Diet Doctor Podcast #82:
Ketogenic diets and mental health
You have likely heard that ketogenic diets can help people lose weight and improve their metabolic health. But did you know keto diets can also help with mental health conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, and even eating disorders? Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Chris Palmer, MD, is on the cutting edge of ketogenic diets for mental health conditions. He has authored numerous scientific papers on the topic, and is using keto diets frequently in his clinical practice.
But where do keto diets stand in relation to the standard therapy of medication and psychotherapy? How strong is the evidence in favor of keto diets, and what other lifestyle interventions are alternatives? We discuss these questions in the context of several diagnoses: depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and eating disorders.
As you’ll hear, the scientific literature is growing and the future looks bright for keto diets. Eventually, keto diets may become a mainstream treatment for several mental health conditions.
About the video
Virtual podcast recorded in September 2021, published in October 2021.
Host: Dr. Bret Scher
Producer: Hari Dewang
Table of contents
00:00 Introduction
02:45 Welcome, Dr. Chris Palmer
06:18 Dr. Palmer’s personal journey to nutritional intervention
12:59 Clinical experience of patients with depression
17:58 A ketogenic therapy for mental disorders
23:31 Addressing skepticism about keto for mental health
34:26 A specific version of low carb to achieve the benefit
41:45 About improving dietary compliance
48:08 Dr. Palmer’s contribution in academic fields
53:20 About eating disorder
You have likely heard that ketogenic diets can help people lose weight and improve their metabolic health. But did you know keto diets can also help with mental health conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, and even eating disorders? Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Chris Palmer is on the cutting edge of ketogenic diets for mental health conditions. He has authored numerous scientific papers on the topic, and is using keto diets frequently in his clinical practice.
But where do keto diets stand in relation to the standard therapy of medication and psychotherapy? How strong is the evidence in favor of keto diets, and what other lifestyle interventions are alternatives? We discuss these questions in the context of several diagnoses: depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and eating disorders.
As you’ll hear, the scientific literature is growing and the future looks bright for keto diets. Eventually, keto diets may become a mainstream treatment for several mental health conditions.
About the video
Virtual podcast recorded in September 2021, published in October 2021.
Host: Dr. Bret Scher
Producer: Hari Dewang
