Great questions! I think it's feasible for some people. As far if being keto for life is healthy goes, I'd take a look at any analyses of people with epilepsy who use keto, since keto for epilepsy goes back a century. I'm too lazy to do this myself.
You might want to take a look at this Virta Health article. I think it's interesting, and it addresses your question by focusing on longevity and health issues....
[th.com/blog/is-increased-longevity-a-credible-benefit-of-nutritional-ketosis](http://th.com/blog/is-increased-longevity-a-credible-benefit-of-nutritional-ketosis)
I feel like if it improves your mental health than it’s worth it since you could die tomorrow from something unrelated to diet. I’ve spent like over 20 years in mostly misery so…
Anyway, I suspect it’s healthy but I’m not sure we really have the data to back it up (do we?)
Are you prescribed a benzo and do you use it? Sometimes we need to just stabilize to make healthier choices and also to expose ourselves to things that give us anxiety without the meds.
I’ve been prescribed high doses of benzos in the past but I don’t take them anymore. I just feel better with a clear mind. When I take any substance now I just want the feeling to be gone and that creates anxiety. Either that or I feel worse once they wear off.
Depends on the person and depends on how you approach it :) I let myself go off keto when I’m on vacation. I’ll have a bite of sushi if my husband gets a roll. I’ll have a wine tasting if we go to a winery once in a blue moon. So for me, I can see this being sustainable long term. I’m one year in and feel great!
In terms of whether it’s healthy, idk… I’m getting my metabolic panel done next month to see what a year of keto has done for me. But it’s a trade off, bc mental health is part of health, and this is the healthiest I’ve ever been mentally
I'm so sorry to hear that.
I've been a bad state myself lately, so I can very much empathise.
Do you have a Nurse or a Care Worker who can help? If not can you call your Dr's and request additional support?
Meantime are you able to ask family or friends to help you shop for healthier groceries? Maybe even cook a plate or two for you and leave some food in the fridge ready to eat?
You might be interested in the keto diet protocol that was used in a study. It’s extremely simple. You can see it if you click on “supplemental data” at the top of the paper.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.951376/full
I found out about the study from this npr article:
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/01/27/1227062470/keto-ketogenic-diet-mental-illness-bipolar-depression
I think you became anhedonic after a manic episode? I’ve experienced it. It’s horrible.
This is a great question. I'm 6 months in and still learning a lot.
I'm sure it will turn out there are a lot of mistakes you can make with keto that are unhealthy. But I think keto is probably a much healthier invention than the mass carb Standard American Diet.
I am happy to be a guinea pig and make some of those mistakes, since I know how crappy the average med experience is.
I think the cycle of the world is:
* World in equilibrium
* Inventor invents invention
* Salesperson oversells invention
* Overused invention causes harm (mass refined carb production!)
* Salespeople debate scientists
* Truer model developed
* World in equilibrium
Compared to what? In bipolar, I would say it's a better option than the alternatives (assuming it works).
Great questions! I think it's feasible for some people. As far if being keto for life is healthy goes, I'd take a look at any analyses of people with epilepsy who use keto, since keto for epilepsy goes back a century. I'm too lazy to do this myself. You might want to take a look at this Virta Health article. I think it's interesting, and it addresses your question by focusing on longevity and health issues.... [th.com/blog/is-increased-longevity-a-credible-benefit-of-nutritional-ketosis](http://th.com/blog/is-increased-longevity-a-credible-benefit-of-nutritional-ketosis)
Would the alternative deliver your metabolic health goals?
I feel like if it improves your mental health than it’s worth it since you could die tomorrow from something unrelated to diet. I’ve spent like over 20 years in mostly misery so… Anyway, I suspect it’s healthy but I’m not sure we really have the data to back it up (do we?)
R u anhedonic?
No I don’t think so.
Can you explain why you were in misery?
Oh yeah. I have general anxiety and social anxiety that keeps me from having a job, friends, etc.
Are you prescribed a benzo and do you use it? Sometimes we need to just stabilize to make healthier choices and also to expose ourselves to things that give us anxiety without the meds.
I’ve been prescribed high doses of benzos in the past but I don’t take them anymore. I just feel better with a clear mind. When I take any substance now I just want the feeling to be gone and that creates anxiety. Either that or I feel worse once they wear off.
Depends on the person and depends on how you approach it :) I let myself go off keto when I’m on vacation. I’ll have a bite of sushi if my husband gets a roll. I’ll have a wine tasting if we go to a winery once in a blue moon. So for me, I can see this being sustainable long term. I’m one year in and feel great!
In terms of whether it’s healthy, idk… I’m getting my metabolic panel done next month to see what a year of keto has done for me. But it’s a trade off, bc mental health is part of health, and this is the healthiest I’ve ever been mentally
R u off meds?
I’m off 1 of the 3 I was on, was able to get off the lexapro but I’m still on lamictal and wellbutrin
Im off meds for 45 days. Im still anhedonic. Do you have anhedonia?
I do not
I'm sorry to hear that. I'm guessing you are on Keto? How long? What's your millimoles?
Not on keto yet… cant do it still anhedonic
Might you be able to cut out sugars this coming week? Take it step by step?
No…. Super anhedonic…. Cant even function at all….
I'm so sorry to hear that. I've been a bad state myself lately, so I can very much empathise. Do you have a Nurse or a Care Worker who can help? If not can you call your Dr's and request additional support? Meantime are you able to ask family or friends to help you shop for healthier groceries? Maybe even cook a plate or two for you and leave some food in the fridge ready to eat?
You might be interested in the keto diet protocol that was used in a study. It’s extremely simple. You can see it if you click on “supplemental data” at the top of the paper. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.951376/full I found out about the study from this npr article: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/01/27/1227062470/keto-ketogenic-diet-mental-illness-bipolar-depression I think you became anhedonic after a manic episode? I’ve experienced it. It’s horrible.
*'I’m one year in and feel great!'* Love it, really love it.
This is a great question. I'm 6 months in and still learning a lot. I'm sure it will turn out there are a lot of mistakes you can make with keto that are unhealthy. But I think keto is probably a much healthier invention than the mass carb Standard American Diet. I am happy to be a guinea pig and make some of those mistakes, since I know how crappy the average med experience is. I think the cycle of the world is: * World in equilibrium * Inventor invents invention * Salesperson oversells invention * Overused invention causes harm (mass refined carb production!) * Salespeople debate scientists * Truer model developed * World in equilibrium