Keto And Panic Attacks: Is There A Link?

The ketogenic diet is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, moderate-protein diet that induces a state of ketosis, where the body uses ketones for energy instead of glucose. While the keto diet is popular for weight loss, some people who follow this diet experience panic attacks. A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that can last for several minutes, with symptoms including chest pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

There is a potential link between anxiety and low-carbohydrate diets like keto. When the body does not have enough sugar from carbohydrates, it cannot produce serotonin in the brain, which is responsible for mood regulation. A lack of serotonin can lead to depression and anxiety.

When starting the keto diet, the body adjusts to using fat for energy instead of glucose, which can cause mood swings and irritability. However, once the body is in ketosis, it produces ketones that can help stabilize blood sugar levels and improve mood.

While the keto diet has benefits, such as effective treatment for seizures, there is limited research on how it affects the body, especially regarding mental health.

Keto diet and serotonin levels

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that has been used to treat various health conditions, including epilepsy, obesity, and cognitive function. While the diet has been shown to be effective in these areas, its effect on serotonin levels and mental health is more complex and not yet fully understood.

Serotonin and Its Role in Mental Health

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in regulating mood, sleep patterns, appetite, and pain perception. Low serotonin levels have been linked to mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Therefore, maintaining optimal serotonin levels is essential for emotional well-being and overall mental health.

The Impact of Low-Carb Diets on Serotonin Levels

There is a potential link between low-carbohydrate diets, like keto, and serotonin levels. Carbohydrates are the body's primary source of glucose, which is necessary for serotonin production in the brain. When there is a lack of glucose due to restricted carbohydrate intake, serotonin production may be affected, leading to possible mood disorders. However, this relationship is not always direct, as other factors, such as stress and insulin resistance, can also influence serotonin synthesis.

The Role of Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance, a condition where cells become less responsive to insulin, can hinder the body's ability to utilize amino acids like tryptophan, which is necessary for serotonin synthesis. High insulin levels can also interfere with tryptophan absorption and transport into the brain, further impacting serotonin levels. Interestingly, low-carb diets can improve insulin sensitivity, which may help regulate serotonin production.

Carbohydrates and Mood Fluctuations

Consuming carbohydrates can provide a temporary boost in serotonin levels, leading to a short-term improvement in mood. However, this effect is often followed by a crash as blood sugar levels drop, resulting in unstable emotions and cravings. While carbohydrates can provide a quick fix, incorporating a balanced diet with protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates is a more sustainable approach to support serotonin production and mental well-being.

Strategies for Improving Serotonin Levels on a Low-Carb Diet

Optimizing protein intake is crucial for serotonin synthesis, as serotonin is derived from the amino acid tryptophan, found in protein-rich foods. Additionally, addressing insulin resistance through a low-carb diet and focusing on healthy fats and fiber can help stabilize blood sugar levels and improve mental health. Prioritizing lifestyle modifications, such as regular exercise, stress management, and adequate sleep, are also essential components of maintaining healthy serotonin levels.

The Ketogenic Diet and Mood Disorders

The ketogenic diet has been suggested to have mood-stabilizing properties and has been explored as a potential treatment for mood disorders. It is hypothesized that the diet acts on multiple targets, including the regulation of neurotransmitters like GABA and glutamate, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Preclinical studies and case reports have demonstrated the antidepressant and mood-stabilizing effects of the ketogenic diet.

Limitations and Further Research

While the ketogenic diet has shown promising results in some cases, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The impact of the diet on serotonin levels and mental health is complex and influenced by various factors. Further clinical and translational research is needed to fully understand the effectiveness of the ketogenic diet in the management of epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric disorders.

Keto diet and GABA levels

The ketogenic diet is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet that has been studied for its therapeutic role in epilepsy. The diet causes the body to burn fat instead of glucose as its primary fuel source. This metabolic state is known as ketosis.

GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in calming the nervous system and combating anxiety. The body makes GABA from glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, using the GAD enzyme.

