- The ketogenic diet has been recognized for its potential physical and mental health benefits.
- A new study suggests that a ketogenic diet may also be associated with better mood and mental well-being in the general population.
- For those new to keto, experts recommend starting this dietary pattern under the guidance of a nutrition professional, such as a dietitian.
- Other dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean or DASH diets, have more robust evidence for improving mental health.
The ketogenic diet is characterized by high fat, low carbohydrate, and moderate protein intake. This diet has been acknowledged for its potential
A recent pilot study from Stanford Medicine also reported improved symptoms in patients with severe mental illness after a 4-month ketogenic regimen and standard treatment. Building on these findings, the new research further explores the potential psychological benefits of the diet for the general public.
Now, a new study investigated how the keto diet affects different aspects of mental health in the general global population.
The findings, published in Nutrition, suggest that following a ketogenic diet may be linked with better mental and emotional health in the general population, with benefits increasing over time.
Researchers at Northumbria University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, aimed to find out how the ketogenic diet could affect various aspects of mental health, including:
- mood (calmness, contentedness, alertness)
- cognitive and emotional stress
- depression and anxiety symptoms
- feelings of loneliness
Researchers compared the self-reported mental health outcomes of individuals on a ketogenic diet with those on other diets, using data from two online surveys.
This study authors recruited participants via social media for two cohorts:
- 2021 cohort — 147 participants
- 2022 cohort — 276 participants
All participants were 18 or older and free from clinically diagnosed mood, anxiety, neurodevelopmental, and…
Read the full article here
