Guys, is there any evidence or reasoning that a keto diet would not allow you to perform to your best in school? Or phrased a better way: Do keto diets make you stupid? Its only been about a week but it seems like I am having much more trouble than usual studying and figuring out concepts and problems. Anyone else experience something similar? All responses are appreciated.
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Ryan: Two points:
1)The primary energy source for the brain is glucose, derived mostly from carbohydrates. Decrease those carbohydrates significantly and the brain will not function “optimally”.
2)Keto diets were NEVER meant to improve functioning, strength, concentration, ability, etc. They were devised for rapid and effecient fat loss, plain and simple.
Hope this helps!
yep keto diet made me stuipid as well, I had to have things explained to me at least 2wice before I understood a concept (even something simple as driving someone somewhere). It gets better after a bit less then a week, but still you aren’t 100% imho
Agreed. Keto diets = slow brain.
I think it depends on the person. Likely the more you really need to eat a keto diet the better you’ll feel and function when eating a keto diet and vice versa. Personally I get very, very stupid when eating anything close to keto…things like remembering where i parked my car in the grocery store parking lot and such become a real challenge.
I would disagree with any blanket statements and say that it’s highly individual. Personally, carbs make me sleepy and inhibit my concentration, and when I’m in keto I’m much more alert. What will make me less alert in keto is severe calorie restriction. But that’s a seperate issue.
That being said, the transition from non-keto to keto is still not fun, even for me. I would not change my diet before I was expected to be especially sharp, say before finals. But if you keep your diet consistent, you should be fine, assuming you are a person who responds well to low carb.
I agree with Kelly 100%. I feel much more alert when on a keto diet - up until I mess up my transition back to a non-keto diet with a boston kreme binge!
Eat some carbs and read your post again. You tell us =)
I wouldnt know…I tryed it but i didnt relize the change…guess i was born stupid
My brain likes ketosis after a couple of days. I get an almost giddy feeling after eating. I took the LSAT on like day 7 of a keto diet. Got up and hit the Kettle buffet. I got a full scholarship to law school.
There has been a few well controlled studies done on this. With obese women, those who had to engage in a visual-tactile task (such as typing) showed impaired ability when going keto. HOWEVER, the key point here is body adaptation (specifically the brain). Once the body has become accustomed to use fat for fuel, it will be just as easy (IMO) to concentrate as it was with carb-based dieting becuase fat is a very efficient fuel source (even ketones are slightly more efficient than carbs at 4.5kcal/gram). The same goes with workouts. As you progress on a keto, workouts (as long as calories aren’t severly restricted) can even increase in noticeable “jump.”
Out
Vain
I agree with Kelly and Keller - I feel much more alert in ketosis PROVIDED the calories aren’t too low. When I drop the calories way down ( a’la the fat fast ) I turn into a zombie.
My experience has been it’s dependent on BF%. After your body adapts to ketosis, and you have high enough BF% to supply enough ketones, everything is fine. But as BF% drops below 8-10% and calories remain low to continue cutting, your body has difficulty in having enough fat to make enough ketones and that is when you get zombie like.
There are some interesting replys here. I guess it is entirely an individual thing. When I go hard keto - no carbs at all (or as close as I can get) the first few days I feel run down, and a bit dingy. After that it improves quickly, and I am back up to speed in less than a week. Also, after about 10 days I have really no appetite at all, and tend to forget meals.
I slur like a drunken sailor sometimes, but I have seen the adaptation that occurs when you (me) finally make that sugar addiction break. It’s tough. I wouldn’t go heavy keto during finals, but that’s me personally.
I thought one of you guys brought up on another thread that the brain can’t function on ketones, At least efficiently, and aren’t they alcohol of sorts???
Speaking fo alcohol (yum:)), does dry red wine take you out of ketosis (if two glasses or less)? I found some nurtitional info that claimed it had 5 grams of carbs. Don’t know where fermented carbohydrates would fall on the GI scale. I do have to say even two light beers (Sam Adams light- Yipee!) make me feel like crap when on keto and two glasses of red don’t… I know you shouldn’t drink anything but it’s not always possible! 