Shows
Metabolic MindQ&A: Caffeine, Carnivore, Meds, and Ketones—What’s Helping or Hurting Your Mental Health?Is caffeine sabotaging your mental health progress? Should you try a carnivore diet if keto isn't working? What if your meds lower ketones?In this new Metabolic Mailbag episode, Dr. Georgia Ede joins Dr. Bret Scher to answer your most pressing questions about metabolic therapies, mental health, and more.Together, they dive into nuanced, evidence-informed conversations about:The real impact of caffeine on mood, sleep, and ketosisWhether the carnivore diet is “too high” in proteinWhy some people see mental health improvements on carnivore when a ketogenic diet hasn’t workedWhat to do when medications interf...
2025-12-2927 minMetabolic MindQ&A: Healthy Fats, Alcohol, Perimenopause, & MoreIs carb-cycling okay on a ketogenic diet? What about high histamine foods?In this episode of Metabolic Mailbag, Dr. Bret Scher and Dr. Georgia Ede answers questions on everything from the best sources of dietary fat to how to handle anxiety, perimenopause, and alcohol while maintaining ketosis.They unpack how to build a nutrient-dense, brain-supportive ketogenic diet using whole foods, why “keto-friendly” processed products can sometimes derail progress, and when supplements might be beneficial. You’ll also learn why histamine sensitivity, caffeine, or cycling in and out of ketosis can affect mood, and how to troubl...
2025-12-1531 minMetabolic MindCould Stress Be The Hidden Driver of Mental Illness?New research links chronic stress, brain energy, and psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, depression, and bipolar disorder.Stress doesn’t just impact your mood; it affects how your brain allocates energy. In this interview, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Parker Kelly, a postdoctoral fellow at UCSF and the San Francisco VA, to unpack the Allostatic Triage Model of Psychopathology, a new framework proposing that psychiatric symptoms may emerge when the brain is forced to triage limited metabolic resources under chronic stress. Co-authored with mitochondrial researcher Dr. Martin Picard, this model could shift how we understand and tr...
2025-12-0834 minMetabolic MindNew Alzheimer’s Trial Reveals Surprising Insight on Brain HealthNovo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company behind popular GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Ozempic, recently announced that its phase 3, two-year trial examining GLP-1 medications for Alzheimer's failed to produce a significant reduction in disease progression.While these results are discouraging, they may have revealed something vital about Alzheimer’s treatment.In this video, Dr. Bret Scher breaks down the recent failure of Novo Nordisk’s evoke and evoke+ trials and what it teaches us about the limitations of a drug-only approach to Alzheimer’s treatment.Key topics covered:Why GLP-1s may not be eno...
2025-12-0205 minMetabolic MindMetabolic Mailbag: Ketone Plateaus, Sleep Issues, Fat Intake, and MoreEver wonder why your ketone levels dip after a few months on a ketogenic diet? Or how exogenous ketones compare to ketones produced naturally?In this Metabolic Mailbag episode, Dr. Bret Scher and Dr. Georgia Ede unpack the latest round of keto questions asked by the community.💡 You’ll learn:What lower ketone levels actually meanHow to know if you need to raise your ketonesHow exogenous ketones compare to ketones produced by the bodyHow to troubleshoot keto-induced insomniaThe difference between total and net carbs and which one you should be paying attention toHow much fat y...
2025-11-1734 minMetabolic MindWhy Setbacks Can Happen with Ketogenic Therapy for Mental Illness — and How to RespondWhat does it really look like to heal a serious mental illness with ketogenic therapy?At Metabolic Mind, we often highlight powerful stories of individuals putting serious psychiatric conditions into remission with ketogenic and metabolic therapies. But healing isn't always linear, and it's rarely easy.In this honest and deeply human episode, Dr. Bret Scher and Dr. Georgia Ede sit down with Matt Baszucki and Lauren Kennedy West to explore the real-world challenges of using ketogenic therapies for mental health.Together, they discuss:The emotional and practical realities of tapering psychiatric medicationsNavigating...
2025-11-1058 minMetabolic MindCan a Ketogenic Diet Help Treat Cancer?In this episode of the Metabolic Mind podcast, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with L.J. Amaral, a registered dietitian, certified in nutrition oncology, and PhD student researcher at Cedars-Sinai, about where ketogenic therapy may fit into cancer care. Together they emphasize a crucial point: in oncology, we’re not just treating the tumor, we’re treating the whole person. The quality of life, physical strength, and day-to-day function of patients matter in prognosis.L.J. covers:How shifting fuel toward ketones may influence metabolism, inflammation, fatigue, and even muscle preservation during treatment.Why many tumors crave gluc...
2025-10-2033 minMetabolic MindGo Slowly: A Beginners Guide to Psychiatric Drug Tapering (Part 2)Thinking about reducing or stopping psychiatric medication? It may not be the right approach for everyone, but for someone considering it, there's much to keep in mind.For instance, many individuals who adopt ketogenic therapy and other metabolic strategies often find themselves in need of reducing medication. But how can they do it safely and with minimal risk?In part 2 of our 2-part series on med tapering, Dr. Bret Scher and @GeorgiaEdeMD dive deep into how to safely and effectively taper psychiatric medications, offering guidance, caution, and hope for those exploring this path.Tape...
2025-10-1638 minMetabolic MindExposing the Truth Behind EAT-Lancet’s Diet Report & MisInfluencer CampaignThe EAT-Lancet Commission recently released their updated "Planetary Health Diet" and preemptively labeled a number of health experts who pushed back as “mis-influencers.”Dr. Georgia Ede was one of those health experts labeled and in this episode of the Metabolic Mind podcast, she joins Dr. Bret Scher to unpack the many flaws of the EAT-Lancet 2.0 report.In this episode, you’ll learn about:The deep flaws in claiming a one-size-fits-all solution to diet and planetary health.EAT-Lancet’s heavy reliance on weak epidemiological dataIts open acknowledgment of nutrient deficiencies in the EAT-Lancet diet and who is m...
2025-10-1439 minMetabolic MindTaper Down Slowly: A Beginners Guide to Psychiatric Drug Tapering (Part 1)Psychiatric medications have become a standard of care for many mental illnesses. For some, these medications can be life-changing. For others, they may offer little relief, cause intolerable side effects, lose effectiveness over time, or even worsen symptoms.Regardless, many individuals eventually seek to reduce or discontinue psychiatric medication use—often without adequate support. Unfortunately, most clinicians receive limited training in how to guide patients through safe, personalized tapering protocols and the existing guidelines often fail to reflect real-world experiences.In part one of our new two-part series, Dr. Bret Scher and psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ed...
2025-10-0841 minMetabolic MindWhen low-carb isn’t enough: A Doctor’s Journey with GLP-1sKetogenic therapy is a powerful tool for weight loss. But not everyone who cuts carbs is able to achieve their goal weight and metabolic health goals. Could GLP-1s offer the missing piece when low-carb and clean eating aren’t quite enough?In this episode of the Metabolic Mind Podcast, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Shannon Robinson, a board-certified psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist, to explore this overlooked population who could benefit most from GLP-1s. Drawing from both her personal journey and clinical practice, Dr. Robinson highlights why lifestyle alone isn’t always enough, and...
