Students say this popular diet improved their mental health

Health & Fitness
11 Sep 2025 • 12:13 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • A pilot study suggests the ketogenic (keto) diet could significantly reduce depression symptoms, potentially by 70 per cent in under three months.
  • Research involving 16 Ohio State University students indicated that the diet outperformed current treatments by 20 per cent in symptom reduction.
  • Participants in the study also experienced improved cognitive test performance and weight loss, factors previously linked to better mental health.
  • While the exact mechanism is not yet fully understood, the keto diet involves a high-fat, low-carbohydrate intake, shifting the body's energy source to ketones.
  • This finding supports previous research, including a Stanford Medicine trial, which also linked the keto diet to improvements in serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

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