Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is driven by a combination of neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter imbalance, metabolic dysfunction, and dysregulated stress circuitry. High-carbohydrate intake and insulin spikes promote systemic inflammation, leaky gut, and increased endotoxin load (LPS), which cross the blood-brain barrier and fuel neuroinflammation in the basal ganglia, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. OCD is strongly linked to excessive glutamate activity and insufficient GABA, creating hyperactive brain circuits that produce intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and compulsive behavior loops. Inflammation elevates glutamate signaling and reduces inhibitory tone, making the brain 'lock' into repetitive patterns.

OCD is also marked by HPA-axis dysregulation. Chronic cortisol elevations increase anxiety, intensify intrusive thoughts, and strengthen compulsive behavior by temporarily lowering anxiety—reinforcing the loop. Blood sugar instability, common on high-carbohydrate diets, elevates adrenaline and glutamate, further worsening obsessions and compulsions. Low levels of essential nutrients—zinc, magnesium, B-vitamins, and omega-3s—reduce serotonin and GABA synthesis, weakening the brain’s ability to regulate impulses and stress responses.

Fasting, ketogenic diets, and carnivore diets alleviate OCD by stabilizing neurotransmission, reducing inflammation, and normalizing stress circuits. Ketosis increases GABA, lowers glutamate excitotoxicity, and calms the hyperactive cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) loop implicated in OCD. Stable blood sugar eliminates cortisol spikes and adrenaline-driven anxiety. Ketones reduce neuroinflammation, improve mitochondrial function, and enhance prefrontal cortex control over intrusive thoughts. Animal-based diets restore zinc, magnesium, omega-3s, and amino acids needed for serotonin and GABA balance. Fasting activates autophagy, clears inflammatory debris, and resets neuronal firing patterns. Together, these metabolic interventions reduce the intensity, frequency, and compulsion-driven urge of OCD symptoms.