2025-10-0732 minMetabolic MindThe Healing Depression Project: A New Path Beyond “Treatment Resistant” DepressionDepression that doesn’t improve, or gets labeled as treatment resistant, can leave people feeling without options and hopeless. But what if there was another way forward?In this interview, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with Silvia J. Covelli, founder and CEO of the Healing Depression Project, and Dr. Achina Stein, a board-certified psychiatrist and functional medicine physician. Together, they share how personal journeys and clinical insights converged to create a groundbreaking program that addresses depression at its root.You’ll hear Silvia’s story of living with depression for 25+ years before finding lasting relief through holist...
2025-10-0150 minMetabolic MindThe Future of Mental Health Care: Training Doctors in Ketogenic TherapyKetogenic therapy for mental illness is gaining attention, with more and more patients looking to incorporate this strategy into their care plan.The problem is that sometimes patients struggle to find providers to help them and providers often lack the expertise and confidence to prescribe this strategy.These issues led to a light bulb moment for Dr. Kelly, “We’ve got to capacity build, we have to figure this out.”In this interview, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with Deanna Kelly, PharmD, internationally recognized for her work in schizophrenia, psychiatric pharmacology, and metabolic health, who is...
2025-09-2929 minMetabolic MindThe 5 Lifestyle Habits That Make or Break College Mental HealthDr. Ryan Patel, senior staff psychiatrist at The Ohio State University, shares a practical, evidence-based roadmap for helping young adults thrive during the most turbulent years of brain and behavior development.Across this deep dive, Dr. Patel explains why 18–24-year-olds are a distinct clinical population and how day-to-day habits can make or break academic performance, quality of life, and long-term health. He also discusses his work on the KIND Trial (Ketogenic Intervention in Depression) and how those results can help to inform care.In this conversation, Dr. Patel shares:Why college students require a di...
2025-09-2251 minMetabolic MindKeto for Depression: ~70% Improvement for College Students in New StudyA groundbreaking study from The Ohio State University shows that ketogenic therapy may dramatically reduce symptoms of major depression in college students.In this interview, study research leads Dr. Jeff Volek and Drew Decker break down the results:100% of participants responded69-71% improvements in depression scoresImprovements in cognitive performance, body composition, and metabolic healthNo relapsesDr. Volek has decades of experience conducting research on ketogenic therapy. The Volek Low Carbohydrate Laboratory is one of the best in the game at conducting quality ketogenic science. In this interview Dr. Volek and Drew also cover:...
2025-09-1134 minMetabolic MindThe Ultra-Processed Food Debate: Science, Bias, & TruthAre ultra-processed foods really the villain, or is the story more complicated? In this lively, no-nonsense conversation, endocrinologist Dr. David Ludwig (of Harvard and Boston Children’s Hospital) and journalist Gary Taubes unpack why “UPF” is an enticing label but a blunt tool for science, policy, and everyday guidance.They cover:Why defining “ultra-processed” is messy, and how lumping diverse packaged foods into one bucket can mislead.How high-profile trials are interpreted (and misinterpreted), from short study durations to dropout bias and carryover effects.The role of bias and confirmation bias in nutrition research and media narratives...
2025-09-0953 minMetabolic MindCan Keto Put Schizophrenia in Remission? A Case That Shocks ExpertsWhat happens when someone living in and out of homelessness, battling schizophrenia, and cycling through hospitals and medications discovers ketogenic therapy?In this powerful interview, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with registered nutritional therapist Moira Newiss about one of the most remarkable published case reports to date.Despite overwhelming socioeconomic challenges, including periods of living in shelters and cooking on nothing more than a hot plate, this individual achieved sustained ketosis on a simple, affordable carnivore-based ketogenic diet.The result? His schizophrenia and psychosis went into remission.In the interview, Moira shares:
2025-09-0932 minMetabolic MindThis Fat is Increasing Your Risk of Chronic DiseaseCould tackling visceral fat be the key to finally reversing the chronic disease crisis?Unlike the fat you see on your waistline, visceral fat hides deep inside your body, wrapping around organs like your liver, pancreas, and even your heart. And far from being inert, this fat acts like an inflammatory organ, fueling disease, undermining your immune system, and raising the risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart attacks.In this interview, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Sean O’Mara, a physician with an extraordinary background (from undercover narcotics agent to Army ER doctor) wh...
2025-09-0245 minMetabolic MindThe Truth About Treatment-Resistant Depression: Part Two (TMS and Psychedelics)Treatment-resistant depression can feel like the end of the road, but there are more options than most people realize. Beyond traditional antidepressants, a range of innovative treatments exist, including:Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)Repetitive Transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)Vagus nerve stimulationRapid-acting compounds like ketamine, esketamine, and psilocybinThese treatments are offering new hope for patients who haven’t found relief in the current standard of care.In this second part of our three-part series, Dr. Georgia Ede and Dr. Bret Scher dive deep into the science, effectiveness, and practical considerations of these approaches. You’ll lear...
2025-08-2026 minMetabolic MindThe Truth About Treatment Resistant Depression: Part One (Breaking the Myth)What is treatment resistant depression and perhaps more importantly, what does it say about the ineffective care many receive?Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is defined as major depressive disorder (MDD) that fails to respond to at least 2 anti-depressant medications.Nearly 10% of the adult population in the U.S. experience a major depressive episode each year. The numbers in our youth are even more alarming with some studies suggesting that between 40-50% of college-aged students are living with depression.While anti-depressant medications tend to be the first-line treatment for MDD, as Dr. Georgia Ede highlights, “it...
2025-08-1425 minMetabolic Mind6 Clear Signs You Might Have Food Addiction & What You Can DoIs food addiction a mental illness? Should ultra-processed foods rich in sugar and refined carbohydrates be classified alongside alcohol, nicotine, and other addictive substances linked to substance use disorders?Food addiction (especially to processed, packaged, carb-heavy foods) is real, widespread, and often misunderstood by both the public and healthcare professionals.Dr. Bret Scher and Dr. Georgia Ede sit down with Dr. Jen Unwin, a psychologist with over 30 years of NHS experience, to explore the science, diagnostic challenges, and recovery strategies for ultra-processed food addiction.In this interview, you’ll learn:Why food ad...
2025-08-1256 minMetabolic MindQ&A’s: Are Sweeteners Helpful or Harmful? Dairy? Ketone Levels, Longevity, and MoreKetogenic therapy for mental health is gaining traction, but what happens when it doesn’t seem to work or even makes things worse?In this episode, Dr. Georgia Ede and Dr. Bret Scher answer some of the most common questions about ketogenic diets, including what to do when your mental health doesn’t improve, how to properly enter ketosis, and why sweeteners, snacks, and dairy might be holding you back.They break down the difference between a ketogenic diet and ketogenic therapy, and why things like ketone levels, medication adjustments, and lifestyle factors matter. You’ll als...
