Preliminary small studies have suggested that following a ketogenic diet, a high-fat, low-carb diet that induces ketosis in the body, can benefit people living with mental health illnesses <\/a>such as depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. <\/p>\n A Stanford study of 21 people<\/a> taking medication for bipolar disorder or schizophrenia who were put on the keto diet found that a majority saw \u201cclinically meaningful improvement\u201d in psychiatric symptoms. A study, published in JAMA<\/a>, of people with depression on a keto diet showed \u201cmodest improvements\u201d in depression symptoms. <\/p>\n A 2019 case study, which Kennedy appeared to be citing, found that two people living with schizophrenia<\/a> were able to stop using antipsychotic medications while following a keto diet. However, Dr. Christopher Palmer, who worked on the paper, said<\/a> Kennedy\u2019s claims about it being cured were \u201cnot accurate\u201d and that further research was needed. <\/p>\n \u201cAlthough I appreciate Secretary Kennedy\u2019s enthusiasm for my work, I have never claimed to have cured schizophrenia or any other mental disorder, and I certainly never use the word \u2018cure\u2019 in my work,\u201d Palmer told the New York Times. <\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Secretary has instructed Americans to eat more meat and saturated fats as part of a healthy diet (Getty Images)<\/p>\n Palmer\u2019s study found that the two patients who remained on the diets could manage their symptoms. But they appeared to be outliers among other patients who did not experience similar results. <\/p>\n \u201cIt’s unfortunate that he used the word cure,\u201d Palmer told the Harvard Crimson.<\/a> \u201cIf he had simply said powerful treatment, it would have been spot on.\u201d<\/p>\n The Independent has asked the Department of Health and Human Services for comment.<\/p>\n For years, researchers have hypothesized a potential relationship between psychiatric symptoms and metabolic symptoms. Some of those theories are based on research of medication-resistant epilepsy, particularly in children. <\/p>\n But there have been no \u201cgold-standard\u201d scientific studies done on adult psychiatric patients to confirm the suspicion. Preliminary studies are often small and do not include a control group of people following a non-keto diet. <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a germ of truth here,\u201d Ken Duckworth, the medical director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, told the Washington Post.<\/a> \u201cBut the science is not sophisticated yet.\u201d<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Kennedy has sought to promote healthier foods in the U.S. through his \u2018MAHA\u2019 campaign \u2013 though it has also been subject to controversy (Heather Diehl\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Earlier this month, Kennedy asserted Palmer\u2019s research found that keto diets could \u201ccure schizophrenia\u201d while promoting his \u201cEat Real Food\u201d agenda. Kennedy has sought to make Americans healthier by recommending they reduce processed food intake.<\/p>\n![\"Secretary](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-2261095405.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Kennedy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-2250816707.jpg\")
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