The Keto-GABA Connection

Studies have shown that a ketogenic diet can increase GABA levels by facilitating the conversion of glutamate to GABA. This balance between glutamate and GABA leads to a more calm physiological milieu in an over-excited environment.

The keto diet provides the brain with ketones instead of glucose as an energy source. This conversion of glutamate to GABA becomes more efficient in the long run.

Eight Ways to Support GABA Production on a Keto Diet

• Get Moving: Movement, including HIIT, resistance training, walking, yoga, meditation, and deep breathing, can help increase GABA levels.
• Keep it Clean: Avoid "dirty keto" and opt for a largely plant-based keto diet.
• Magnesium: Include magnesium-rich foods or consider supplementation to stimulate GABA receptors.
• B6-Rich Foods: Include grass-fed muscle and organ meats, fish, leafy green vegetables, avocado, poultry, and sunflower seeds to promote GABA production.
• Drink Green Tea: Green tea contains EGCG, which stimulates GABA receptors and has a sedative effect.
• Perfect Your Supplement Plan: Herbs like kava, valerian, skullcap, passionflower, and lemon balm can promote GABA production.
• Support Your Microbiome: A healthy gut microbiome is key for GABA production. Include fermented foods like raw sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, or kombucha tea.
• Take Collagen: Collagen contains glutamine, which creates the substrate for GABA.

The keto diet's ability to promote GABA production can lead to improved brain function, including better memory and focus, stress support, and improved mood.

Keto diet and mental health

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carb diet that pushes the body to burn fat for fuel instead of sugar. Research on the keto diet is still relatively new, and there aren't any human studies showing that eating keto directly decreases anxiety. However, some studies suggest that the keto diet might help with anxiety.

The keto diet can help with anxiety by calming down brain inflammation, shifting your gut flora, and restoring your neurotransmitter balance in favour of feeling relaxed rather than anxious.

The keto diet increases the production of a common neurotransmitter in the brain called GABA. There is evidence that various anxiety disorders result from dysfunctional GABA activity. Studies conducted on the use of the ketogenic diet in seizure disorders tend to show that a good balance of GABA leads to better mental focus, reduced stress, and anxiety.

The ketogenic diet has been shown to reduce inflammation, particularly if you're eating a well-formulated diet high in nutritious whole foods. People dealing with frequent anxiety tend to have higher levels of inflammation in their bodies, which also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The keto diet can also help with anxiety by breaking dietary habits that may exacerbate anxiety-related symptoms, like added sugars and processed foods.

When first beginning the keto diet, your body will enter a state called ketosis after a few days. Otherwise referred to as the keto flu, going into ketosis can cause several undesirable and uncomfortable side effects that can be difficult to tolerate, especially for people who have anxiety. These side effects include nausea, constipation, headache, sleep disturbances, abdominal and muscle cramps, irritability, fatigue, and brain fog. The keto flu generally starts approximately three days after you begin the keto diet and lasts for about a week.

Due to the sudden drop in carbohydrates being consumed, it's possible that you may experience symptoms of depression during the keto flu, which can exacerbate anxiety-related symptoms in people who experience anxiety disorders. If you have an anxiety disorder and want to try the keto diet, it's best to consult with your doctor or mental health professional and closely monitor your experience for an increase in symptoms.

Keto diet and epilepsy

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that has been used to control seizures in people with epilepsy, especially children whose seizures have not responded to medication. The diet is usually prescribed by a physician and carefully monitored by a dietitian. It is stricter than the modified Atkins diet, requiring careful measurements of calories, fluids, and proteins. The name "ketogenic" refers to the fact that the diet produces ketones in the body, which are formed when the body uses fat as its primary source of energy instead of carbohydrates.

