New Research - Keto Trial Promises New Treatment Option in Bipolar Disorder

Dyane Harwood

Thriving with

Bipolar 1

Started Journey

2022

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"At age fifty-two, I didn't expect I'd make one of the best decisions of my life. I began a well-formulated vegan ketogenic diet for bipolar disorder. I remained on my bipolar medications; they had been lifesaving and kept me stable. But I would discover a vegan ketogenic diet would dramatically improve my quality of life."

My THINK + SMART Profile

Key Symptoms Addressed

Energy, Mood, Perimenopause, Weight Loss

My Top Three Strategies

Modified MCT oil ketogenic diet, aiming for under 20 net carbs, walking in the forest and striving to improve sleep quality

T

H

Therapeutic

I meet regularly with my psychologist and my psychiatrist to oversee my lithium & the MAOI tranylcypromine: this is the combination that lifted my treatment-resistant bipolar depression in 2013.

I

Integration

I do regular blood testing for lithium and vitamin D levels.

I take vegan B-complex, which is essential for vegans! I also take vegan iron & an iron-free vegan multivitamine every other day. Daily: vegan Acetyl L-carnitine, vegan vitamin D3, vegan omega 3's, vegan choline, & a daily electrolyte blend I make myself. It sounds like a lot, and it is, but I shop for great deals and my health is worth the investment.

Also, I worked up to 2 tablespoons of MCT C8 oil in my a.m. smoothie which is a delicious way to boost fat intake.

I occasionally enjoy Audacious Nutrition's KetoSpike instant coffee with ketones.

N

Nutritional

I eat two vegan ketogenic meals a day (I have a morning vegan protein smoothie with soaked chia seeds & MCT C8 and an evening dinner). I drink plenty of water using a water reminder/intake app which is especially important since I take lithium.

My macronutrient targets are: 55 grams protein, 20 gram or less of total carbs, and 150 grams fat. Vegans are often asked "how do you get enough protein" but it's easy for me to consume too much fat and too much protein, so my Carb Manager app helps me monitor that!

K

Ketosis

A.05-2.0 ketone range works well for me; my glucose levels are consistently stable and I use a Keto-Mojo GK+.

S

Sleep

Sleep is my own "holy grail" and I'm constantly seeking ways to improve it. A vegan magnesium glycinate supplement at bedtime has helped me get to sleep much more easily. I wear blue-blocking glasses for reading my Kindle at night, and keep the room cool.

M

Move

I walk, hike, and do trail running almost every day. I have free weights in my room I use for building upper body strength. I used to be a certified personal trainer and I worked in a gym for several years, but now, I prefer to explore enjoy the beautiful state parks near my home.

A

Avoid

I avoid sugar 100%, and I don't smoke or drink alcohol. (If you're an 80's teen like I was, you'll remember Adam Ant's song "Goody Two Shoes" - that's me!) I keep my distance from people who drain me - not always easy - but I try my best! I'm working on decreasing social media time, which is also not easy. I grew up in a time without computers, cell phones, and social media, and sometimes I miss those days. I think taking time off from devices can be incredibly healthy for one's mental health, even for one afternoon or one day a week.

R

Rebuild

I live with two teens, my husband and our dog, and I work hard to keep our days running as smoothly as possible. I reach out regularly to my close friends and I spend time with them in real life whenever possible. I'm working on creating a vegan keto community for those with mental illness, and I'm writing my second book about keto for mental health.