Can a ketogenic diet help promote recovery after a traumatic brain injury?

The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that alters your body’s main source of energy from glucose to ketones. It’s suggested that this diet has neuroprotective benefits, which may be able to promote recovery after a traumatic brain injury.

To help you determine whether the ketogenic diet is worth trying for TBI recovery, this article will discuss how it works, its benefits, and potential complications.

The Reasoning Behind Adopting a Ketogenic Diet for Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery

In a balanced diet, glucose (from carbohydrates) is the brain’s primary source of energy. However, after a traumatic brain injury, the brain may not be able to process glucose as efficiently as it did before.

A major concern in traumatic brain injury recovery is getting your brain enough energy to promote healing. This is where the ketogenic diet may be able to help!

The goal of a ketogenic diet is to encourage the body to burn fat for energy instead of sugar. To do this, the body must enter a state of ketosis by cutting off the primary source of sugar: carbohydrates.

Once ketosis is triggered, the fat your liver processes is converted into ketones, which your body can use for energy.

Because ketones are one of the few molecules that can cross the blood-brain barrier, they can serve as an alternative source of energy for the brain when its ability to metabolize glucose is disrupted.

In the following section, we’ll discuss potential benefits of following a ketogenic diet after TBI.

Benefits of a Ketogenic Diet for Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery

Currently, only animal models suggest that a ketogenic diet can provide neuroprotective benefits following a TBI. However, the results are promising.

Research shows that ketones “decrease oxidative stress, increase antioxidants, and scavenge free radicals.” These processes are essential for promoting healing of the brain.

It’s also important to understand that there are significant limitations in correlating the results from animal studies to humans. For example, rodents have lesser energy reserves and higher metabolic rates than humans. As a result, more human studies are required before concluding that a keto diet can help individuals recover from a TBI.

One benefit of a ketogenic diet that has been proven in human studies is its effectiveness at reducing seizures. This is relevant because individuals can develop epilepsy following a TBI. Ketones help stabilize neuronal activity, which can help prevent the abnormal and excessive electrical activity in the brain that causes seizures.

In the next section, we’ll discuss potential complications of following a ketogenic diet after traumatic brain injury.

Are Ketogenic Diets Safe for Patients After Traumatic Brain Injury?

Ketogenic diets are mostly safe, but some health risks and possible side effects can occur.

The following are potential complications you should be aware of before deciding to try keto.

The “Keto Flu”

When the body starts transitioning into ketosis, some people may experience flu-like symptoms. These can include:

• vomiting
• stomach pain
• brain fog
• fatigue
• dizziness
• difficulties sleeping
• irritability

This “keto flu” doesn’t happen to everyone, and typically only lasts a few days when it does. But for people with brain injury who already struggle with some of these secondary effects, it may be problematic.

Make sure to consult with your doctor before making any major dietary changes to make sure that adopting a ketogenic diet is safe for your specific condition.

Ketoacidosis

Individuals with diabetes after brain injury should not follow the keto diet because they have a greater risk of developing ketoacidosis.

Ketoacidosis occurs when the body stores too many ketones and the blood becomes too acidic.

Signs and symptoms of ketoacidosis include:

• Dry mouth
• Frequent urination
• Nausea
• Sweet, sugary breath
• Breathing difficulties

If you experience any of these, you should contact your doctor right away.

Stress

Following a ketogenic diet can be intimidating because of its restrictive nature.

In order to stay in ketosis, individuals must measure their carb intake for every meal. Even healthy foods like carrots and apples are often considered too high in carbs to remain in ketosis.

When you’re recovering from a traumatic brain injury, the last thing you need is more stress. This ultimately comes down to knowing yourself and whether you’re willing to give up certain foods. If following a strict diet is not ideal for your mental health or lifestyle, do not force it.

Ketogenic Diet and Traumatic Brain Injury: Key Points

The ketogenic diet holds a lot of promise for individuals with traumatic brain injury. However, further controlled studies on humans are necessary to confirm its efficacy.

Ketones can be a great alternative source of fuel for the brain when glucose metabolism is disrupted. Additionally, they can effectively reduce seizures, something many TBI survivors experience.

However, any major changes to your diet can cause adverse side effects, so it’s essential to discuss with your doctor whether a ketogenic diet is ideal for your specific brain injury.

We hope this article on ketogenic diets for traumatic brain injury helps you find the right nutritional approach to boost your recovery.

Photo credits: iStock/ThitareeSarmkasat/fizkes

This pose is a little more complicated, but will improve coordination.

• First, take five deep, slow breaths.
• Next, bring your shoulder back, and lift both your hands up to the level of your eyes. Keep both hands spread far apart. They should be about six inches away from the side of your face.
• Now, exhale and cross your right hand over to your left shoulder.
• Bring it back, and then cross your left hand to right shoulder. Remember to keep focused on your breaths.
• Repeat the motion, but this time turn your head the opposite direction that your hand is going. If you are reaching to touch your left shoulder, turn your head to the right.
• Finally, cross your left hand to your right leg, and vice versa.

For a good demonstration of these poses, plus a few bonus poses, check out the video above!

More Advanced Yoga Poses for Brain Injury Patients

These yoga poses are ideal for patients who can stand unsupported, but still struggle with balance problems after a brain injury.

For these exercises, you will use a folding chair or stool for safety.

Palm Tree

This pose helps improve balance while standing on toes.

• First, stand behind the chair with on hand resting on back of chair.
• Next, lift yourself up on your tiptoes and hold position.
• Finally, while standing on your toes, lift one arm straight up above your head.

Hold for ten seconds, then repeat with your other arm.

Tree Pose

This yoga pose for brain injury patients focuses on single-leg balance.

• Stand next to the chair with your right arm resting on it.
• Then, lift your left foot up and place the entire foot on the calf of your right leg. If you can’t lift it that high, you can just place the heel above the right ankle.
• Now, while standing in that position, lift your left arm as high above your head as possible. Hold for at least ten seconds.

For an extra challenge let go of the chair and try balancing unsupported.

Downward Facing Dog

This one is a lot more challenging than the rest and might be too difficult if you experience dizziness after head injury.

• Begin by facing the base of the chair.
• Next, inhale and lift arms over your head.
• Now bend forward and place hands on the chair’s seat (bend knees if needed).
• Finally, slowly walk your feet backward and lift the hips until you reach the down-dog position. Hold for 30 seconds.

Foot-to-Seat Pose

This pose gives you a chance to stretch your hip flexors and practice a stepping motion.

• First, face the side of the chair.
• Place your left hand on the back of the chair and step the right foot onto the seat of the chair.
• Next, lift your right arm over your head. Hold and repeat on the opposite side.

Yoga Exercises for Brain Injury

And that’s it! These are just a few examples of yoga poses for brain injury patients that will improve muscle coordination and balance.

For the best results, try to work with a yoga instructor who can help you fine-tune the exercises to fit your needs.

Just like every other form of exercise, you will need to practice these poses regularly before you’ll see results. So even if they are difficult at first, don’t give up. Eventually your brain will adjust and things will become second-nature.

We hope you enjoyed this brief glimpse into the many different adaptive yoga poses out there.

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