Snapshot · On Purpose with Jay Shetty
There are currently 20 controlled trials — including 8 randomised controlled trials — underway around the world studying the ketogenic diet for various mental health conditions.
Where this was said
At 59:00 · chapter starts 57:47
The pivot to therapeutic dietary intervention for serious mental illness is the most clinically bold section of the episode. Palmer starts with a disarming historical fact: the ketogenic diet is 100 years old, invented by a physician for one purpose — stopping seizures — and is now backed by two Cochrane Reviews as an evidence-based epilepsy treatment. [1] — Dr. Chris Palmer "The ketogenic diet was invented 100 years ago to stop seizures — and it works, backed by Cochrane Reviews. Because we already use epilepsy …" 55:00 His logical bridge is elegant: anticonvulsants like Depakote and Lamictal, originally epilepsy drugs, are already the standard psychiatric treatments for bipolar disorder. So why would a diet that stops seizures not also have psychiatric applications? He then cites the published literature: over 50 papers, 1,900-plus participants, and 20 controlled trials underway globally, including 8 RCTs. [2] — Dr. Chris Palmer "Over 1,900 people have now participated in published ketogenic diet trials for mental health conditions, with 20 controlled trials underway…" 58:40 He is careful to present ketogenic diets as broad — vegan, vegetarian, omnivore, or carnivore all qualify — and explicitly distances it from the bacon-heavy stereotype.
The first published study using a ketogenic diet for mental health — a 2-week trial in women with schizophrenia — was published in 1965 and showed at least some symptom improvement.
Over 1,900 people have now participated in published ketogenic diet trials for mental health conditions, with 20 controlled trials underway globally — including 8 randomised controlled trials. The overwhelming majority showed benefit, and many achieved full remission from conditions previously deemed incurable.
Spencer Greenberg and Jeremy Stevenson analyzed almost 500 self-improvement techniques and found they all reduce to just 12 underlying psychological drivers.
Cold exposure has good short-term alertness benefits but the evidence base for long-term health benefits is much weaker than popularly believed.
In a randomized study of 20 habit-formation techniques run on hundreds of people, almost none of the techniques produced statistically meaningful results.
People given a tiny-habit fallback option (e.g. 10 squats instead of gym) were actually MORE successful at completing the full habit, not less.
The most effective habit-formation technique was 'habit reflection' — recalling a past successful habit, writing down what helped, then applying those lessons to a new habit.
A study found that simply scheduling enjoyable activities was as effective as standard cognitive behavioral therapy for depression, leading to its own therapy called behavioral activation.
The 'worry time' technique — deferring all worries to a designated time of day — helps people realize they have more control over worry than they thought and reveals it is less useful than it feels.
A study found that participants told to try to stay awake while in bed fell asleep faster than participants told to try to sleep — illustrating the paradox of direct effort.
Spencer Greenberg reduced his severe social anxiety dramatically in roughly 6 months through a structured exposure therapy hierarchy, culminating in asking strangers for hugs.
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