#18 How Keto Vegan Changed Dy’s Life: A Bipolar Survivor’s Story

Welcome to another captivating episode of The Keto Vegan podcast. In today's instalment, your host, Rachel, has the privilege of sitting down with Dy, a remarkable individual who has embarked on a truly transformative journey. Dy, who is 53, has been grappling with bipolar disorder, and made the courageous decision to embrace a vegan lifestyle five years ago, and later delved into the world of keto just one year ago. What makes Dy's story truly extraordinary is the revelation that the ketogenic diet has not only benefited her physical health but has also had a profound impact on her bipolar disorder. Get ready for an enlightening conversation as Rachel explores Dy's unique journey towards better health and well-being. It's a story of resilience, self-discovery, and the intersection of veganism and the ketogenic diet – a story that promises to inspire and educate. Stay tuned for this compelling episode of The Keto Vegan podcast!

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Key Takeaways

• Dy was diagnosed with post-partum bipolar when 37, so started taking medication that messed with her weight and she ended up being 50lbs heavier than she wanted to be at 180lbs.
• Dy was feeling pretty low about herself and was also experiencing perimenopause.
• A friend of Dys, who was of similar age, was on the ketogenic diet, so Dy, despite being vegan, thought she would give it a go. This greatly improved not only her physical health, but also her mental health.

Best Moments

• “One day I woke up and I had this big belly, it was so weird.”
• “I found out that you can use the ketogenic diet for bipolar disorder … in addition to deal with the side effects.”
• “When I started taking this MCT Oil I felt it revved up the ketogenic process, and it does.”
• “England is the best country, you guys are so progressive with veganism, we need to follow in your footsteps.”

Valuable Resources:

• Vegan Keto cookbook by Liz MacDowell https://amzn.to/47ywyrh
• MCT Oil: This is highly rated on Amazon and is vegan https://amzn.to/3tVRt99
• Keto Urine Test Strips:
  • 5 x 25 aluminium Sachets in a bottle (this is better to keep them fresh) https://amzn.to/45R0LQY
  • 125 strips https://amzn.to/3QELQFa

Bipolarcast podcast about Dyane's journey with vegan keto for bipolar: https://t.ly/UniDs 

• Instagram: @dyaneharwood.
• Twitter: @DyaneHarwood   
• Blog: https://dyaneharwood.com/

Great Vegan/Vegetarian Keto Articles:

• KetoNutrition with Dr. Dominic D'Agostino https://ketonutrition.org/2018-4-24-a-plant-based-approach-to-keto/
• Virta Health: How to eat low-carb as a vegan or vegetarian https://www.virtahealth.com/blog/vegan-vegetarian-low-carb-keto
• For more info. on the ketogenic diet for mental health, please visit metabolicmind.org
• Dyane's International Bipolar Foundation Article: My Life-Changing Vegan Keto Diet for Bipolar Disorder https://t.ly/s8NCf
• Keto Mojo's website for blood glucose & ketone meter: https://keto-mojo.com/
• Dyane's Amazon UK book link: https://t.ly/a5Lh6
• Meetup Keto Lifestyle for Mental Health (free!) Virtual Support Group led by Donika Hristova https://www.meetup.com/keto-lifestyle-for-mental-health/
• Planted https://uk.shop.eatplanted.com/
• The carbs per 100g in their ‘meats’ range from 6.8g to 16g. https://www.sgaiafoods.co.uk/
• For an extensive list of foods with their carb, fat and protein count, go here: https://www.rachelgtherapy.co.uk/1-what-why-and-how
• For a keto-vegan start-up menu and shopping list go here: https://www.rachelgtherapy.co.uk/1-what-why-and-how

Guest Bio
Dyane Harwood graduated with an English Literature degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz. In 2007, after her second baby was born, Dyane was diagnosed with postpartum bipolar one disorder. Dyane is the author of Birth of a New Brain-Healing from Postpartum Bipolar Disorder. She became a vegan late in life, at age 47, and is a member of The Vegan Society's Researcher Network. For the past 15 months, Dyane has practiced a vegan ketogenic diet for bipolar disorder under the guidance of ketogenic nutritionist Denise Potter. Dyane lives in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California with Craig, her husband of twenty-two years, their two teen daughters and their Scottish collie.

Host Bio

Rachel, a once morbidly obese individual, experienced a remarkable body transformation through the keto diet. Later, she embraced veganism and now shares her extensive knowledge and obsession with carbs in vegan proteins on The Keto Vegan podcast. Her goal is to demonstrate the simplicity of combining the keto diet with a vegan lifestyle.

Resources: https://www.rachelgtherapy.co.uk/the-keto-vegan

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKetoVegan/podcasts

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/821471059206067

Email: [email protected]

https://theketovegan.podbean.com/