The ketogenic diet has been shown to be effective in reducing or preventing seizures in children with epilepsy, with over half of children on the diet experiencing at least a 50% reduction in seizure frequency and some becoming seizure-free. The diet can also be used in conjunction with anti-seizure medications, allowing for lower doses or fewer medicines. However, it is important to stick to the diet as prescribed, as deviating from it even for one meal can reduce its effectiveness.

The ketogenic diet has been found to be beneficial for various types of epilepsy, including infantile spasms, Rett syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex, Dravet syndrome, Doose syndrome, and GLUT-1 deficiency. It is also considered an important alternative treatment for patients with refractory epilepsy who are not candidates for surgery. The diet is typically started in the hospital under close medical supervision, and patients are monitored for any increase in seizures, medication adjustments, and education for families.

While the ketogenic diet has been shown to be effective in seizure control, it can be challenging to adhere to due to its restrictive nature. Most patients discontinue the diet because of its unpalatability and restrictions. However, new variants of the diet, such as the Modified Atkins Diet (MAD) and the Low Glycemic Index Diet (LGID), have been developed to provide more flexibility and palatability. These variants have been found to be as effective as the classic ketogenic diet in seizure control and are generally better tolerated.

The mechanisms behind the anticonvulsant effects of the ketogenic diet are not fully understood, but it is believed to involve multiple factors. One theory suggests that the diet reduces glucose levels and increases ketone bodies in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, leading to a decrease in neuronal hyperexcitability. Another hypothesis relates to changes in neuronal metabolism, mitochondrial function, and energy reserve, resulting in synapse stabilization and reduced excitatory activity. Additionally, the diet may interfere with the concentration of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the major inhibitory neurotransmitter, leading to increased GABA levels and reduced seizure activity.

In conclusion, the ketogenic diet and its variants have been found to be effective in the treatment of epilepsy, particularly in drug-resistant cases. While the exact mechanisms are not fully elucidated, the diet appears to modify neuronal metabolism, gut microbiota, and neurotransmitter function, leading to a reduction in seizure frequency and improved seizure control. Further research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms and optimize the diet's efficacy.

Keto diet and weight loss

The keto diet is a high-fat, low-carb, and moderate-protein eating plan that has been used for centuries to treat specific medical conditions. The premise of the keto diet for weight loss is that by depriving the body of glucose, its main source of energy, an alternative fuel called ketones is produced from stored fat.

The keto diet has been shown to be an effective weight loss strategy, and is particularly well-suited to those who dislike counting calories. It can also help to preserve muscle mass and improve markers of disease. Some studies have suggested that the keto diet may be more effective than a low-fat diet for weight loss, even when total calorie intake is matched.

However, it is important to note that the keto diet can be challenging to maintain, and may not be suitable for everyone. It can also be difficult to stick to due to its restrictive nature, and there may be a risk of kidney or liver problems. Additionally, vegetarians or vegans may struggle as the diet relies heavily on meat, eggs, fish, and dairy.

The keto diet works by lowering insulin levels, producing ketones, and increasing fat burning. When the body is in a state of ketosis, it becomes very efficient at burning fat and ketones for fuel instead of carbohydrates. This can lead to a reduction in appetite and food intake, as well as improved insulin sensitivity.

The keto diet emphasises the consumption of high-fat foods, such as:

• Meat
• Cheese
• Nuts
• Oils
• Avocados
• Oily fish
• Cream
• Butter
• Hard cheeses

It also includes moderate amounts of protein, such as:

• Grass-fed beef
• Free-range poultry
• Pork
• Bacon
• Wild-caught fish
• Organ meats
• Eggs
• Tofu
• Nuts and seeds

Most non-starchy vegetables are also included, such as leafy greens, cauliflower, broccoli, and bell peppers. Certain fruits, such as berries, are allowed in small portions.

The keto diet bans all carb-rich foods, including:

• Starches from refined and whole grains, such as bread, cereal, pasta, and rice
• Potatoes, corn, and other starchy vegetables
• Fruit juices
• Beans
• Legumes
• Most fruits

Frequently asked questions