Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Hi,

there are quite a few sources, which state the benefits of ketosis on the nervous system. E.g. as a treatment for epileptics, to reduce the severity and frequency of their seizures. Interestingly, ketosis seems to change a lot in the way our brains are working.

I always experienced difficulties to stay focused while in the lectures at the university, but now that I'm in ketosis for a few weeks, it seems that my mind has become much clearer. Like drinking a bottle of green tea right before the lecture... save that I didn't. (Besides, it would be really annoying to race to the restroom 5 times during the lesson :D )

Can anybody confirm my observations? And the even more interesting question: Who knows papers, studies etc. which focus on the neural effects of ketosis?

Thanks!

flag	asked Dec 28 2011 at 16:07 Thomy 3,124●2●5●18

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I can't provide citations, but I definitely have an excitable nervous system and I am more calm and alert when fasting. – Nance Dec 28 2011 at 16:12

raney · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-28 16:19:49Z UTC

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Evolutionary Psychiatry: Your Brain on Ketones is one of my favorites. I have a five year old nephew that is epileptic; his seizures have been considerably minimized with a moderate fat, no sugar/grains, real food based diet.

Also see:

The ketogenic diet influences the levels of excitatory and inhibitory amino acids in the CSF in children with refractory epilepsy.

And consider the elevated ghrelin levels that hunger will provide.

answered Dec 28 2011 at 16:19

raney
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Currently reading the your first link, it's astonishing: "I was taught that glucose was "clean" and ketones were "smokey." That glucose was clearly the preferred fuel for our muscles for exercise and definitely the key fuel for the brain. Except here's the dirty little secret about glucose - when you look at the amount of garbage leftover in the mitochondria, it is actually less efficient to make ATP from glucose than it is to make ATP from ketone bodies! – Thomy Dec 28 2011 at 16:29

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A more efficient energy supply makes it easier to restore membranes in the brain to their normal states after a depolarizing electrical energy spike occurs, and means that energy is produced with fewer destructive free radicals leftover." – Thomy Dec 28 2011 at 16:29

Great links, raney! – Thomy Dec 28 2011 at 16:33

Ambimorph · Answer 2 · 2011-12-28 17:08:07Z UTC

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Ketones are neuroprotective. See for example:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2649682/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2367001/?tool=pubmed

answered Dec 28 2011 at 17:08

Ambimorph
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Thanks, very interesting! – Thomy Dec 28 2011 at 20:14

Eugenia · Answer 3 · 2011-12-28 20:22:13Z UTC

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A Paleo-keto diet is also beneficial for other mental disorders, including bipolar, autism etc. and even Alzheimer's. Basically, if someone has a mental disorder, a Paleo-keto diet seems to help immensely.

answered Dec 28 2011 at 20:22

Eugenia
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+1; ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11918434 – raney Dec 28 2011 at 20:41

Neural effects of ketosis?

3 Answers