Metabolic Mind
@Metabolic_Mind • 22,537 subscribers
A nonprofit transforming the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health
Videos
How can doctors, psychiatrists, and other health practitioners implement keto for serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression? In this short interview, Bret Scher, MD sits down with Dr. Georgia Ede to discuss a newly published Delphi consensus paper in Frontiers in Nutrition, authored by eight experienced clinicians and researchers to establish best practices for the use of ketogenic metabolic therapy (KMT) in serious mental illnesses. 📚 Read the Paper: Published in Frontiers in Nutrition: Special shoutout to the 8 authors of this paper which include: Georgia Ede MD, Dr. Matthew Bernstein, Lori Calabrese MD, Iain Campbell, Ph.D., Nicole Laurent, LMHC, Chris Palmer, MD, Shebani Sethi, MD, and Beth Zupec-KANIA, RDN, CD
Metabolic Mind133,734 views • 4 months ago
New Research: Ketogenic Diet Associated with Improvements in Depression in College Students The first ever peer-reviewed pilot trial of ketogenic diet for depression was published today in Translational Psychiatry. The study was conducted in college students with a primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder at The Ohio State University. All 16 students who completed the study saw improvements in depression, with an average reduction in symptoms of 70% across scales. Metabolic health markers also improved. The video below includes perspectives from the research team and students who participated in the study. Read the full study in Translational Psychiatry: Read Ohio State News announcement:
Metabolic Mind82,283 views • 9 months ago
The second-ever pilot trial (published in the Journal of Affective Disorders) is making waves: a virtual medically supervised ketogenic diet showed impressive improvements in people with moderate to severe depression, including nearly 7 out of 8 study completers achieving clinical remission. In this interview, Bret Scher, MD sits down with lead researcher Elisa Brietzke MD, MsC, PhD., Professor of Psychiatry at Queen’s University, to explore the inspiration, execution, and implications of this study.
Metabolic Mind43,776 views • 4 months ago
There’s been a lot of buzz—and confusion—about the new Keto-CTA study, examining plaque progression in Lean Mass Hyper-Responders (LMHRs). Much of the social media debate has centered on whether high LDL on keto is safe or dangerous, driven largely by how to interpret the supplemental table comparing this study to others on LDL and plaque progression. In this episode of the Metabolic Mind Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Matthew Budoff, a world-renowned cardiologist, cardiac CT researcher, and the study's lead investigator, to discuss the the supplemental table, what the plaque markers mean, and how this fits into the discussion of high- vs -low-risk plaque progression. In this episode, we cover: ✅ What PAV (Percent Atheroma Volume) is, what it actually measures, and why it matters ✅ Why a 50% increase in plaque may sound scary, but can be deceiving ✅ The difference between “treatment-naive” and “treated” participants ✅ What the Miami Heart Study comparison reveals about keto, LDL, and plaque ✅ Why LDL alone may not tell the whole story about heart disease risk ✅ How some high-risk individuals may still benefit from statins and other therapies This study doesn’t answer whether keto causes heart disease or not. Instead, it shows that high LDL on a ketogenic diet is not a reliable predictor of plaque progression across all individuals. What is predictive? The presence of existing plaque. 💡 Key takeaway: Relying on surrogate markers of heart disease, like LDL and ApoB, is not the best way to assess heart disease risk in all populations. If you're concerned about how elevated LDL may be affecting your heart health, the best next step is to speak with your doctor about cardiac imaging to directly assess plaque and gain a clearer picture of your individual risk. Expert Featured: - Dr. Matthew Budoff - X: - Resources Mentioned: Plaque Begets Plaque, ApoB Does Not CMEs Mentioned: Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry. Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at
Metabolic Mind98,147 views • 1 year ago
"Long story short, this last ditch effort saved my life." -- Mia Mendez, #WorldBipolarDay Ketogenic Therapy (medical keto) is helping people around the world with even severe bipolar illness reclaim their mental and physical health. On World Bipolar Day 2024, all of us at our non-profit are grateful to the five generous, resilient individuals who've shared their stories of #BipolarRemission in this 6-minute video. Psychiatric medications have their place, but for some people, #KetogenicTherapy is a helpful complement, or even a replacement, over time, for pharmaceutical treatments. As the results of the first clinical trials of ketogenic therapy for #BipolarDisorder are being published, we take this day to celebrate the clinicians, researchers and individuals who are making this new #BipolarTreatment a reality. Thank you to so many, including @DyaneHarwood, RecoverWithMia, Robyn Dobbins, Chloe, Chris Palmer, MD, Georgia Ede MD, Shebani Sethi, MD, Iain Campbell, Ph.D., Nicole Laurent, LMHC, Ellenhorn, Lori Calabrese MD and Beth Zupec-KANIA, RDN, CD! Visit our website and YouTube channel for free resources at the intersection of metabolism and mental health, including Hannah Warren's latest blog post:
Metabolic Mind130,747 views • 2 years ago
The Keto + LDL study is making waves online—but what did it really show? In this video, Dr. Matthew Budoff, principal investigator from UCLA’s Lundquist Institute, breaks down the findings behind the headlines. While social media has the tendency to rush to simplify the results of a complex study like this, here is what is important to know: 🫀 The study did observe plaque progression in Lean Mass Hyper-Responders. 📊 LDL and Apo-B were not predictive of the amount of plaque progression but baseline plaque was Thus the results do not imply that LMHRs are at a zero risk for plaque progression. But determining how much of a risk depends on understanding the exact measurement techniques used in the study. Stay tuned for upcoming videos exploring the nuances of measurement techniques, data interpretation, and cardiovascular risk in this unique population. 🎧 Listen to the full interview with Dr. Budoff here:
Metabolic Mind65,039 views • 1 year ago
There is NO evidence that a keto diet increases the risk of heart disease. What there IS emerging evidence for is the potential metabolic & mental health benefits of #TherapeuticNutritionalKetosis. These alone merit future studies on its use as a medical treatment.
