Ketones occur when the body burns fat for energy instead of glucose. A ketogenic diet refers to one that is low in carbohydrates, which will allow the body to break down fat faster to metabolize ketones.
Foods or ingredients that allow the body to produce ketones are medium chain triglycerides such as:
- mct oil
- Grass Fed Butter
- coconut oil
The important thing about ketones is that they help get rid of migraines. Here are the top seven ways ketones get rid of migraines:
#1: Decreased migraine frequency
In recent studies, scientists have found that the ketogenic diet significantly reduces the frequency of migraines in 90% of patients. This completely dwarfs the effects of migraine medications.
#2: Glutamate Inhibition
Glutamate is found in both epilepsy and migraine patients. Drugs that work in epilepsy (anti-seizure drugs) also block glutamate production. These drugs have also been used to treat migraine headaches. From about the year 500 a. C., ketones have worked to help prevent seizures, but the ketogenic diet has only been popular for the past century.
#3: Processed Foods
I have said many times that processed foods are bad for you, especially if you suffer from migraines. “Food-like products” are full of preservatives, chemicals, and other triggers that could be affecting your migraine symptoms. Any diet that eliminates those processed foods, including the ketogenic diet, would be a good step in managing migraine symptoms.
#4: Saturated Fats
Several studies have debunked the great saturated fat myth. There are plenty of saturated fats (and other healthy fats) in a ketogenic diet, which have been found to lower bad cholesterol and help the body produce serotonin and vitamin D, both of which help prevent migraines.
#5: Hunger vs. weight control
Hunger is one of the main migraine triggers, as are weight gain and obesity. Some studies have found that weight gain and/or obesity increase the risk of migraines by 81%. Ketones help reduce hunger, while controlling insulin problems, promoting weight loss, and regulating blood glucose levels. Weight loss and sugar control are well known benefits of adding MCT or coconut oil to your diet. Now, as you can see, they will help control migraines by helping you feel nutritionally satisfied, have more energy, improve cognitive functioning, and lose fat.
#6: Oxidative stress
A recent study found that oxidative stress is linked to migraine triggers. In response to these findings, a new migraine drug has appeared that blocks the peptide released during oxidative stress. This medication also prevents the release of glutamate, another migraine trigger. However, it is not necessary to rely on medication. A ketogenic diet will do both for you, indicating that ketones can not only treat migraine symptoms, but also determine the root cause.
#7: MCT Oil
Research has found that Alzheimer’s patients respond favorably to MCT (medium chain triglycerides) oil, especially with regard to memory recovery. Like Alzheimer’s, migraineurs have white matter brain lesions on their scans. Research in both diseases has found that ketones can help increase metabolism in the brain, even when oxidative stress and glucose intolerance are present.
Our minds and bodies need glucose and/or ketones to function and survive. We store about 24 hours of sugar in our bodies, but we would all die of hypoglycemia if it weren’t for ketones. Metabolizing ketones from fat leaves our body in a healthy state of ketosis.
Migraines indicate that the brain is not properly metabolizing glucose for energy, so the logical response would be to add ketones. In addition to migraine pain symptoms, the ketogenic diet can help reduce:
- brain fog
- oxidative stress
- brain injuries
A ketogenic diet can also help:
- Block glutamate (a major trigger)
- Cut out processed foods (a major trigger)
- Add more saturated and healthy fats to your diet
- control your weight
- Reduce oxidative stress
- Improve cognitive functioning