We knew the ketogenic diet for its effects on weight loss and blood sugar. But now he returns to the front of the stage with an unexpected promise: boost your mental well-being. This is revealed by a study by the University of Northumbria, which analyzed the link between this regime rich in fats and the psychological health of hundreds of people. And the results are amazing …
What the study on the ketogenic diet and morale really says
The study was conducted in 2021 and 2022 by British researchers from the University of Northumbria. Objective: observe the impact of the ketogenic diet on five mental parameters in adults:
- General mood;
- Emotional and cognitive stress;
- Depressive symptoms;
- The anxiety felt;
- The feeling of loneliness.
For this, two groups were set up: the first had 147 people, the second 276. Among them, 220 participants followed an ketogenic diet – with an average of 24 months for the first group and 44 months for the second. They answered a series of online questionnaires on their psychological well-being.
Result ? Cetogen followers have largely declared better mental health than those following other diets. The longer the low carbohydrate diet was continued over time, the more the positive effects seemed to be amplified. A direct link between diet duration and mood improvement has thus been noted, unlike old studies more limited in time.
What experts think: possible biological effects
Beyond the self-depressed responses, the researchers advance several hypotheses on the biological mechanisms at stake. The psychiatrist Jasmine Sawhne, questioned by Medical News Todayexplains that the ketogenic diet could increase the production of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter involved in the sensations of calm and relaxation, similar to those caused by certain anxiolytic drugs.
It also highlights a possible influence on other brain chemicals: “The ketogenic diet could also influence neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, which regulate mood and intestinal microbiota but also which affect behavior and response to stress“.
These effects, although promising,, however, ask to be confirmed by future studies including more precise organic markers, in addition to the simple declarations of the participants.
Can we really use food to lighten the mind?
Although the ketogenic diet is debated on the nutritional level, this British study sheds new light: food is not limited to the body, it also touches the mind. By drastically reducing carbohydrates, and betting on fats, this diet seems to modify the chemistry of the brain and, perhaps, make us a little more serene.
But beware: this is not a miracle method or a medical treatment. The authors of the study themselves recall that additional research is necessary, in particular to verify these long-term effects and on more diverse populations. In the meantime, for those who find a balance in this mode of food, it seems that they also find it … a little inner peace.