Metabolic Mind134,961 views • 3 years ago
Considering ketogenic therapy for bipolar disorder or other serious mental illnesses? This powerful story from Shannon Harwood shows how ketogenic therapy helped her achieve full remission from bipolar 2 disorder after 35 years of recurring episodes, failed medications, and misdiagnoses. In this video, Shannon shares her personal journey: from undiagnosed symptoms in her teens, to years of misdiagnosis and ineffective treatments, to discovering ketogenic therapy at age 48. Within just five days of starting, she experienced a dramatic shift in her mental clarity, energy, and overall functioning. You'll hear: - How bipolar 2 disorder often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as major depression - The impact of living with unrelenting depressive episodes for decades - How medications helped—but also introduced serious side effects - Why she turned to ketogenic therapy and how it changed everything - What it means to find root cause healing instead of just symptom management Shannon is now off all psychiatric medications and has remained symptom-free for years. Her story is one of hope, resilience, and the possibility of full recovery. If you or someone you love is navigating severe mental illness and looking for new options, this is a must-watch. #MetabolicHealth #KetogenicTherapy #BipolarDisorder #MentalHealthRecovery #MetabolicMind #Bipolar2 #HealingIsPossible #NutritionAndMentalHealth #RootCauseHealing Resources Mentioned: - Get better acquainted with Shannon’s mental health strategies at her THINK+SMART profile: - Learn more about the THINK+SMART framework: a self-guided, community-based framework that helps you develop a customized metabolic approach to mental health: Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry. Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at
Metabolic Mind55,537 views • 1 year ago
We are thrilled today to introduce THINK+SMART, a new community-inspired tool from Metabolic Mind designed to help individuals take control of their mental health. THINK+SMART is an acronym that describes a metabolic approach to mental health. THINK stands for therapeutic integration of nutritional ketosis. SMART stands for sleep, move, avoid, rebuild, and track. Together, these provide a framework for implementing personalized ketogenic and metabolic therapies to combat mental illness. Imagine being in the driver’s seat of your mental well-being, guided by cutting-edge clinical expertise and research from experts like Chris Palmer, MD, Georgia Ede MD, Nicole Laurent, LMHC, Iain Campbell, Ph.D., and Martin Picard and inspired by stories of resilience from those who’ve walked this path like RecoverWithMia, Lauren Kennedy West, Harmony Bright, Eric Rodgers, Caroline Beckwith, Neseret Bemient, Emily Anne, @BaszuckiMatt, Robyn Dobbins, Steven T, Wesley Braden, Donika Hristova, and more. This is what THINK+SMART provides! Whether you’re a practitioner or someone living with a psychiatric disorder, we hope THINK+SMART will serve as a resource for improving metabolism to improve your overall physical and mental health. Visit to learn more.
Metabolic Mind55,346 views • 1 year ago
Ketogenic therapy is emerging as a promising intervention for bipolar disorder, offering new hope through a metabolic approach to mental health. This #WorldBipolarDay, we're sharing powerful stories and insights about how targeting brain energy and metabolism can support mood stability and overall well-being. In this video, individuals with lived experience and experts in the field explain how ketogenic therapy has helped reduce manic episodes, improve emotional regulation, and restore a sense of calm. By addressing the root causes of brain dysfunction, metabolic strategies are transforming lives and challenging how we think about mental health treatment. It's more than a diet. It's a movement toward treating the whole person. Check out the new Bipolar Disorder Resource Hub at ⭐️Featured: Georgia Ede MD Chris Palmer, MD Iain Campbell, Ph.D. 🔥Steven T.🔥 Lauren Kennedy West @BaszuckiMatt @OliverSeligman RecoverWithMia Neseret Bemient
Metabolic Mind45,240 views • 1 year ago
Introducing Metabolic Collective, a new patient and family-led nonprofit dedicated to bringing metabolic psychiatry into the mainstream. 🧠⚡️ Born from the volunteers who supported Chris Palmer, MD, the Collective is here to ensure that metabolic therapies aren't just a niche, but the standard of care. Learn more about Metabolic Collective by visiting the link in the first comment👇 Hannah Warren Natasha Smikles BrainHeal(th)
Metabolic Mind14,679 views • 5 months ago
A new meta-analysis of 174 randomized controlled trials on “carbohydrate-restricted diets” found consistent benefits for body composition, blood pressure, inflammation, and more. But instead of highlighting the metabolic benefits, most of the headlines focused almost entirely on a small bump in LDL. In this video, Bret Scher, MD breaks down why that reaction misses the point, and how biases in nutrition reporting are holding back real progress in improving metabolic health.
