Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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who requires ketosis to function optimally mentally at work or school

flag	asked Apr 21 2012 at 21:47 Lucas 391●4●14

Eugenia · Answer 1 · 2012-04-21 22:20:12Z UTC

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I've done both Paleo and Paleo-ketogenic, and I'm best functioning mentally under ketosis. But you gotta be keto-adapted for this to happen -- it can take more than 3 months to take full advantage of ketones. ADD (couldn't focus) is gone completely, anxiety too (situational depression had already gone away with plain Paleo), and this appeared instead: http://eugenia.queru.com/2012/03/07/bliss/

answered Apr 21 2012 at 22:20

Eugenia
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Beyond your carb threshold how would you describe your diet as far as flavors, foods, meal variability etc...? – Satchmo Apr 21 2012 at 22:23

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It was fine (I did Paleo-keto for a few months), I missed nothing, except orange-type fruits (I was eating berries). There was a lot of meat, fat, and enough low-carb veggies too. My suggestions for those on keto: l-carnitine, potassium salt (in addition to normal salt, iodine and these superfoods: eugenia.queru.com/2012/03/05/… on top of normal Paleo), eat berries, and eat raw veggies often too. The rawness/berries will help with the feeling of "I need something fresh" that keto might induce. Drink more water too, or wrinkles and broken lips might appear. – Eugenia Apr 21 2012 at 22:39

Actually the reason I asked is because I can't think of a mechanism where Ketosis by itself would cause bliss but I can see how a massive reduction in highly pleasurable foods could super-sensitize you to dopamine which might cause elevated mood/bliss. That's actually something Zen monastics do via a flavor restricted vegetarian diet. – Satchmo Apr 21 2012 at 22:57

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Actually, there's a very good reason why Ketosis causes bliss: ketones. It's the preferred food for the brain, it simply functions better with it (when keto-adapted). When the brain is happy, happiness is induced naturally -- otherwise wild animals would be depressed in the wild too, but they're not. A lot of mental disorders, even bipolar, can become asymptomatic on keto. – Eugenia Apr 21 2012 at 23:02

hey eugenia you greek i am half greek/portuguese – Lucas Apr 22 2012 at 3:33

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John · Answer 2 · 2012-04-21 22:32:47Z UTC

I've noticed better mental performance after about the 20th hour of a faste. Just better mental response and alertness. Its definitely a different feeling. Excellent for my ADD. All of my strategies for dealing with my attention issues work way better in a ketogenic state.

Happy Now · Answer 3 · 2012-04-21 23:02:18Z UTC

My brain does feel like it works more efficiently and I can concentrate and complete tasks more effectively with a ketogenic diet. For people who don't have focus issues, I doubt they would notice much of difference, but for me it is like night and day.

But....I don't have to be in ketosis to get that feeling, just adding foods that create ketones does it for me. I can have enough carbohydrate to stay out of ketosis, but if I add coconut oil to my coffee, and coconut oil and coconut butter chocolates to what I'm already eating I get the same level of focus. Caffeine plus ketones supercharges things for me when I really need to buckle down and not get distracted.

I don't think it has to be an either/or situation.

Aughra · Answer 4 · 2012-04-21 22:51:47Z UTC

I find that my brain (used To suffer from depression and adhd issues) likes ketosis the best but if I don't occaisionally break ketosis for a couple days a month my psoriasis flares up. It's a balancing act for me because too many days in a row of Moderate carbohydrates starts Leading to mood swings and binge type eating, but I have to ward off autoimmune issues as well.

ketosis required for optimal mental functioning

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