How Ketogenic Therapy Helped Donika Hristova Quiet Binge Eating and Reclaim Her Mental Health

Donika Hristova is a certified Keto for Mental Health coach trained by psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede. She is also the co-author of three publications on ketogenic therapy for psychiatric conditions and brings lived experience of achieving remission from bipolar II depression and binge eating disorder.

In this episode, Donika shares how childhood food restriction and weight criticism developed into secret eating, overexercise, and severe binge eating. We explore the mental health crisis that followed, the medication she credits with saving her life, and how ketogenic therapy became part of her recovery.

Here's what we explore:

• How early food rules shaped Donika’s relationship with eating
• The connection between chronic stress, binge eating, and depression
• How medication and ketogenic therapy supported different stages of her recovery
• Keto’s effects on her mood, hunger, energy, sleep, and cognition
• Why ketosis alone did not resolve every disordered eating pattern
• How she moved toward a more flexible, whole-food approach
• The importance of sleep, movement, stress management, and community

Donika’s story is a personal experience, not medical advice. Changes to psychiatric medication or diet should always be made with appropriate professional support.

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Keep in touch with Kristina:

https://www.DrKristinaDobyns.com

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Learn more about Donika here:

https://transformationevoked.com/

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Be part of the Keto Lifestyle for Mental Health Group:

MeetUp: https://www.meetup.com/keto-lifestyle-for-mental-health/?utm_medium=referral

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Visit Donika’s YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TransformationEvoked

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Connect with Donika on her social channels:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/donika-hristova-b27479b1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformation_evoked/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Transformation-Evoked/61563432614166/#

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Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

00:29 Meet Donika Hristova

01:39 How Donika’s Struggle With Food Began

05:14 Secret Eating and Childhood Restriction

06:40 Dieting, Weight Praise, and Compulsive Exercise

08:34 Replacing Smoking With Food

10:31 Immigration Stress and Escalating Binge Eating

12:28 Hitting Rock Bottom With Emotional Eating

15:04 Bipolar II Diagnosis and Starting Medication

19:26 The Benefits and Side Effects of Medication

21:35 Searching for Additional Treatment Options

22:19 Discovering Ketogenic Therapy

24:39 Beginning Keto With Limited Clinical Support

26:09 An Important Warning About Medication Tapering

27:24 Binge Urges, Ketosis, Fasting, and Exercise

28:14 Feeling Satisfied Without Guilt

29:03 Changes in Mood, Sleep, Energy, and Cognition

31:50 Moving Beyond Strict Therapeutic Keto

34:28 Donika’s Relationship With Food Today

36:13 Turning Lived Experience Into Professional Work

39:58 What Donika Has Learned From Supporting Clients

42:09 Why Metabolic Mental Health Is More Than Keto

43:04 Donika’s Practice and Free Support Community

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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.