Anyone else feel less intelligent when not in ketosis?

#1

The objective measure of my intelligence would show this to be false. My college exams come out nearly exactly the same regardless of whether or not I am in ketosis. For example I got 101 out of 100 points on my Spanish exam while eating carbs and 102 out of 100 while in ketosis. I did about half of the class on keto and half not and finished with an A with enough extra credit to have something more like an A+ or A++ but that’s not how the grading system at my college works so I just have the A.

However, every time I go off my diet and start eating a higher carb diet I start to feel less intelligent and more foggy headed. My subjective experience is that I am not as sharp in general when eating carbs.

Is ketosis just that amazing and we actually function a little better in general on ketones? Or is it in my head and there is no difference?

If nothing else, I know that keto keeps blood sugar pretty stable whereas eating carbs means you will have more highs and lows and lows are known to make people feel drained while highs can make them feel happy/sleepy/foggy.

(Candy Lind) #2

I doubt it changes your IQ (although I’d love to try it on a Mensa friend sometime!). Everyone talks about the mental clarity in ketosis. I remember things better (which is saying something when you’re 63!). I’m certain the reversal is enough that I would suffer were I to go back to SAD.

#3

I absolutely am more clear-headed and focused when in ketosis. I agree with @CandyLindTX that it’s probably not a change in IQ, but it sure can make you feel smarter, lol!

(Keto in Katy) #4

It could be that we are just more energized on keto, and brain function responds well to the improved energy levels. That’s what it feels like to me but I don’t know what is actually going on.

(bulkbiker) #5

I’m just interested in how you can get a score of 101 and 102 out of 100. Are Spanish mathematics different?

(Pete A) #6

I’m smarter, quicker, better.

#7

You are young. Wait til you have another few decades on you. The differences will be more noticeable then.

I get brain fog when I am not very low carb (I’m not going to claim ketosis 24/7 but I am pretty consistent nowadays, and am ZC, which doesn’t always mean ketosis)

And yes, it most definitely DOES affect my performance. There was a 2 year period a decade ago where my memory and organisation suffered tremendously. I was worried about early onset Alzheimers. I was low carbing but probably wasn’t in ketosis all that much.

I had difficulty taking in new info (bad news in a new job!) and my memory has huge holes in it from during that period. I have picked up books that I KNOW I read, but cannot remember anything about. And there are films that I watched with my partner, that I remember nothing about. Scary. I would be unable to remember a list with more than 3 items on it, and when I wrote the list down, I would lose it or forget to take it with me. I never want that again.

Glad to say that keto gave me back my memory, although my short term memory is still worse than before.

(Solomom A) #8

I was listening to a Nourish Balance Thrive podcast a few days ago. DaveKeto was being interviewed and he asked about the number of molecules in a mole. I immediately remembered there is a 10 raised to power 23 in the number. My last Chemistry class was in 1982, there is no way I could have remembered that in my previous life. The evidence is building, however slowly, a little here a bit there, we will see. Been keto for about 5 years now.

#9

@MarkGossage

Yes en Español math is different. Two apples in English is tres manzanas (three apples) en Español. However the change drops off more and more until by 100 it’s only a fraction more and you have to get 99.999 in order to make 101 and so on. Consult the Mayan tablets for more. That or astrology charts.

Also we are graded in apples.

Edit: @MarkGossage I assumed your question was a joke and I was joking back. I hope it is clear I am not trying to be rude or anything :slight_smile:

#10

Thank you so much everyone for making me feel normal!

(Cristian Lopez) #11

IK! I feel so much brain fog after leaving ketosis for a family occasion

#12

I completely and whole-heartedly agree with you. I have been keto for a short amount of time, but feel so much more sharp and clear-minded than I did just a couple of short weeks ago. I had been recently complaining about the change and decrease in my mental clarity and memory. I’ve always had extreme memory prowess and had been quit bothered by the seeming decline. I never connected it to my diet, but have been extraordinarily pleased to find that my mental acuity and memory seem better. I hope that it continues that upward trend. I’m 43 and I feel like I’ve been given my life back from an energy and a mental sharpness point of view.

(Liz ) #13

I’m 48 and I was starting to have issues recalling words and it was driving me crazy! After 1 year Keto I definitely notice fewer issues with recall. Phew!!