How Cutting Carbs Changed My Bipolar Brain: A Surprising Discovery
In the fall of 2022, I wasn’t looking for a life-changing diet. I had recently watched an interview with Dr. Anna Lembke, author of the best-selling book Dopamine Nation, and became fascinated by the concept of dopamine detoxing. Having struggled with bipolar disorder and addiction for decades, I was eager to explore any strategies that could help me regain some control over my dysfunctional brain.
From my understanding of the interview, Dr. Lembke suggested that the best way to rebalance dopamine levels was to eliminate as many dopamine-stimulating activities as possible during a detox period. Taking this advice seriously, I decided to cut out everything I could identify—nicotine, caffeine, mindless social media scrolling, and, for good measure, all carbohydrates. Since I was already avoiding sugar and eating a relatively low-carb diet, this last step didn’t seem too extreme.
A Shocking Transformation
I expected the misery of withdrawal but remained hopeful that if I stuck with the process, my brain would eventually adjust. But something unexpected happened—just two weeks into my strict carbohydrate restriction, the crippling, constant anxiety and hypersensitivity that had controlled my life for as long as I could remember began to lift.
This had never happened before when quitting substances alone. I hadn’t been exposed to social media for long enough to attribute such drastic changes in long-term issues to its absence. I had to conclude that this transformation was linked to my elimination of carbohydrates.
The Science Behind Ketones and Brain Health
This discovery launched me into a frenzy of research. I had spent decades in therapy and tried countless medications, yet nothing had improved my condition as drastically as this dietary change. Fast forward to today, and I’ve learned that I’m far from alone in this experience.
Though I stumbled upon ketogenic therapy by accident, doctors and scientists have been studying its effects for over a century. In recent years, the use of therapeutic ketosis to treat conditions like mental illness, epilepsy, and autoimmunity has been gaining momentum.
Before 2022, I was aware of the ketogenic diet, but only in the context of weight management, blood sugar control, and appetite regulation. In fact, I had followed a low-carb diet for years to maintain my weight.
But ketones do far more than just suppress appetite. Emerging research suggests that they have powerful anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Studies indicate that conditions such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and bipolar disorder are linked to an impaired ability of brain cells to utilize glucose. For individuals with these conditions, ketones provide an alternative, more efficient fuel source for the brain.
Ketogenic Diet vs. Therapeutic Ketosis
If I had been eating low-carb for years, why didn’t I experience such dramatic improvements until I eliminated all carbohydrates?
The key lies in the difference between a ketogenic diet for weight loss and therapeutic ketosis. To paraphrase Dr. Annette Bosworth, an internal medicine doctor and ketogenic specialist:
Ketosis is not a diet; it’s a metabolic state.
While my diet was low enough in carbohydrates to manage my weight, I wasn’t testing my ketone levels or ensuring I was in a deep state of ketosis long enough to experience its full therapeutic benefits.
Finding Stability Through Ketosis
Learning what it really takes to stay in ketosis is a long, ongoing journey. But through diligence, research, and self-experimentation, I’ve found a level of stability I never thought possible. More importantly, for the first time in my life, I feel hopeful—not just about maintaining stability, but about growing beyond the limitations my condition once imposed.
