Summary

The ketogenic diet enhances mental performance by providing the brain with ketones as an alternative fuel source to glucose, improving mitochondrial energy production, reducing inflammation, and aiding in the balance of neurotransmitters for better focus and calmness.

Abstract

The article "Keto Bombs #2 — Peak Mental Performance" explores the cognitive benefits of the ketogenic diet, detailing how the diet's emphasis on ketone bodies as a primary energy source can lead to improved mental clarity, focus, and overall brain function. It explains that the brain can derive up to 70% of its energy from ketones, with the rest supplied by glucose produced through gluconeogenesis. The diet is said to enhance mitochondrial energy output, increase mitochondria numbers, and combat harmful free radicals. Additionally, it supports the conversion of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate into the calming neurotransmitter GABA, which can reduce anxiety and improve sleep. The article concludes by summarizing these mechanisms as contributing to heightened cognitive function and reduced brain cell damage, leading to enhanced focus, clear thinking, and cognitive ability.

Opinions

The author believes that the ketogenic diet can significantly improve cognitive functions such as focus, clarity, and energy levels, likening the feeling to having a constant mental "buzz."
There is a personal anecdote from the author and their friends experiencing sustained mental energy and easier, undisturbed focus while on the ketogenic diet.
The article suggests that ketones are a more efficient energy source than glucose, providing more energy per unit of oxygen and potentially increasing the number of mitochondria in brain cells.
The author posits that ketone bodies can help manage levels of reactive oxygen species, thereby reducing inflammation and its negative effects on cognitive function.
The article conveys the opinion that ketones assist in the conversion of glutamate to GABA, which can lead to a calmer state of mind and better stress management.
It is implied that the ketogenic diet's impact on neurotransmitter balance and mitochondrial function is beneficial for overall brain health and cognitive performance.

Keto Bombs #2 — Peak Mental Performance

How keto really boosts clear thinking and mental performance

Keto Bombs are a series of short, concise and informative pieces on various aspects of the Ketogenic diet.

Word on the web is that the ketogenic diet improves your cognition. People report it feeling smarter on keto, having more lasting energy and enjoying increased focus.

Anecdotally, it makes a big difference for me and my friends. We both feel like we are riding a buzz all day long — like our brains in overdrive. Undisturbed focus becomes way easier, our thinking becomes very clear and we do not get tired as easily.

Is there any truth to this? How could the lack of carbs and the presence of ketones in your body evoke such positive effects?

Brain Fuel

The ketogenic state is when your body is no longer utilizing carbohydrates as its primary source of fuel, so the liver starts creating ketone bodies (Acetoacetate, Beta Hydroxybutyrate, Acetone).

You may ask — doesn’t your brain use glucose as its primary fuel source? Not necessarily, nor as much as you may think. The brain can get up to 70% of its energy from ketone bodies. The rest of the 30% come from glucose, which your body finds a way to produce in keto through gluconeogenesis.

Gluconeogenesis — the process of breaking down non-carbohydrate substrates into glucose (mainly protein). Even in the absence of sugar and carbs in your diet, your body always maintains a healthy range of glucose inside the system.

High Octane

Ketones end up eliciting a bigger response inside the cell’s mitochondria.

Mitochondria — the part of the cell that creates energy from oxygen and nutrients — what allows us to create energy within the body.

There is more energy in a unit of oxygen + a ketone versus a unit of oxygen + glucose.

When you have ketones in the brain, each breath creates more energy than if you were to have glucose.

It is additionally speculated that ketosis increases the production of mitochondria inside the brain, meaning you not only get more out of your cells but you create additional capacity for energy!

Fighting reactive oxygen species

Reactive oxygen species are atoms that can cause chaos inside your body when in excess. Free radicals, which are a type of this, are caused by air pollution, fried foods, tobacco, alcohol, pesticides and other toxins.

Ketone bodies inhibit the production of reactive oxygen species. They also stimulate the breakdown/excretion of them by stimulating glutathione (an antioxidant that prevents damage caused by reactive oxygen species).

Lowering reactive oxygen species means lowering inflammation inside the body and especially in the brain, which allows us to think clearer.

Glutamate to GABA

Glutamate is something that excites our brain — it causes anxiety, chaos and energy in the brain. GABA is the opposite — it allows you to relax and process information in a calm and collected way. Chronically elevated glutamate is highly inflammatory and is associated with bad sleep, brain fog, anxiety and mood disorders.

In a healthy body, any excess glutamate gets converted into GABA to balance it out. Ketones help this conversion process — the immediate effects of which are improved focus and lower levels of stress and anxiety. Ketones also increase GABA receptors, allowing you to become calmer.

Ketones are also said to inhibit brain cells’ ability to accept glutamate. Not only do they help the conversion, they also defend your brain from excess glutamate in the first place!

Summary

We went through three of the many benefits that the ketogenic diet has in regards to brain health. By increasing mitochondria energy production, helping convert glutamate into GABA and reducing free radicals, we saw how the ketogenic diet not only increases energy in your brain but also makes you calmer! This, paired with the fact that less damage is being done to your brain cells, is a lethal combination resulting in unparalleled focus, clear thinking and powerful cognitive ability.