Brain Energy: A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health—and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More

by Christopher M. Palmer

The ketogenic diet is now the best-studied dietary intervention for its effects on the brain. Neurologists, neuroscientists, and pharmaceutical companies have been studying this diet for decades trying to better understand its anticonvulsant effects. It provides an alternate fuel source, which can be a lifeline to insulin-resistant brain cells. It also changes neurotransmitter levels, regulates calcium channels, decreases inflammation, improves the gut microbiome, increases overall metabolic rate, reduces insulin resistance itself, and most importantly, induces both mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis.35 After people are on this diet for months or years, their cells have more healthy mitochondria. This can result in long-term healing. Many people can stop the diet after two to five years and remain well.