2025-08-0727 minMetabolic MindQ&A: Harvard Trained Psychiatrist Answers Your Mental Health and Diet Questions. Ep. 1What’s the difference between a low-carb diet and a ketogenic diet, especially when it comes to mental health?In this premiere Mailbag episode, Dr. Bret Scher (Medical Director at Metabolic Mind) and Harvard trained psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede answer some of the most common questions they receive about ketogenic diets specifically for mental illness.Whether you're new to ketogenic therapy or have been experimenting for years, this discussion offers valuable clarity on concepts that often cause confusion, even among clinicians.💡 Topics covered include:The difference between low-carb and ketogenic diets for menta...
2025-07-3132 minMetabolic MindFree Help for Mental Illness? This Program is Making It RealKetogenic therapy for mental illness is changing lives. And now, it’s becoming more accessible than ever.Dr. Bret Scher chats with licensed mental health counselor Nicole Laurent about her innovative online program and nonprofit initiative aimed at providing low-to-no-cost metabolic therapy support to people with serious mental illness.Nicole shares how her own journey through cognitive impairment led her to ketogenic therapy, and how that experience transformed her clinical practice. Today, her Brain Fog Recovery Program is helping individuals with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, early Alzheimer's, and more—many of whom are...
2025-07-2418 minMetabolic MindAre We Using GLP-1 Medications All Wrong? with Dr. Ben BikmanWhat if We're Using GLP-1 Medications All Wrong?Drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are transforming the landscape of medical weight loss, but could their side effects be a sign that we’re not harnessing their full therapeutic potential?In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Ben Bikman, metabolic health researcher and professor at BYU, joins Dr. Bret Scher to explore a powerful new framework: using GLP-1 medications at low doses and for short durations to help curb carbohydrate cravings, break addictive eating cycles, and support long-term metabolic health.Ra...
2025-07-1434 minMetabolic MindNew Study Using CGMs Reveals Surprising Truth About Your Blood SugarDid you know that your blood sugar spikes differ from everyone else's? Even with the same food!A new study in Nature Medicine supports what many have long suspected: there is no one-size-fits-all diet. The foods that spike your blood sugar might not affect someone else the same way, and your unique metabolic profile could be the reason why.In this episode of the Metabolic Mind podcast, Baszucki Group Neuroscience Program Officer Dr. Cristina Nigro joins Dr. Bret Scher to break down the study “Individual variations in glycemic responses to carbohydrates and un...
2025-07-0925 minMetabolic MindShe Cured 5 Mental Illnesses in 12 WeeksCan ketogenic therapy help treat multiple mental health disorders at once? In this video, we explore a dramatic case report where ketogenic therapy put bipolar depression, binge eating disorder, anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD into remission. Clinical psychologist Dr. Erin Louise Bellamy joins Dr. Bret Scher to discuss her recently published case report of a 38-year-old woman whose life went from “a mind shattered now restored” in just 12 weeks on a medically supervised ketogenic therapy program. Results so impressive that it forced other practitioners to dismiss the results as being “clinically improbable.” In this int...
2025-07-0733 min
Metabolic MindThis Molecule Might Be the Key to Beating AddictionCan adenosine and a ketogenic diet help treat addiction? New research explores the powerful role of adenosine, dopamine, and metabolic health in addiction, and how dietary strategies could support recovery.In this interview, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with Dr. Susan Masino, a neuroscience and psychology professor at Trinity College, about her groundbreaking work on adenosine and its potential to regulate addiction through metabolic pathways. They dive into:The dopamine-addiction connectionThe role of adenosine in addiction and how it balances dopamine activityThe role of ketogenic diets in boosting adenosineOther mechanisms supporting keto for treating addictionWhy food, sugar...
2025-06-3031 min
Metabolic MindWhat’s the connection between Depression, antipsychotics, and suicide risk?Is it really treatment-resistant depression or are we using the wrong treatments?In this episode, Dr. Bret Scher is joined by psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede to examine a new large, population-based analysis on the use of antipsychotics versus third-line antidepressants in people diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression, and what effect that has on suicide risk.They discuss:What treatment-resistant depression actually meansWhy so many people fall into this categoryThe surprising data on suicide risk and all-cause mortalityThe metabolic side effects of antipsychotic medicationsAlternative options beyond antipsychotics—including ketogenic therapy and other metabolic strategiesTh...
2025-06-2322 min
Metabolic MindNew Research Pinpoints Midlife Brain Decline & How to Slow ItDementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive decline should not be inevitable parts of aging. In this interview, Dr. Lily Mujica-Parodi and Dr. Kirk Nylen join Dr. Bret Scher to discuss groundbreaking research revealing a key metabolic midlife marker of accelerated cognitive decline and a potential solution for slowing it.In this interview, you’ll learn:Why brain network stability rapidly declines in midlifeHow insulin resistance in neurons may be the early driver of neurodegenerationThe critical age window where metabolic interventions could have the biggest impactWhy ketones (from diet or supplementation) may restore brain function and slow cogn...
2025-05-1347 min
Metabolic MindCan Keto Help Pediatric Bipolar? Groundbreaking Trial BeginsThe first-ever clinical trial of ketogenic therapy for pediatric bipolar disorder is now enrolling.In March, we announced two new initiatives funded by the Baszucki Group aiming to explore ketogenic metabolic therapy in pediatric bipolar patients.The first major initiative—now actively enrolling participants—is a multi-site clinical trial conducted by four institutions within the Baszucki Group-funded Child and Adolescent Bipolar Network (CABIN): the UCLA Semel Institute, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.In this video, Dr. David Miklowitz, a renowned expe...
2025-04-2630 min
Metabolic MindCan Ketogenic Therapy Help Autism and Mental Health? | Dr. Eline Dekeyster on Mechanisms & HopeCould ketogenic therapy change the future of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) treatment?The CDC estimates that 1 in 36 children are affected by ASD but due to the wide variety of signs and symptoms associated, it’s likely that this doesn’t account for everyone impacted. And treatment options are scarce and vary in effectiveness.In this video, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Eline Dekeyster, Assistant Professor at Leiden University and Head of the Lifestyle Brain Interaction research group, to explore how nutritional ketosis may support individuals with autism and other brain-based conditions.Dr...
2025-04-2138 min
Metabolic MindStudy Shocks Cardiologists: LDL Didn’t Predict PlaqueWhat if everything we thought we knew about cholesterol and heart disease risk… doesn’t apply to everyone?In this episode, world-renowned cardiologist Dr. Matthew Budoff unpacks the results of a landmark one-year study tracking 100 lean, metabolically healthy individuals on a ketogenic diet with extremely elevated LDL levels.Dr. Budoff is the Program Director, Director of Cardiac CT, and the endowed chair of preventive cardiology at The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.In this interview, Dr. Scher and Dr. Budoff further break down the results of his new publication, whic...
2025-04-1621 min
Metabolic MindSky High LDL and No Heart Disease? Results from Dave Feldman’s New StudyIs LDL cholesterol the best way to measure and predict heart disease?New research suggests no!Dave Feldman is an engineer turned citizen scientist who has devoted his life to understanding a phenomenon that some individuals around the world are experiencing: a robust increase in LDL cholesterol while on a ketogenic diet.Dave’s past research has identified a unique phenotype dubbed Lean Mass Hyper-Responders (LMHRs). LMHRs respond to ketogenic therapy with a metabolic profile that includes elevated LDL-C and ApoB levels with otherwise healthy metabolic markers, including low triglycerides, high HDL, low bl...
