obvious. Deuterium has a double kinetic energy of Hydrogen but same charge. This fact is everywhere and our ability to regulate it is tied to life int self. It is making a difference in hybrid energy substrates such as glucose = deuterium over 155ppm , alchohol, fructose and ketones= deuterium less than 125ppm. It is clear as chrystal. (aside: my fortune was being both a semiconductor research scientist and a bipolar person. I was suicidal with a plan to end my life with animal fat and salt cholesterol and surely getting MI aka heart attack with a large health insurance policy. Three weeks on keto and on internet, I quit my insurance. : end aside) TCA-cycle is there purely to filter deuterium out of the mitochondrion. Our semiconduction works only with structured zero deuterium water thus semiconducting H2O. Minerals dope it making signaling possible. The true fuels are abundant electrons from the earth's ground, UV-wavelengts and NIR wavelenghts from the skies and external help from our microbiom living outside and in our gut. Even your mitochondria is a bacterial eucariot system. They all are known to use light for powering the chemistry transforming energy in many ways. We have bio Wi-Fi, lasers, leds, solar panes, diodes, transistors, fiber optics, transformers, amplifiers etc. Imagine That! Broblem is that you have to do the work yourself. Otherwise you are part of a belief system, science-religion or food war cult. All research and trial chemistry is done under fake light environment and electrically floating isolated non controlled systems still submitted to the same entropy laws and quantum phenomena. If not taken account one gets strange outcomes that are misleading . Our life is quantum packaged. At least mine is and I wellcome it. Makes things simple.

[@podaly]

To answer that guy... you need that evidence so you can get insurance to pay for it. Probably not an issue where he is from.

[@OIOnaut]

Alchohol is less deuterium promoting pathway. See it is connected.

[@aor3220]

I tried the keto diet for depression and I felt horrible. I was an anxious wreck and very angrybon keto.

[@manojlogulic4234]

How you did keto? Best way to do it is with fasting long.

[@aor3220]

@@manojlogulic4234 what do you mean fasting long 🤔 ?

[@metabolicmind]

Sorry to hear that. Just curious, how long were you on it? Some people have a very tough transition in the first few weeks. But a few seem to feel poorly over time. There are theories as to why that may be, but just curious to hear more about your experience. Thanks

[@johnmartinsen963]

Please share more of your experience with Dr Scher 🙏 There are many ways to achieve a ketogenic state through diet (vegan, omnivore, carnivore, fasting) and it might be something you consumed, rather than your metabolic state. I followed the suggestions of Dr Berg in the early stages and felt horrible...then I cut the vegetables out and magically improved.

[@asdf1991asdf]

​@johnmartinsen963 do you just eat meat? I was tired on green veg so replaced it with a small amount of sweet potatoes and feel better. Also fasting helped me more then just low carb foods

[@MultiCII]

People experimenting on themselves and others.

[@Amanda_downunder]

It's interesting, however NOT everyone will do better in ketosis. May we all find what works for us ! 💟💯🙏like one of the comments below, it did not make me feel better, nor give me mental clarity. In fact, I felt much worse. I do better HCLF, just like @Sweet Fruitness, @Freelee @Durianrider #high fruit #high carb #stay active

[@metabolicmind]

Thats a great point that there isn't a "one size fits all" solution. We hope to learn much more about how to predict who may or may not respond, and what are the factors that influence response (ketone levels? Degree of metabolic benefit? Other factors?) Just like one medicine doesn't work for everyone, we couldn't expect one nutritional approach would. But we hope more people learn about ketosis as an option to try with clinical supervision to see if it does work. Thanks for your comment!

[@Amanda_downunder]

yes, agreed. in time, more understanding may arrive about this topic ! I also think we under-estimate how much carbs we need for our metabolism, I always wondered why everything would shut down with my physiology and my mind not working well, when I tried fasting, and I was on keto and carnivore diet too at one stage. Now, I realise that I need a LOT more carbs than I realised, just like Pauline - her YT channel is called @Sweet Fruitness. This morning for breakfast, I made my fruit smoothie - 4 dates, 3 bananas, 4 or 5 prunes, 1 tbs of jaggery (brown sugar from India), 1 tbs of caster sugar, water - blended in a Ninja blending machine - I need my energy, my brain needs energy too ! @@metabolicmind