Mood improvements seen in people following ketogenic diets in studies without control groups are caused by expectations about the diet's benefits, not the diet itself.
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The observed improvements in mood associated with ketogenic diets in uncontrolled studies are primarily due to expectancy effects and the absence of proper experimental controls.
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When a person believes a diet will improve their mood, their brain releases chemicals that alter activity in areas controlling emotion, making them feel better even if the diet itself has no direct effect.
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