12/ What about meds? Yes, they help short-term. But long-term, many damage mitochondria. Palmer warns: You can’t quit cold turkey. Use carefully, under a practitioner's guidance, otherwise you might get severe side effects. But don’t confuse relief with healing.

2/ Palmer: We’re not connecting the dots. Most believe mental illness is caused by: Genes, trauma or chemical imbalance. But those are risk factors, not root causes. The root cause? Mitochondrial dysfunction.

3/ Big idea: All mental illness shares one root. Get one diagnosis? Your risk of another jumps 2–30×. Depression raises heart attack risk by 50–100%. Some pancreatic cancer patients become depressed BEFORE diagnosis. Mental disorders = metabolic disorders in the brain.

4/ Standard treatments help some. But for most? They fail. Palmer says 70-90% of patients who go through meds & therapy remain clinically depressed. Why? Because they don’t fix mitochondria.

5/ Palmer’s story: He grew up battling depression, OCD & suicidal thoughts. During med school, he was diagnosed with metabolic syndrome—despite “doing everything right.” His doctor? “It’s genetic. Take a pill.” He tried a low-carb (Atkins) diet—and fixed both body and mind.

6/ Mitochondria aren’t just the “powerhouses of the cell.” They do more than just turn food and oxygen into ATP (your body’s energy currency). They also regulate your neurotransmitters, hormones, inflammation & epigenetics. And even your trauma response.

7/ What impairs mitochondria? - Poor sleep / circadian disruption - Chronic stress - Ultra-processed food - Substance use: alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, some meds - Hormonal imbalances - Chronic inflammation - Physical inactivity - Nutrient deficiencies - Poor gut health - Loneliness - Lack of Purpose - Unresolved Trauma (List not exhaustive)

8/ “But isn’t trauma the cause of mental illness?” Palmer: Trauma is a risk factor, not the root. Even a perfect childhood can lead to illness. Chronic stress = fight-or-flight mode → cortisol, adrenaline, epigenetic shifts → mitochondrial damage. Trauma impacts metabolism.

9/ Big Idea: ADHD isn’t a fixed brain defect. It’s an issue of energy regulation in the brain. Certain regions are underpowered. Low cellular energy = hyperactivity + poor focus. Stimulants help boost metabolism short-term. But real healing means fixing mitochondria.

10/ "Explain ADHD in kids then?" “Most kids with ADHD aren’t overweight or diabetic.” Palmer: True, but ADHD in kids isn’t random. It’s often linked to metabolically unhealthy parents. When parents have cellular energy dysfunction, it can impair fetal brain development.

11/ "But I was told ADHD is for life." Palmer: Wrong. ADHD is reversible. Not by masking symptoms, but by fixing root causes. Palmer has seen symptoms disappear by restoring brain energy through diet, sleep, and lifestyle. Most never heal, because they’re told they can’t.

13/ The serotonin imbalance theory? Never proven. It started by accident, tuberculosis patients on certain meds felt euphoric. SSRIs were born. But low brain serotonin? Never shown in depressed people. It was a marketing hook, not a medical fact.

14/ Palmer’s 6 pillars for mental health: 1. Diet/Nutrition: No one-size-fits-all. Eat whole foods. Cut added sugar. Avoid artificial sweeteners like aspartame. Ditch sugary drinks. Fix nutrient deficiencies—especially B9, B12, & iron. 2. Substance Use: Reduce or eliminate alcohol, weed, tobacco & unnecessary medications (under medical guidance). 3. Sleep: Prioritize high-quality, consistent sleep. Circadian alignment matters. 4. Exercise: Walk. Resistance train. Do Zone 2 cardio for brain & mitochondria. 5. Stress Reduction: Mindfulness, meditation, breathwork, yoga. 6. Relationships & Purpose: Have fulfilling relationships & a purpose bigger than yourself.

15/ I’d add from my own research: - Never miss morning sunlight. - Cut artificial blue light after sunset. - Reduce EMF exposure. - Take care of your oral health. - Incorporate cold exposure & sauna. - Avoid toxins (heavy metals, mold, pesticides). All of it improves your mitochondrial function.

16/ Tool: Ketogenic Diet Keto mimics fasting, originally used to treat epilepsy. It works by repairing mitochondria. Not a forever diet. It’s a metabolic treatment tool. For bipolar or schizophrenia, Palmer recommends: ketones >1.0 mmol/L (ideally 1.5–3.0).

17/ What about supplements? Palmer: Magnesium, electrolytes: yes. Creatine? Solid data. But no amount of creatine will help if your foundations are off. You can’t out-supplement poor sleep, ultra-processed food, or daily alcohol and weed.

18/ “But it won’t help severe cases…” Palmer’s patient Doris had childhood trauma & 53 years of schizophrenia. At 70, she tried keto for weight loss. Her psychosis remitted, she was off meds for 15 years. She died at 85 from pneumonia. No miracle. Just metabolic healing.

19/ Bottom line: Palmer isn’t selling a miracle cure. He’s challenging the psychiatric paradigm that says mental illness is lifelong or purely genetic. Many have untapped options for healing by improving mitochondrial health. Thousands are in remission by fixing brain energy.

P.S. If this resonated and you’re serious about fixing your mitochondria: I help high performers restore energy at the root. We start with blood biomarkers & build a personalised game plan from there. DM me “MITOCHONDRIA” if you want to explore this path.

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I knew it, there was an explanation.