01/13/2026
Many people notice that some days your brain feels steadier and clearer, other days it feels heavy, flat, or slow—even when you’re doing your neurofeedback sessions consistently.
An exciting new large study confirms that what you eat - your fuel - matters for emotional regulation.
Neurofeedback helps the brain retrain its electrical patterns—how it regulates stress, focus, and flexibility. But those electrical signals are happening inside a biological system, and that system depends on chemistry and energy.
Brain Training + Brain Fuel
A large research review published recently looked across 50 studies (over 44,000 participants) examining very low-carbohydrate (ketogenic-style) eating patterns and mental health.
The strongest and most consistent finding was that depressive symptoms—but not anxiety—tended to improve when the brain was using a different fuel source.
Why That’s Relevant
Depressive states often show up as:
•Low energy
•Feeling stuck or slowed down
•Less motivation or emotional lift
Anxiety is more about threat and hyper-alertness. Depression is more often about an underpowered system.
Changing how the brain gets its fuel doesn’t “fix” depression—but it may support a brain that tends to run low, making it easier for regulation and learning to happen.
What “Ketogenic-Style” Eating Actually Looks Like
This isn’t about perfection or trends. At its core, this way of eating emphasizes:
•Eggs
•Meat, poultry, and fish
•Healthy fats (olive oil, avocado, butter, ghee)
•Full-fat dairy (if tolerated)
•Nuts and seeds
•Non-starchy vegetables (leafy greens, broccoli, zucchini, cauliflower)
Foods typically reduced:
•Sugar and sweets
•Bread, pasta, rice
•Potatoes and most grains
•Highly processed carbohydrates
The goal isn’t restriction for its own sake—it’s shifting the brain toward a more stable energy source.
How This Fits With Neurofeedback
Think of it this way:
Neurofeedback helps the brain reset its electrical patterns
Food influences the biochemical environment those patterns operate in
When the brain has steadier energy and less metabolic “noise,” it may be better able to use the feedback it’s receiving.
The Takeaway
If you tend toward a depressive pattern—low energy, flat mood, feeling stuck—eating in this way may support your brain alongside neurofeedback.
~From Natalie Baker, MA, LMHC
Psychotherapist
Advanced NeurOptimal® Trainer