2025-04-0846 min
Metabolic MindHow This Doctor Put Over 150 Patients into Diabetes RemissionCan type 2 diabetes be reversed, eliminating the need for medications with completely normal blood sugar levels?For decades, type 2 diabetes has been considered a chronic, progressive conditions and the standard approach has been to just manage it to slow it down. But what if remission was possible?Dr. David Unwin, a UK-based NHS physician, has demonstrated how low-carb and ketogenic interventions can lead to drug-free diabetes remission. His work has transformed patient outcomes and challenged conventional medical guidelines.In this interview, Dr. Unwin shares how he has helped over 150 patients achieve drug-free remission...
2025-04-0740 min
Metabolic MindExciting New Research on Keto for Pediatric Mental HealthCan the ketogenic diet help kids with bipolar disorder? We are excited to announce new research is finally exploring this question.The ketogenic diet was first discovered over 100 years ago for children with epilepsy. Could ketogenic therapy also improve mental health outcomes for youth with serious conditions like bipolar disorder? Dr. Kirk Nylen joins Dr. Bret Scher to discuss two groundbreaking studies underway that are tackling this question head-on.In this episode, they dive into:🔬 The Child and Adolescent Bipolar Network (CABIN) study – a multi-site RCT testing ketogenic therapy in pediatric bipolar disorder...
2025-03-2418 min
Metabolic MindExploring the Link Between Genetics and Brain Metabolism in Psychiatry with Dr. Harry PantazopoulosBrain Energy and metabolism appear to play critical roles in the development and treatment of psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. And emerging research suggests that our gene expression influences how our brain uses energy, thus linking the fields of genetics and metabolism.In this episode, Dr. Harry Pantazopoulos, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, joins Dr. Bret Scher to discuss fascinating new research into the relationship between gene expression and metabolism in serious mental illness.Dr. Pantazopoulos’ study reveals a fascinating in...
2025-03-1728 min
Metabolic MindReversing Schizoaffective Disorder with Ketogenic Therapy: A Case SeriesIs it possible for ketogenic therapy to significantly reduce schizoaffective symptoms in 2 weeks? What about putting symptoms into complete remission in 6 weeks?Licensed Mental Health Counselor Nicole Laurent joins Dr. Bret Scher to discuss her newly published case series showcasing the dramatic improvements in individuals with schizoaffective disorder using ketogenic metabolic therapy.In this interview, Nicole shares:The life-changing stories from the patients and their familiesHow she collaborated with healthcare teams to ensure better outcomesHow she determines the right type of ketogenic diet for each patientThe role of nutrient deficiencies and supplementation in treatmentHow...
2025-03-0333 min
Metabolic MindNew Treatment For Bipolar: A New Ketogenic Therapy Study with Dr. Iain CampbellDr. Iain Campbell, a researcher at the University of Edinburgh, discusses his groundbreaking pilot study on ketogenic therapy for bipolar disorder with Dr. Bret Scher. Having personally experienced the benefits of ketosis for his own bipolar type II depression, Dr. Campbell delves into the link between metabolic health and mental well-being.Dr. Campbell shares how his recent study reveals a correlation between higher ketone levels and improvements in mood, energy, impulsivity, and anxiety in patients with bipolar disorder. He also highlights the intriguing brain imaging results that indicate reductions in brain glutamate, hinting at one of the...
2025-02-2831 min
Metabolic MindExercise as a Prescription for Depression with Dr. Nicholas FabianoHow effective is exercise for treating depression, and how can we help more people use it as a cornerstone of treatment?
The last decade we have seen mounting evidence that exercise can play a big role in mental health through a variety of mechanisms.
In this interview, Dr. Nick Fabiano, a psychiatry resident and researcher, shares his innovative approach to using exercise as a therapeutic intervention, drawing from his recent co-authored paper.
In this interview you’ll learn:
Why exercise is comparable to antidepressants and therapy in treating mild to moderate depression.
Ho...
2025-01-1344 min
Metabolic MindThe 2025 Dietary Guidelines with Nina Teicholz: A Turning Point for Public Health?The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) have the potential to shape the health of millions, but are they based on outdated or flawed evidence? In this powerful interview, Dr. Bret Scher and investigative journalist Nina Teicholz expose the controversial history of dietary policy, challenge the methodology of the DGA Advisory Committee, and discuss the urgent need for change to address rising rates of metabolic and mental health disorders. And they try to answer the burning question from the guidelines: Will eating more beans, peas, and lentils make all of us healthier?
What you will learn in this...
2025-01-0754 min
Metabolic MindHow Your Microbiome Shapes Your Body and Mind with Dr. Jack GilbertDr. Bret Scher interviews Dr. Jack Gilbert—renowned microbiome scientist, author of Dirt Is Good, and featured expert in the Netflix documentary Hack Your Health—to explore the profound connections between the microbiome, metabolism, mental health, and overall wellness.
Dr. Gilbert shares cutting-edge insights into how the 40 trillion microbes in our gut influence everything from inflammation to brain health, and how personalized strategies may hold the key to treating chronic illnesses and improving quality of life.
What You'll Learn
The role of the microbiome in metabolic and mental health
How diet and lifestyle shape your gut bacteria
Surp...
2024-12-2341 min
Metabolic MindTapering Psychiatric Medications Safely: Insights with Dr. JosefDr. Bret Scher interviews Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring, a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in tapering and deprescribing psychiatric medications. Dr. Josef combines his expertise in pharmaceutical safety, clinical psychiatry, and metabolic therapies to help patients safely transition off long-term medications.
Topics Covered
Life-Changing Outcomes
Discover how Dr. Josef’s holistic methods have empowered individuals like Trudy, who transitioned from years of debilitating medications to pursuing a career in medical school through targeted dietary and metabolic interventions.
Rethinking Psychiatric Medications
Dr. Josef discusses the complex nature of antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers. Learn how their effects can mask symptoms without addressing ro...
2024-12-1648 min
Metabolic MindKetogenic Diets in Alcohol Addiction: Breakthrough Research with Dr. WiersIn this interview with Dr. Bret Scher, Dr. Corinde Wiers, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, unveils her groundbreaking research on using ketogenic therapy to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD). Dr. Wiers dives into how ketones, as an alternative energy source, may alleviate withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings, and transform the landscape of addiction recovery.
This conversation covers:
The science of brain energy metabolism and how ketones are preferred over glucose in AUD.
Results from clinical trials, including reductions in withdrawal severity and the need for benzodiazepines.
Neuroimaging data that shows how ketogenic diets affect the brain's...
2024-12-0925 min
Metabolic MindWhy Body Composition Matters More Than Weight Loss: A Ketogenic Approach with Dr. Bret ScherIn this video, we tackle a common misconception: that losing weight alone will make you healthier. Contrary to popular belief, simply reducing the number on the scale may not lead to better health outcomes. Instead, it's crucial to focus on losing fat mass, maintaining or building lean mass like muscle and bone, and improving your overall metabolic health.
