Long-Term Safety of Ketogenic Diets - with Dr. Bret Scher

In this episode, Dr. Bret Scher addresses common misconceptions and concerns surrounding the long-term safety and nutritional adequacy of ketogenic diets. Dr. Scher emphasizes the importance of weighing potential risks against known benefits. For instance, psychotropic medications, despite often worsening overall physical and metabolic health, are considered beneficial because they can alleviate symptoms of serious mental illnesses. In contrast, many patients experience incredible benefits from ketogenic therapy without harmful side effects. In numerous cases, a medical keto diet can even put psychiatric conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depression into complete remission. What You'll Learn: ▪️Long-Term Safety: Is it safe to maintain ketosis over an extended period? ▪️Nutritional Adequacy: Can a ketogenic diet lead to nutrient deficiencies or disordered eating habits? ▪️Fiber and Phytonutrients: Are fiber intake and phytonutrients compromised on a ketogenic diet? ▪️Heart Disease Risk: Is there an increased risk of heart disease with long-term ketosis? ▪️Short-Term vs. Long-Term Outcomes: Is ketosis only effective for short-term outcomes? There is a lot of information circulating online touting the risks of long-term ketogenic diets that is completely unfounded. Dr. Scher tackles these prevalent questions, analyzing scientific evidence and dispelling myths surrounding ketogenic diets. Related Resources: Does Keto Cause Heart Disease? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKmNhQbtDLI&t=6s Studies Referenced: _Ketogenic Diet Intervention on Metabolic and Psychiatric Health in Bipolar and Schizophrenia: A Pilot Trial_ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178124001513?via%3Dihub _The Ketogenic Diet for Refractory Mental Illness: A Retrospective Analysis of 31 Inpatients_ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35873236/ If you or a loved one are looking to begin ketogenic therapy for a psychiatric condition, visit this page for resources: https://www.metabolicmind.org/families-and-peers Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry. Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/ About us: Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them. Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.