Neha Bhasin said she had been struggling with anxiety, depression, and severe panic attacks for some time (Pic credit: Instagram/iStock)
Neha Bhasin recently revealed her struggles with health—both physical and mental—saying that she was advised to go on a keto diet after she put on at least 10 kilos due to medications. “Last year, I was not well. I had put on 10 kilos owing to the medications. I was in proper clinical depression. I was on progesterone, and all of that made me put on weight. Around Diwali last year, I had a panic attack,” Bhasin told comedian Bharti Singh on her podcast.
The 42-year-old singer said she had been struggling with anxiety, depression, and severe panic attacks for some time and was eventually diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, a debilitating form of PMS characterised by intense emotional and behavioural symptoms.
Her struggle was compounded by PCOD, and at one point, Neha said she even attempted suicide.
Apart from the keto diet, Neha also started practicing yoga—especially breathing techniques, which made her feel better. “I used to cry after doing pranayam,” she said. “Keto has changed my life,” Neha added, explaining how her anxiety and depression have almost completely disappeared and that her mood swings are now much more manageable.
What is the keto diet?
The keto, or ketogenic, diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that offers many health benefits. According to experts, it helps you lose weight and improves your overall health. It even has benefits against diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s disease.
This diet involves drastically reducing the intake of carbohydrates and replacing them with fat, which puts your body into a metabolic state known as ketosis. When that happens, your body becomes incredibly efficient at burning fat for energy by turning fat into ketones in the liver, which supply energy for the brain.
A standard keto diet typically consists of 70 to 75 per cent fat, 20 to 25 per cent protein, and only 5 to 10 per cent carbohydrates.
Does the keto diet help improve your mood?
Studies say a ketogenic diet has many benefits for mental health, as ketones are an alternative fuel for the brain, potentially improving mood, reducing anxiety and depression, and enhancing cognitive function.
While studies show promising results for conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, with some patients experiencing reduced symptoms and medication, this area of research is still developing, and more controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm these effects.
According to experts, the ketogenic diet forces the brain to use ketones, produced from fat, instead of glucose for energy, which can be beneficial for brains with energy dysfunction. The diet’s impact on metabolism and inflammation also contributes to improvements in brain health.