Navigating the turmoil of anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings, irritability, or emotional eating can feel overwhelming, especially when traditional treatments don’t always fully deliver. Recent research spotlights Low-Carb High-Fat (LCHF) diets, including ketogenic therapy, as a promising metabolic strategy to improve mental health symptoms naturally and effectively.

LCHF diets limit carbohydrate intake and increase healthy fats, prompting the body to use ketones rather than glucose for brain energy. This metabolic shift, called nutritional ketosis, enhances mitochondrial efficiency, reduces brain inflammation, and balances neurotransmitters like GABA and serotonin, both crucial for mood regulation (1). This unique neurological environment calms brain excitability, underlying anxiety and panic, and helps stabilize moods, reducing irritability and emotional reactivity.

A 2025 case series by Laurent et al., who will be a featured speaker at the World Nutrition Summit 2025, described two patients with treatment-resistant schizoaffective disorder who experienced dramatic remission of anxiety, panic attacks, and mood symptoms within weeks of starting ketogenic metabolic therapy under medical supervision. One 17-year-old patient saw full remission of suicidal ideation, hallucinations, and anxiety within six weeks, which was sustained for months (1). These effects are supported by improved GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) signaling and reduced stress hormones, key to reducing excessive neuronal firing and panic (2).

Bipolar and other mood disorders often resist conventional treatments and feature debilitating mood swings. Clinical case- and pilot studies show ketogenic diets play a central role in promoting mood stability, decreasing episodes of severe irritability, and improving overall affect regulation over several months. These benefits are linked to reduced oxidative stress and enhanced energy production in brain cells (3). 

Emotional eating, the tendency to consume food in response to negative emotions rather than physical hunger, is closely linked to mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Research shows that emotional eating often serves as a coping mechanism to soothe or temporarily alleviate feelings of psychological distress, but it can create a vicious cycle by contributing to guilt, mood swings, and further emotional imbalance. This disrupted relationship with food not only impacts physical health but also perpetuates mental health issues, making effective management of emotional eating essential for overall emotional well-being. LCHF diets blunt blood sugar spikes and crashes, providing steady fuel and promoting satiety through fats and proteins. A 2022 clinical trial found that participants reported clearer control over food cravings and emotional eating behaviors after adopting LCHF. This metabolic steadiness can disrupt destructive eating patterns that exacerbate mood disorders (4).

There are often questions around side effects or worsening symptoms associated with a LCHF or keto diet. “Keto flu”, including fatigue, headaches, or irritability, does sometimes occur in the early stages of a diet transition, but typically resolves with attention to hydration and electrolytes. That said, professional supervision is especially crucial for those with mental illness on medications to monitor adjustments safely (2).

LCHF diets represent an evidence-based metabolic approach offering substantial relief from anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings, irritability, and emotional eating, and empower those seeking comprehensive mental health solutions beyond medications alone. Join us virtually at the World Nutrition Summit 2025 from October 16–18 to witness an exclusive deep dive into mental health and the ketogenic diet with leading experts Nicole Laurent and Dr. Lori Calabrese. This is a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge science and practical insights that could transform the broader understanding of the interplay between nutrition and mental wellness.

Key References

1. Laurent, N., Smith, J. A., & Patel, R. K. (2025). Ketogenic metabolic therapy for schizoaffective disorder: Dramatic symptom remission. Frontiers in Nutrition, 12, Article 1506304. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1506304
2.  Mood Matters Dietetics. (2025, January 18). Low-carb diets and mental health: What dietitians need to know. Retrieved October 7, 2025, from https://moodmattersdietetics.com/low-carb-diets-and-mental-health/
3. Sethi, S., & Green, D. A. (2024). Improvements in metabolic and psychiatric symptoms following ketogenic diet: A longitudinal study. Schizophrenia Research, 268, 15-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2024.03.008
4.  Varaee, H., Darand, M., Hassanizadeh, S., & Hosseinzadeh, M. (2023). Effect of low-carbohydrate diet on depression and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials. Journal of Affective Disorders, 318, 183–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.012