We dive deep into how medications like Wegovy and Ozempic—while popular for weight loss—don't differentiate between fat and muscle loss, which can be crucial for long-term health. We'll also explore the growing evidence supporting ketogenic diets for their ability to p...
2024-11-2506 min
Metabolic MindHow to Determine Optimal Ketone Levels for Ketogenic Therapy with Dr. Bret ScherAre you using a ketogenic diet for therapy and need to know the ideal ketone levels for success? In this video, we explain how to measure ketone levels to optimize your ketogenic diet for managing psychiatric disorders, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and other metabolic conditions.
One of the unique benefits of a ketogenic diet is the ability to precisely track your body's response. But what should your target ketone level be? We tackle the most common questions and provide insights on how to set and achieve your optimal ketone level for the best therapeutic outcomes.
Whether you're new to ketogenic...
2024-11-0408 min
Metabolic MindSafe Tapering Practices for Anti-Depressants with Dr. Mark HorowitzIn this interview with Dr. Bret Scher, Dr. Mark Horowitz, a leading clinician and researcher in anti-depressant withdrawal and de-prescribing, delves into the complex world of de-prescribing anti-depressants. Dr. Horowitz shares his personal journey with antidepressant withdrawal, which led him to dedicate his career to understanding safe tapering practices.
He discusses the challenges that patients face when coming off medications, the withdrawal effects often mistaken for relapses, and how the current psychiatric guidelines may fall short in helping people safely taper. Dr. Horowitz emphasizes the importance of individualized tapering plans and the need for slower, more gradual reductions in...
2024-10-0747 min
Metabolic MindKeto Diet and Heart Disease: What New Research Reveals About Cardiac Risk with Dr. Bret ScherDoes eating a very low carbohydrate or ketogenic diet increase the risk of heart disease? Many healthcare practitioners might say yes, but recent evidence suggests otherwise. Contrary to popular belief, a ketogenic diet does not automatically increase cardiac risk. This video explores a new study that supports this notion, challenging misconceptions that may prevent people from using ketogenic therapy to treat conditions like diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder, and other brain-based disorders.
Join us in this critical discussion and share this video with your healthcare provider to help spread awareness about the true effects of ketogenic diets on heart health.
...
2024-09-2305 min
Metabolic MindProtein on Keto: How Much is Too Much? with Dr. Bret ScherAre you following a ketogenic diet or using ketogenic therapy to manage depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other brain-based disorders? If so, you've probably heard conflicting advice about protein intake—how much is too much? In this video, Dr. Bret Scher explains how to determine the right amount of protein for your unique needs. Whether you're concerned about maintaining ketosis or just want to optimize your health, this video breaks down the science in an easy-to-understand way.
*Tune in to learn*
•The importance of protein on a ketogenic diet
•How to measure and adjust your protein intake
•Common myths and misc...
2024-09-0208 min
Metabolic MindKetogenic Therapy for Migraine Relief - with Dr. Elena GrossIn this interview, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with Dr. Elena Gross, a neuroscientist and chronic migraine sufferer turned researcher, who shares her compelling journey and innovative approach to managing migraines through metabolic therapies. Dr. Gross discusses the critical role metabolism plays in neuropsychiatric diseases and how understanding this connection has driven her academic and professional pursuits.
*Key Highlights*
• Personal Journey: Dr. Elena Gross' battle with chronic migraines led her to pursue a PhD in neuroscience, focusing on the root causes of migraines and how they can be addressed through nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle changes.
• Metabolic Health: An in-depth discussion on h...
2024-08-1239 min
Metabolic MindBest Diet for Mental Health: Keto or Mediterranean? - with Dr. Bret ScherIn this video, Dr. Bret Scher dives into the ongoing debate: Is the Mediterranean diet or a ketogenic diet better for mental health? While both diets have shown promise in improving symptoms of depression and other psychiatric conditions, this video examines the evidence behind each and discusses their potential benefits.
According to Dr. Scher, any investigation into nutritional interventions for health conditions is a step in the right direction. Diets that steer away from the Standard American Diet (SAD) by eliminating ultra-processed foods and sugar will enhance metabolic health, likely offering both physical and mental benefits. However, ketogenic therapy...
2024-08-0507 min
Metabolic MindThe Truth About Carbs and Your Brain - with Dr. Bret ScherBlanket statements like "carbs are good" or "carbs are bad" are misleading. In this video, Dr. Bret Scher delves into the question: Are carbs bad for your mental health? Join Dr. Scher as he explores the complex relationship between carbohydrates and mental health, particularly focusing on the potential benefits of ketogenic therapy for serious mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depression.
Key Highlights:
-Introduction to Carbs and Mental Health: Unpacking the myths and truths about carbohydrates and their impact on brain function.
-Ketogenic Therapy: An in-depth look at how ketogenic diets can serve as powerful treatments...
2024-07-2907 min
Metabolic MindKeto, Microbiome, and Depression: Insights with Timur LiwinskiMeet Dr. Timur Liwinski, a clinician-scientist specializing in internal medicine, metabolic health, and the gut microbiome. Currently completing his psychiatry residency, Dr. Liwinski shares groundbreaking insights on ketogenic therapy for depression in this exclusive interview with Dr. Bret Scher. Discover the impact of the ketogenic diet and microbiome on mental health, as Dr. Liwinski examines the intricate connections between dietary practices, the gut-brain axis, and mental well-being.
*Key Highlights*
▪️Clinical Trial Overview: An in-depth look at Dr. Liwinski's clinical trial investigating the effects of the ketogenic diet and microbiome changes on depression.
▪️Depression and Diet: Exploring the potential benefits of the k...
2024-07-2235 min
Metabolic MindLong-Term Safety of Ketogenic Diets - with Dr. Bret ScherIn this episode, Dr. Bret Scher addresses common misconceptions and concerns surrounding the long-term safety and nutritional adequacy of ketogenic diets. Dr. Scher emphasizes the importance of weighing potential risks against known benefits. For instance, psychotropic medications, despite often worsening overall physical and metabolic health, are considered beneficial because they can alleviate symptoms of serious mental illnesses. In contrast, many patients experience incredible benefits from ketogenic therapy without harmful side effects. In numerous cases, a medical keto diet can even put psychiatric conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depression into complete remission.
What You'll Learn:
▪️Long-Term Safety: Is it s...
2024-07-0113 min
Metabolic MindKetogenic Therapy: How 3 Patients Put Depression and Anxiety in Remission with Dr. Lori CalabreseDiscover groundbreaking insights from Dr. Lori Calabrese, a Connecticut-based psychiatrist, who recently published a case series demonstrating the complete remission of depression and anxiety in three patients through ketogenic interventions. Dr. Calabrese's case studies offer a "slice of real life," highlighting patients with multiple comorbidities, which is more common than not. She explains how ketogenic therapy can lead to full remission of depression and anxiety, enabling patients to become their best selves, which is rarely achieved with standard-of-care treatments.
In this video, Dr. Calabrese and Dr. Bret Scher delve into the details of her findings, showcasing how a ketogenic...
