Bipolar disorder is a problem that affects around 140 million people worldwide, according to data from the World Health Organization. One of the most common treatments involves the constant use of potent medications – often the famous “psychotropics” – which, although they improve the condition of patients, can be directly related to a decrease in the quality of life of those affected by the disease.
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Looking for more natural ways to deal with bipolar disorder without replacing the use of medication, psychiatrist and member of the Brazilian Low Carb Association (ABLC) Régis Chachamovich explains that a diet with carbohydrate restriction can be a powerful ally in treating bipolarity.
According to Régis, patients with this problem are characterized by alternating periods of mania or hypomania, depression, and normality. “During the phase of mania or hypomania, the patient usually experiences elevated mood, accelerated mental activity, irritability, decreased need for sleep, increased speed of speech, and behavior changes that often put the person at risk. What differentiates mania from hypomania is the intensity and duration of the episode,” he explains. “On the other hand, the depressive phase is characterized by intense sadness, lack of pleasure in activities that normally provide satisfaction, discouragement, easy and frequent crying, lack of energy, and negative thoughts,” adds the doctor.
Generally, psychiatrists prescribe mood stabilizers and antipsychotics so that the patient can lead as normal a life as possible, however, using medication alone without dietary and routine support can have a significant impact on the quality of life of bipolar individuals. “In some cases, for example, crises are controlled, but the patient remains in a mild and prolonged depressive state,” says Régis. And that’s where diet can help.
The ketogenic dietary approach arises from the need to complement the medication treatment of these patients, prioritizing the intake of foods rich in proteins and healthy fats. The ketogenic diet promotes beneficial changes not only in physical but also in mental health.
“Science has shown, with increasingly more data, that these changes are highly beneficial in a growing number of situations, including mental disorders,” he says. “This gives the strategy a significantly broader spectrum of action than the medications currently available, with greatly reduced chances of adverse effects,” concludes the psychiatrist.
The ketogenic diet suggests that carbohydrate intake should be between 20 and 50 grams per day – in normal diets, it revolves around 150 grams. To compensate for the drastic reduction in this type of food, it is ideal for individuals to start consuming more healthy fats, such as avocado, coconut, seeds, olive oil, almonds, and nuts.
For those who enjoy bread, potatoes, rice, various sweets, and alcoholic beverages, the diet can be quite challenging at first, as these foods are practically prohibited. On the other hand, meat, fish, and eggs are welcome, as are strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, cream, unsweetened natural yogurts, coconut milk, almond milk, some cheeses, among other foods.
However, the professional emphasizes the importance of always having medical supervision for any changes in treatment, especially for psychiatric patients. “Although the dietary strategy is quite safe for most people, important precautions are needed regarding implementation and adaptation, control of medications in use, and monitoring of some parameters,” he concludes.
