How a Ketogenic Diet Helped Shannon Harwood Heal Bipolar II

In this episode, I sit down with Shannon Harwood—recovery keto coach, mental health advocate, and Metabolic Mind Award recipient—to explore her extraordinary journey of healing from 35 years of bipolar disorder and food addiction through a therapeutic ketogenic lifestyle.

Shannon shares how going beyond surface-level nutrition and embracing true metabolic healing helped her achieve complete remission from bipolar disorder, end a lifelong struggle with sugar and carbohydrate addiction, and finally experience peace around food.

Her story challenges conventional thinking around mental health, addiction, and what’s possible in recovery.

Here’s what we cover in this powerful conversation:

• Shannon’s 35-year journey with bipolar II disorder—and how keto transformed her mental health when nothing else worked.

• Why abstinence from refined carbs and sugar was the turning point in healing her relationship with food.

• The role of metabolic psychiatry in reshaping mental health treatment and recovery from compulsive behaviors.

• How radical honesty, curiosity, and even joy can be part of the healing journey—and why “the power of the ridiculous” matters.

If you’re ready to move beyond addiction cycles and cultivate lasting joy and freedom, Mary’s story and strategies offer powerful guidance and hope.

00:00 – Intro

02:34 – Shannon’s background story

04:05 - Discovering the ketogenic diet for mental health

05:08 - How keto helped heal her relationship with food and addiction

07:42 - Challenges of abstinence vs. moderation with sugar and carbs

10:58 - Why total carb abstinence worked when sugar alone didn’t

15:38 - The role of refined carbs in cravings and addiction

17:50 - The intersection of binge eating and food addiction

23:00 - labels versus self selected strategies

25:08 - Discomfort as giving way to pause

26:27 - Habits still coming up despite doing "the work"

29:51 - How keto reduced food noise and cravings

32:25 - Identifying "more-ish" foods and fine-tuning keto

35:30 - The ancestral diet perspective and addiction pathways

39:40 - Shannon’s mantra: "How good can I get it?"

40:23 - The power of joy and ridiculousness in recovery

44:30 - how to connect with Shannon

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🗣️ Contact and Follow Shannon here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-harwood-68b0a7113/

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Disclaimer: The information on this channel is for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or therapy. The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Kristina Dobyns or Beyond Binge Eating.

#Ketogenic #foodaddiction #mentalhealth