2024-06-2426 min
Metabolic MindIs Ketogenic Therapy Safe for Children? - with Dr. Matthew CalkinsThere is an escalating crisis of metabolic dysfunction in our youth, with growing rates of obesity, diabetes, and mental illness. Is it safe to use ketogenic therapy in children and teens for better management or reversal of these conditions? Dr. Matthew Calkins, an early career physician board certified in family and obesity medicine, argues it is. A 2023 paper published in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) exaggerates risks associated with a ketogenic diet in pediatric patients. It also conflates a keto diet for epilepsy with a well-formulated keto diet that can be used to treat obesity, diabetes, and mental...
2024-06-1042 min
Metabolic MindCan I Try a Medical Keto Diet for Mental Illness Without a Metabolic Psychiatrist?At Metabolic Mind, we emphasize that ketogenic therapy for psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depression should be done with oversight from a clinician trained in metabolic therapies. Sometimes patients and their families voice frustration because it can be challenging to access metabolic psychiatry care. While ideally, every patient would have help from a clinician trained in medical keto for mental health, we know that this is not currently possible for many people.
In this video, Dr. Bret Scher and Hannah Warren discuss why Metabolic Mind recommends that patients work with a clinician trained in metabolic therapies...
2024-06-0332 min
Metabolic MindIs It Safe for Me to Do a Keto Diet?Ketosis is a therapeutic physiologic state induced by eating a keto (reduced-carb) diet that can treat, and often reverse, a wide range of illnesses from type 2 diabetes, to psychiatric conditions like bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia. A medical keto diet can be a very powerful intervention, but, sometimes, people are told that their other health conditions, such as gout or high LDL cholesterol, would make following a keto diet unsafe. In most cases, even with other health conditions, ketogenic therapy can be highly beneficial.
In this video, Dr. Bret Scher goes over some of the most common conditions that...
2024-05-2708 min
Metabolic MindOxford’s Keto for ADHD & Depression Randomized Controlled Trial - with Ally HoustonA new randomized controlled trial (RCT) at University of Oxford will examine the ketogenic diet for ADHD and depression. Ally Houston, who began treating his ADHD, seasonal depression, and chronic anxiety with ketogenic therapy in 2016, is spearheading the trial. Within weeks of starting the medical keto diet, Ally’s life completely transformed. He ultimately reversed his conditions, which inspired him to leave a career in physics to help others with metabolic interventions. He co-founded MetPsy, an app and coaching platform that supports individuals implementing ketogenic therapies for mental illness. Ally is currently conducting a crowdfunding campaign to support the st...
2024-05-2226 min
Metabolic MindWhat is a Good Bipolar Diet?When looking for information about how nutrition can improve brain health, it is important to remember that you cannot necessarily believe everything you read. Dr. Bret Scher discusses a recent article from Healthline called Foods to Eat and Avoid With Bipolar Disorder as one example of an article that makes unsubstantiated claims. The article cites flawed studies and also jumps to conclusions that are not science-based. Will eating more beans, chocolate and whole grains help your bipolar disorder? Not likely.
When looking at articles that suggest nutritional interventions for mental illness, it is important to realize that ketogenic therapy...
2024-05-1307 min
Metabolic MindCan a Medical Keto Diet Treat Depression in College Students? - with Dr. Jeff VolekCan ketogenic therapy help college students living with depression? Jeff Volek, PhD, RD, is investigating this question in a pilot study at The Ohio State University, where he is a professor in the Department of Human Sciences. Dr. Volek has been a world-renowned expert in ketogenic diets for more than two decades. He has pioneered critical work raising awareness of how the keto diet can reverse diabetes and metabolic syndrome and enhance athletic performance and recovery.
In this interview with Dr. Bret Scher, Dr. Volek discusses his new work exploring ketogenic therapy for depression, including some of the challenges...
2024-05-0629 min
Metabolic MindDoes the Brain Need Carbs?The emerging field of metabolic psychiatry is demonstrating that many patients may be able to effectively treat serious psychiatric conditions, like bipolar disorder, major depression and schizophrenia, with ketogenic therapy. However, some individuals object to a medical keto diet claiming that the brain needs carbs. Ketogenic diets usually do, in fact, include some dietary carbs, but even if they didn’t, this is a false assertion.
Some clinicians and the American Diabetes Association may make this false declaration because they are confusing carbs with glucose. The brain does require glucose (synonymous with blood sugar). While glucose can come from di...
2024-04-2904 min
Metabolic MindSolutions to Prevent Early Death in Bipolar Disorder with Dr. Melvin McInnisPeople with bipolar disorder are four to six times more likely to die prematurely compared to those without a psychiatric disorder. (In comparison, smokers are two to three times more likely to have a shortened lifespan.) There are several contributing factors, including things like metabolic dysfunction, as well consequences of lifestyle choices influenced by disease burden Science needs to urgently investigate these extremely poor outcomes in search of more effective interventions that will enhance quality of life for people with bipolar disorder. Emerging evidence and clinical experience indicate that ketogenic and metabolic therapies may have a central role in...
2024-04-2241 min
Metabolic MindTrailblazing Stanford Trial Shows Keto Improves Serious Mental Illness - with Dr. Shebani SethiA pioneering, peer-reviewed pilot trial at Stanford, supported by funding from by Baszucki Group and others, investigated a 4-month keto diet intervention for individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia who also had metabolic abnormalities such as insulin resistance or impaired glucose tolerance. They saw dramatic psychiatric and metabolic improvements that warrant further research investigations and offer hope to patients looking for new treatment options.
Dr. Bret Scher interviews Shebani Sethi, MD, ABOM of Stanford University School of Medicine and Founding Director of the Stanford Metabolic Psychiatry Clinic. She discusses the details of this study which represents a milestone...
2024-04-1522 min
Metabolic MindAre We Biased Toward a Keto Diet?There are many biases both for and against a keto diet. At Metabolic Mind, an organization focused on ketogenic therapy for psychiatric conditions like bipolar, schizophrenia, and chronic depression, we acknowledge our own pro-keto bias; however, we also are proactive about taking a measured approach, grounding our understanding and content in scientific evidence.
Often, an anti-keto bias may be prevalent among traditional doctors due to limited education on therapeutic ketosis. You can recognize these red flags indicating an anti-keto bias:
- Referring to keto as one “diet”: Keto is not a “diet,” but a physiologic state
- Confounding studies on an in...
2024-04-0807 min
Metabolic MindCollaborative Science: How Individuals are Enhancing Research - with Dave FeldmanDave Feldman is a citizen scientist and founder of Citizen Science Foundation. In this interview, he sits down with us to discuss the success of the 2024 Collaborative Science (CoSci) Conference and how one community is helping make research better.
All proceeds from this year’s CoSci Conference are being used to help fund further research for lean mass hyper-responders. This year’s events included presentations from medical experts, researchers and individuals with their own citizen scientist journeys. The conference was a groundbreaking gathering that highlighted the spirit of scientific discovery.
Dave Feldman, Citizen Scientist
CitizenScienceFoundation.org
X: @realDaveFeldman
More abou...