Metabolic Mind15,690 views • 6 months ago
What 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 (Benjamin Bikman), metabolic health researcher and professor at BYU, joins Dr. Bret Scher (Bret Scher, MD) 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. Rather than prescribing high doses indefinitely, Dr. Bikman proposes a more targeted approach: - Microdosing GLP-1s to enhance satiety and reduce cravings for processed carbs - Using the medication as a temporary metabolic tool to support transitions to lower-carb diets - Reducing long-term risks such as muscle loss, mood changes, and diminishing effectiveness - Emphasizing the importance of habit change, insulin regulation, and muscle preservation This conversation reimagines GLP-1s not as a lifelong solution, but as a catalyst for sustainable, low-insulin lifestyles, aligned with ketogenic and metabolic therapies. 📌 Could a 90-day microdosing protocol replace years of medication? Learn how this metabolic-first strategy could empower patients to reclaim their health, without becoming dependent on medication for life. #GLP1 #Ozempic #Wegovy #Mounjaro #BenBikman #MetabolicHealth #Microdosing #InsulinResistance #LowCarbDiet #KetogenicTherapy #MedicalWeightLoss #BretScher #MetabolicMind Expert Featured: Dr. Benjamin Bikman Benjamin Bikman Papers/Articles Mentioned: Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry. Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at Timestamps: 0:00 - What if we’re using GLP-1s all wrong? 1:40 - Dr. Benjamin Bikman’s interest in metabolic health and GLP-1s 3:20 - Unexpected side effect of GLP-1s 5:26 - Are GLP-1s actually beneficial? 10:55 - The difference between “weight loss” and metabolic health 15:10 - The role of cravings and satiety signals 19:58 - Dr. Bikman’s ideal use of GLP-1s 24:14 - “Self-discipline in a syringe” 25:11 - Are all weight loss interventions beneficial? 27:20- New studies examining microdosing GLP-1s 32:12 - Learn more about Dr. Bikman
Metabolic Mind20,486 views • 11 months ago
A new meta-analysis published in JAMA Psychiatry examined 50 different keto studies, totaling over 40,000 participants, that included depression and anxiety outcomes. The results? Modest improvement in depression symptoms across different populations and diagnoses in both controlled and real-world scenarios Greater symptom improvement was observed in trials that included ketone monitoring. A larger effect was seen in “very low carbohydrate” diets compared to just “low carbohydrate” diets. Improvements in anxiety were also observed in most studies, but with less consistency than depressive symptoms. In this video, @bretschermd breaks down findings from this study and what the results mean for psychiatry.
Metabolic Mind12,655 views • 6 months ago
“It was like I’d gotten my mind back.” “This lovely calm kind of came into me and it sort of stayed.” These are real quotes from participants in Iain Campbell, Ph.D.'s newly published study in BJPsych Open looking at ketogenic therapy for bipolar disorder that just dropped today! 📃 Read it here: This new study is one of the first to use advanced brain imaging to evaluate the impact ketosis has on bipolar disorder. Combined with blood biomarker data, this study demonstrated that ketosis can lead to favorable brain and metabolite changes which translated to impressive quality of life improvements in the study participants. The participant stories in this video and in the study as a whole are moving and reinforce the urgent need to fight for new treatments for each individual living with bipolar disorder. This new study contributes to the growing body of research supporting the use of ketogenic therapy as a #newbipolartreatment.
Metabolic Mind21,800 views • 1 year ago
Could it be that only 5-7% of individuals with mental health conditions in the U.S. receive highly effective treatment? Let that sink in. Our medical system is failing to deliver effective evidence-based, solutions to millions of people that are relying on it for care. Harvard psychiatrist Chris Palmer, MD, author of Brain Energy, believes we can do better. Dr. Palmer has been at the forefront of metabolic psychiatry, an innovative approach targeting the root causes of mental illness, like metabolic dysfunction and brain energy deficits. Emerging strategies like ketogenic therapy are showing promise, offering new possibilities for recovery and transforming mental health care as we know it. There is an urgent need for a paradigm shift in psychiatry and in this interview, Dr. Palmer highlights how metabolic therapies are opening new doors for recovery. We can do better. And we must. Watch the full episode here:
Metabolic Mind22,321 views • 1 year ago