The Shocking Treatment for Mental Illness
The keto diet isn’t just about physical health—it’s showing promise in supporting mental health too. By shifting your body’s energy source from carbs to fats, the keto diet may help improve focus, stabilize mood, and even reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Studies suggest that the ketones produced during ketosis can have neuroprotective effects, potentially supporting brain function and mental clarity. While it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, many are finding it beneficial as part of a broader mental health strategy.
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Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.
In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life’s direction.
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14 Comments
YES!!!
He has a good point. In some New York hospitals food as medicine is an organizational practice 😊
Whoa
It's certainly interesting and I hope it pans out. I've been curious enough to get a ketone monitor (simple finger prick) to get some objective data of ketone levels and blood glucose levels and maintain a therapeutic level of ketosis. The diet seems to suit me quite well; I'm fine with medication too. Keep it science-based!
Hi! Can intermittent fasting work like the keto diet in terms of improving brain function?
(thank you so much for so many elucidating videos – you help me a lot! best wishes from Brazil!!)
Here's another shocking thing, MSG is concentrated glutamate. Glutamate is both an amino acid AND a neurotransmitter. And MSG is in almost all processed foods under "natural flavors" or many other names. I think part of why keto works is because is gets rid of processed foods and the plethora of MSG and orher toxins in that food that seriously mess with brain chemistry. In addition it clogs the liver just like concentrated sugar, hfcs, does.
Glutamate needs a ratio balance with its buddy GABA, which is hard to come by when you're eating it in excess. GABA deficiency is known to cause problems like ADHD, Autism, schizophrenia, etc. but when glutamate is in such extreme amounts, and messing up the ratio balance between GABA and glutamate, does it mimic a deficiency?
Also some amino acids in excess can cause depression such as proline. Aspartame breaks down into phenylalanine. An old friend has PKU, and she taught me that she'd decend or atrophy into a cognitively disabled state if she were to consume large amounts of phenylalanine, and it would start with depression. I think they're canaries in the coal mine. And that excess phenylalanine is bad for all of us. We might just better handle larger quantities better than they do and not cognitively decline the same way. Aspartame was originally developed as a neurotoxin in the 1950s until they discovered it tastes sweet. Why they ever put it in food, is beyond me. It is not healthy.
In addition to getting proper nutrition, and balancing metabolic disorders, whole food is loaded with antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antiseptic, etc properties. Lentils are naturally antifungal, and antiviral due to a high lysine content. Whole foods heal in a variety of ways. 80% of schizophrenic patients have a bacteria called toxoplasmosis. It may not be the cause, but its not doing them no favors. During the pandemic they predicted an 80% or some high percentage rise of fungal infections! Why, because of the shots they were passing out like candy. I think its the MMR that destroys the immune system against everything but the MMR diseases, but the immune system is shot and unable to defend against other pathogens, including fungal and parasitic infections, largely ignored in the US. Which ps and by the way can and do affect mental health. So its not so much "medical keto" as whole food. Or as some call it, the word of wisdom.
Just eating whole foods and staying away from heavily processed food will make an amazing difference. Not everything has to be Keto. You don't have to be on a "diet" , you need to be on a health journey to a better lifestyle….it's not just food that's screwing you up!
I enjoy your content,but am a little disappointed that you are so into " just keto it" Keto can be a good start,but shouldn't be the destination ❤
So true, all the mental health illnesses under the sun and I feel like a million bucks when I eat better. Cookies are nice once in a blue moon but I become a cry baby.
I never feel hungry or deprived eating a Keto diet. My stomach never hurts on a Keto diet and no flatulence, but I experienced stomach cramping and indigestionon on carb heavy diets, with lots of gas. I feel satiated for six to eight hours. Every other diet focused on carbs makes me feel deprived and constantly hungry.
Important information. Thanks.
Keto is a Great Kickoff for the body, as I understand.
As is Carno.
I believe its been found that we must start adding in certain foods to both of those diets after a period of time, to Remain healthy.
Our bodies do need Some healthy carb and Some vegetables/fruit in order to survive.
I'm off all meds & 30lbs lighter.😊🙏💙
Do I have to eat meat ?
Can you do something on Pure OCD?