How Ketogenic Therapy Ended My ADHD, Anxiety & Depression

Ally Houston’s mind was a battlefield from a young age—relentless ADHD, crushing anxiety, and depression that worsened every winter. By 2015, while studying for a PhD in physics, he was nearing the edge. Medication brought clarity but amplified his anxiety. Then, inspired by a professor’s recovery story, Ally tried something radical: a therapeutic ketogenic diet. Within weeks, his symptoms lifted. Within months, the seasonal depression that had haunted him for decades was gone, and it hasn’t returned since 2016. This full interview explores his journey from suffering to healing, his deep dive into the science behind ketogenic therapy, and why he’s now leading an Oxford-based randomized controlled trial on ketogenic therapy for ADHD and depression, backed by Baszucki Group. If you or someone you love is navigating treatment-resistant mental illness, Ally’s story is a beacon of hope—and a call for rigorous research and compassionate options. #MetabolicPsychiatry #KetogenicTherapy #MentalHealthAwareness #ADHD #Depression #NutritionAndMentalHealth Expert Featured: Ally Houston | https://x.com/AllyTransforms Resources Mentioned: Get better acquainted with Ally’s mental health strategies at his THINK+SMART profile: https://www.metabolicmind.org/thinksm... Learn more about the THINK+SMART framework: a self-guided, community-based framework that helps you develop a customized metabolic approach to mental health: https://thinksmart.metabolicmind.org/ Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/ Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry. About us: Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them. Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications. Timestamps: 0:11 - Ally Houston's childhood of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), seasonal depression, and chronic anxiety 1:07 - Struggles continuing into adulthood and the introduction of medications (and their side effects) 2:12 - Discovering low carb diets through a professor 3:26 - Life after 2-3 weeks on ketogenic therapy 4:01 - Profound changes call for a career shift 4:45 - Nine years with a ketogenic lifestyle 6:57 - Dealing with challenges and setbacks 10:16 - The role of self compassion 10:37 - Why should you try keto? Ally answers.