2024-04-0123 min
Metabolic MindWhy Keto for Mental Health May Not Be Working for You - with Dr. Bret ScherKetogenic therapy can be a powerful intervention for many people with mental illness, including those with serious conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and major depression. Initial data indicates that individual response to ketogenic therapy for mental health may vary. Research is ongoing and needs to further investigate underlying mechanisms and how metabolism impacts brain function in individual patients.
While keto may not be an effective treatment for everyone, there are a number of ways patients can troubleshoot their ketogenic therapy strategy before deciding this treatment option doesn’t work for them. In this practical video, Dr. Bret Scher shares se...
2024-03-2508 min
Metabolic MindCan a Keto Diet Cause Hypomania, and How Can It Be Avoided?Ketogenic therapy, commonly in the form of a keto diet, is often known for having more “side benefits” than “side effects.” However, it is a powerful medical intervention and, as such, not entirely without risks. In some instances, individuals transitioning onto a keto diet to treat a mental health condition, like bipolar or schizophrenia, can experience symptoms of hypomania.
There are many strategies to increase the safety of keto and mitigate potential risks, including slowly easing into a ketogenic diet, monitoring sleep, having a bridge medication available, and always having expert guidance from a clinical care team.
In this intervie...
2024-03-1813 min
Metabolic MindCan a Keto Diet Help People Suffering from Depression? - with Erin Bellamy, PhDResearch indicates that following a keto diet can be an effective form of metabolic treatment for depression, particularly atypical and treatment-resistant forms. Dr. Erin Bellamy has seen ketogenic therapy’s success through her online program Integrative Ketogenic Research and Therapies (ikrt.org), which helps patients implement a keto diet for mental health conditions and effectively coordinate with their prescriber and health care team for the best treatment outcomes.
The length of time it takes to see improvements when following a ketogenic diet to treat mental health conditions can vary. In some cases, it can take time to alleviate symptoms of...
2024-03-1132 min
Metabolic MindInsulin Resistance in Alzheimer's, Infertility, Migraines and More - with Dr. Ben BikmanMetabolic dysfunction is the root cause of most noncommunicable diseases, including cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and mental health conditions. Luckily, simple, practical strategies can improve insulin sensitivity and overall metabolic health, including controlling carbs, eating whole foods rich in protein and fat, and doing resistance training to strengthen muscles.
Dr. Ben Bikman is a professor of cell biology and physiology at BYU; he is also passionate about bringing to the public science to help everyone make informed decisions to better their health. In this discussion with Dr. Bret Scher, Dr. Bikm...
2024-03-0438 min
Metabolic MindImproving Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder - with Mayo Clinic's Dr. Mark FryeDescreiptionIndividuals with bipolar disorder are at an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and obesity, often resulting in a decreased lifespan. Clinicians must address this critical issue. There is a complicated, interconnected set of factors driving this correlation, including: medications that increase cardiometabolic burden, symptoms of the illness itself, as well genetic factors that confer risk for both bipolar disorder and metabolic complications. Dr. Mark Frye has more than twenty-five years of experience as a clinician, researcher and advocate. He is the former chair of the psychiatry department at Mayo Clinic, where he is now a professor of...
2024-02-2643 min
Metabolic MindStanford Twin Study: Are Vegan Diets Healthier?The Stanford Twin Study has made headlines suggesting that vegan diets are healthier than omnivore diets, and we would likely all benefit from a more plant-based diet. The problem is that the conclusions are misleading, and the study doesn't actually show that. The true conclusion from this study is that among high carb diets, after eight weeks, those on a vegan diet ate fewer calories, lost more weight and lowered LDL and insulin more than those following a high carb omnivore diet. The Stanford Twin Study highlights how easy it is to misinterpret and misrepresent the findings from nutrition...
2024-02-0507 min
Metabolic MindNew Study Questions LDL Risk - An interview with Dave FeldmanDo we all have to worry that LDL causes heart disease, or could certain people, like low-carb "lean mass hyper responders" have less concern about LDL and heart risk? A new study from Dave Feldman and Dr. Matt Budoff suggests markedly elevated LDL in the setting of metabolic health and ketosis may not contribute to cardiac plaque and heart disease. While these data are not conclusive, they are highly suggestive and set the stage for future studies in this critically important area. Will this line of research eventually change everything we know about LDL? That's to be determined, but...
2024-01-3141 min
Metabolic MindWhat Do Adenosine, Forests & Keto Diets Have to do with Brain Health?At Metabolic Mind, we often focus on ketogenic therapy as a treatment for severe mental illnesses like bipolar, schizophrenia, and depression. But it’s important to realize that a keto diet can also be a powerful preventative medicine to protect and optimize brain function. Dr. Susan Masino, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at Trinity College and the Charles Bullard Fellow in forest research at Harvard Medical School, discusses the therapeutic properties of ketogenic diets and the interconnection between brain health and ecological lifelines.
Dr. Masino discovered the ketogenic diet while researching ways to increase adenosine, a neuroprotective molecule th...
2024-01-1517 min
Metabolic MindFuture of Precision Medicine & Nutritional Therapies for Mental Illness with Dr. Megan Kirk ChangDr. Megan Kirk Chang, Senior Researcher of Medical Science at the University of Oxford, discusses her upcoming trials looking at nutritional interventions: one focuses on ketosis for treatment-resistant depression, and the other will investigate whether the keto diet is as effective as the Mediterranean diet for individuals at risk for developing Alzheimer’s. She has a background in cognitive behavioral therapeutics (CBT), including experience coaching patients through interventions like mindfulness-based stress reduction, exercise, and yoga.
Dr. Kirk Chang brings a fresh, unbiased perspective and diverse scope of experience to her new research examining the therapeutic uses of the keto di...
2024-01-0233 min
Metabolic MindTreating Bipolar with Keto - 100 Self-Reports with Dr. Iain CampbellKetogenic diets are emerging as an exciting new alternative treatment for bipolar disorder and other psychiatric conditions. Many people may see remission of their psychiatric symptoms and may be able to reduce or eliminate their intake of psychiatric medications. Dr. Iain Campbell, a researcher who lives with Bipolar II, collected survey data from over 100 individuals treating their bipolar disorder with ketogenic therapy. While the data are not at the same level as randomized controlled trials, the results are amazingly encouraging and indicate a substantial improvement in people's quality of life.
Featured in this episode:
Dr. Iain Campbell
https://www...
2023-12-1921 min
Metabolic MindKetosis and Depression: An inspiring personal story from Stanford's Healthcare Innovation Lab.Ben Rolnik lived with depression, thinking often about suicide, and even when he was doing well, he never knew if his day would get upended by depressive symptoms. That all changed when he found ketogenic therapy, and Ben has now put his depression symptoms into remission. Ben shares his dramatic story but also discusses his unique position as the Director of Stanford's Healthcare Innovation Lab and how he hopes studies will soon identify those who may benefit most from ketogenic therapy. But in the meantime, he wonders why everyone wouldn't try this for their depression.
Featured in this episode:
...
