Keto or Ke-no? What’s the Best Diet for Cognitive Performance?
Learning Objective: Healthy brain functioning is all about maintaining a healthy equilibrium: good fuel, at the right time, in the right amount. So, can the keto diet be part of that equilibrium, and what can science tell us about the hotly debated diet so far? In this Deep Dive, you'll hear from neuroendocrinologist Dr. Robert Sapolsky on the neurobiology of caloric intake and mental distraction, before reflecting on your current state of wellness and whether your diet works for you.
Why the Keto Diet Isn’t Just a Fad
It’s both accurate and slightly misleading to call the keto diet a “fad diet”. On the one hand, the keto diet has in recent years become a fad, taking over a big space in the diet industry and spawning countless articles, books, YouTube videos, documentaries and supplements. But unlike other fad diets, the keto diet actually puts your body into an alternate and natural metabolic state, one called ketosis.
In simple terms, ketosis is when your body starts burning fat instead of carbs for fuel, and this generally leads to rapid weight loss. But exactly what does ketosis do to the brain?
Some research suggests that the diet can help boost memory, prevent migraines and improve cognitive performance. On the more anecdotal side, some people claim that the keto diet can clear up “brain fog” and help alleviate depression and anxiety. But much remains unclear about how the diet affects the brain.
What’s certain is that diet, in general, affects the functioning of your brain. If you eat unhealthy foods, your mental health and ability to make good decisions will likely suffer. After all, the decision-making parts of the brain, like the frontal cortex, need a certain amount of energy to function properly, as neuroendocrinologist Robert Sapolsky tell us:
“Willpower is not just a metaphorical term,” Sapolsky says. “Neurons need more energy. When you’re running out of energy in [the frontal cortex], you’re more impulsive, you have more trouble with a working memory task… You’ll have more trouble doing the everyday little things that take a little bit of extra effort.”
Healthy brain functioning is all about maintaining a healthy equilibrium. So, can the keto diet be part of that equilibrium, and what can science tell us about the diet so far?
This Deep Dive will explore Robert Sapolsky’s recommendation on having a steady caloric intake to maximize cognitive function and applY it to the raging debate surrounding the ketogenic diet.
Learn how ketosis affects the brain, and what science has—and hasn’t—revealed about the keto diet.