2023-12-1147 min
Metabolic MindTreating Weight Gain From Psychiatric Medications with Dr Matt BernsteinCan you successfully lose weight that you’ve gained from antipsychotics and other psychiatric medications for bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and other mental health disorders? Dr. Matthew Bernstein faces this question daily in his psychiatric practice and believes a combination of ketogenic therapy and medications like Wegovy or Ozempic may lead to sustained weight loss - as long as it is done safely and with a plan.
Dr. Bernstein also acknowledges that stubborn weight gain is a common side effect of psychiatric medications that standard "diet and exercise" weight loss advice doesn't address. Will GLP1 agonist weight loss drugs be...
2023-11-2018 min
Metabolic MindDon't Call It Bipolar Disorder with Hannah WarrenHannah Warren treated her bipolar disorder and put it into remission with metabolic therapies, including a keto diet. Her symptoms of psychosis and mania have disappeared, and she attributes it to a combination of metabolic interventions, including exercise, meditation, fasting, and, most importantly, ketogenic therapy, the cornerstone intervention key to treating her psychiatric symptoms and restoring her health. But even though she was given a diagnosis of bipolar 1, and she found a diet that treats bipolar, she doesn't agree with or use that term. Instead, she labels her set of symptoms as metabolic brain dysfunction – a term that more ac...
2023-11-1530 min
Metabolic MindBrain Energy, Mitochondria, and Mental Health with Dr. Chris PalmerAccording to Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Chris Palmer and the Brain Energy theory, mitochondria play a crucial role in mental health and in psychiatric conditions like bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and others. But the good news is that recognizing the importance of mitochondria and metabolic health can help us see psychiatric illness in a whole new way and may offer novel, more effective treatments. Dr. Palmer argues this could be the solution to our mental health crisis and not only improve the lives of individuals but also impact our homeless and incarceration problems.
Expert featured in this episode
Chris...
2023-10-1049 min
Metabolic MindWhat are Metabolism and Metabolic Health, and How Do They Impact Mental Health?Now more than ever, we need to know how to improve our metabolic health. Disrupted metabolism, so-called metabolic dysfunction, is a dangerous condition that has been associated with numerous medical conditions, including mental illness, dementia, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and more. But what do metabolism and metabolic dysfunction mean, and what can we do to improve our metabolic health? This video gives you an understanding of what your metabolism is, how it can become dysfunctional, and what you can do to improve it.
Other references for metabolism and metabolic health:
How To Achieve Metabolic Health on Diet Doctor https...
2023-10-0308 min
Metabolic MindIs Ketosis Safe for Mental Health?Emerging evidence indicates that therapeutic ketosis, often from a ketogenic diet, can help treat mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anorexia, and others. But some may question if nutritional ketosis is safe, especially considering some associate ketosis with the dangerous medical condition ketoacidosis. This podcast discusses how ketosis is a safe and natural physiologic state distinctly different from ketoacidosis. This is crucial information for clinicians and everyday individuals so they can fully realize the potential benefits of therapeutic ketosis.
Educational guide discussing the safety of ketosis
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/ketosis#ketosis-ketoacidosis
Video discussing ketosis and...
2023-09-2106 min
Metabolic MindKetosis and Alzheimer's: A Metabolic Neuroscience Journey With Dr. Stephen CunnaneEarly evidence indicates that ketogenic therapy is a safe and effective treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. Dr. Stephen Cunnane has been part of this field for decades and has seen the research take shape. But he’s also seen very slow adoption in clinical practice. Dr. Cunnane shares his journey through this field, why he got started with ketone research, how ketogenic therapies could revolutionize how we treat dementia, and what we need to do to make it more acceptable.
Expert featured in this episode:
Dr. Stephen Cunnane
https://recherche-cerveau-sherbrooke.ca/en/laboratory-team/
Studies Refe...
2023-09-0741 min
Metabolic MindFasting and Ketosis to treat Dementia With Dr. Matthew PhillipsMetabolic neurology is a growing field focusing on the connection between metabolic and neurologic health, and encompasses neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, other types of dementia, and more.
Dr. Matthew Phillips is leading the way as a clinician and researcher exploring the use of metabolic therapies, like intermittent fasting and nutritional ketosis to help treat and prevent neurocognitive diseases.
Dr. Phillips shares with us what he has learned from his research studies, and what he feels are the top tips for neurologic and brain health. He also explores how...
2023-08-2939 min
Metabolic MindMitochondria - The Key To Disease and Mental Health with Dr. Martin PicardEmerging evidence suggests mitochondrial dysfunction can cause or contribute to many psychiatric and neurologic disorders. To promote metabolic and mental health, it’s crucial to better understand mitochondria and what we can do to keep them healthy.
As Dr. Martin Picard explains, mitochondria are small components of cells that are involved in just about every disease process, and by extension, in every aspect of promoting health. Since mitochondria are where we transform food energy into energy our bodies use, it makes sense why they are so important for health and longevity. Dr. Picard from Columbia University is one of th...
2023-08-2455 min
Metabolic MindKeto and MCT for Alzheimer's, One Doctor's Family JourneyDr. Mary Newport saw first hand the beneficial effects ketones can have for Alzheimer’s dementia when her husband experienced dramatic cognitive improvements. But this was back in 2008 when coconut oil or MCT oil wasn’t easy to find, and metabolic neuroscience was rarely discussed. Fast forward to 2023, and we now have multiple studies demonstrating improved cognition with ketogenic interventions for those with dementia. Dr. Newport shares her husband’s dramatic story, and helps us understand the importance of considering therapeutic ketosis for treating dementia.
Expert featured in this podcast:
Dr. Mary Newport, neonatology specialist
https://coconutketones.com/
Books by Dr...
2023-08-1447 min
Metabolic MindKeto For Alzheimer's: A Treatment Whose Time Has ComeNutritionist Amy Berger literally wrote the book on using therapeutic nutritional ketosis from a ketogenic diet to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s dementia. Now Ms. Berger joins us to review two new studies about ketosis and Alzheimer’s disease and how they fit into the overall scientific basis.
Expert featured in this episode:
Amy Berger, Certified Nutrition Specialist
https://www.tuitnutrition.com/
Twitter @TuitNutrition
Studies Referenced:
Ketogenic Diet as a Promising Non-Drug Intervention for Alzheimer's Disease: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37038820/
Effects of a ketogenic and low-fat diet on the human metabolome, microbiome, and food...
2023-08-0520 min
Metabolic MindAnorExit: A new Treatment Model for AnorexiaA new program for treating Anorexia Nervosa with Ketogenic Therapy called AnorExit is accepting clients. Early evidence and clinical experience indicate that therapeutic nutritional ketosis from a ketogenic diet may effectively treat anorexia nervosa. That's because therapeutic ketosis is much more than a so-called "restrictive diet." Ketosis changes how our brains create energy and can alter neurotransmitters, decrease neuroinflammation, improve mitochondrial health, and more.
The family of Caroline Beckwith, who herself recovered from Anorexia with Ketogenic Therapy, has founded AnorExit. Caroline will provide peer counseling to participants. Registered dietician Denise Potter will provide clinical support. AnorExit is the first-ever...
2023-07-2617 min