background logo image

Hear From Others

Hear from individuals who are improving their mental health and achieving long-term wellness using ketogenic and metabolic strategies.

Community

Explore THINK + SMART Strategies

Metabolic Mind grew out of a desire to bring people together around a united mission: to improve the lives of those living with mental health challenges. Hear from people who have transformed their lives using a metabolic approach to brain health.

Explore Strategies
Infographic illustrating the connection between metabolic health and brain function, highlighting key factors like nutrition, mitochondria, and mental clarity.

Stronger Together

A Community-Inspired Framework

THINK+SMART is Metabolic Mind’s community-inspired framework that helps individuals employ metabolic therapies to improve mental health.

Shared Knowledge

Shared Knowledge

THINK+SMART collects stories from individuals with diverse backgrounds, diagnoses, experiences and approaches. Their collective wisdom includes proven strategies, common pitfalls, and innovative approaches that have worked.

Support & Motivation

Support & Motivation

Signing up for THINK+SMART makes you part of a like-minded community. You’ll receive regular email updates to help keep you motivated on your ketogenic and metabolic journey toward better health.

Ongoing Learning

Ongoing Learning

A strong community platform evolves with its members. As new tools, practices, and evidence emerge, THINK+SMART will capture innovation and share it back so that you can continuously experiment and evolve your approach to wellness.

a growing community

THINK + SMART Profiles

Every week, we receive new submissions from individuals who are using THINK+SMART strategies to improve their mental and neurological health. Dive into community profiles to find examples of specific strategies that are helping people manage symptoms better, improve well-being, and even send their disorders into remission.
Emily Anne Herrick

Emily Anne Herrick

in-remission-from

Depression

Matthew Baszucki

Matthew Baszucki

recovered-from

Bipolar 1

Lauren Kennedy West

Lauren Kennedy West

in-remission-from

Schizoaffective Disorder

Caroline Beckwith

Caroline Beckwith

in-remission-from

Anorexia Nervosa

Wesley Braden

Wesley Braden

managing

Bipolar 2

Neseret Bemient

Neseret Bemient

in-remission-from

Antidepressant Induced Bipolar 2

Eric Rodgers

Eric Rodgers

in-remission-from

Depression

Mia Mendez

Mia Mendez

in-remission-from

Bipolar Disorder

Robyn Dobbins

Robyn Dobbins

in-remission-from

Bipolar, Depression, OCD

Harmony Bright

Harmony Bright

recovering-from

Schizophrenia

Steven T.

Steven T.

recovering-from

Bipolar 2 Mixed, Substance Abuse

Donika Hristova

Donika Hristova

recovered-from

Bipolar Type 2, Binge Eating Disorder

Lori Graham

Lori Graham

recovering-from

Major Depression & Generalized Anxiety

Tanner L.

Tanner L.

in-remission-from

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Dyane Harwood

Dyane Harwood

thriving-with

Bipolar 1

Henk van Wijk

Henk van Wijk

in-remission-from

PTSD

Lily Zhang

Lily Zhang

in-remission-from

Depression

Lori

Lori

treating

Bipolar, ADHD & Binge Eating Disorder

Kelsey S.

Kelsey S.

managing

Depression, OCD, Trichotillomania, & PTSD

Lewis Anstee

Lewis Anstee

recovered-from

Paranoid Schizophrenia

Shannon Harwood

Shannon Harwood

recovered-from

Bipolar 2

Lexa Martinez de la Cueva

Lexa Martinez de la Cueva

Healing From

Schizoaffective Disorder

Oliver Seligman

Oliver Seligman

managing

Bipolar 1

Elisabeth Sloetjes

Elisabeth Sloetjes

recovered-from

Bipolar 2 with Rapid Cycling

J.P. Weedon

J.P. Weedon

recovering-from

Bipolar Disorder

Michelle Hurn

Michelle Hurn

in-remission-from

Anorexia, Depression & Anxiety

Valerie Anne Smith

Valerie Anne Smith

in-remission-from

Schizophrenia, OCD & Anorexia

Moira Newiss

Moira Newiss

treating

Depression & Anxiety

Brianna Mitchell

Brianna Mitchell

recovering-from

Pre Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Natasha Smikles

Natasha Smikles

managing

ADHD & Anxiety

Emily Anne Herrick

Emily Anne Herrick

in-remission-from

Depression

Topics: depression, anxiety

Matthew Baszucki

Matthew Baszucki

recovered-from

Bipolar 1

Topics: Bipolar 1

Lauren Kennedy West

Lauren Kennedy West

in-remission-from

Schizoaffective Disorder

Topics: Schizoaffective Disorder

Caroline Beckwith

Caroline Beckwith

in-remission-from

Anorexia Nervosa

Topics: Anorexia Nervosa

Wesley Braden

Wesley Braden

managing

Bipolar 2

Topics: Bipolar 2

Neseret Bemient

Neseret Bemient

in-remission-from

Antidepressant Induced Bipolar 2

Topics: Bipolar 2

Eric Rodgers

Eric Rodgers

in-remission-from

Depression

Topics: depression

Mia Mendez

Mia Mendez

in-remission-from

Bipolar Disorder

Topics: Bipolar 1

Robyn Dobbins

Robyn Dobbins

in-remission-from

Bipolar, Depression, OCD

Topics: depression, Bipolar 1, OCD

Harmony Bright

Harmony Bright

recovering-from

Schizophrenia

Topics: Schizophrenia

Steven T.

Steven T.

recovering-from

Bipolar 2 Mixed, Substance Abuse

Topics: Bipolar 2

Donika Hristova

Donika Hristova

recovered-from

Bipolar Type 2, Binge Eating Disorder

Topics: Bipolar 2, Binge Eating Disorder

Lori Graham

Lori Graham

recovering-from

Major Depression & Generalized Anxiety

Topics: depression, anxiety

Tanner L.

Tanner L.

in-remission-from

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Topics: OCD

Dyane Harwood

Dyane Harwood

thriving-with

Bipolar 1

Topics: Bipolar 1

Henk van Wijk

Henk van Wijk

in-remission-from

PTSD

Topics: PTSD

Lily Zhang

Lily Zhang

in-remission-from

Depression

Topics: depression

Lori

Lori

treating

Bipolar, ADHD & Binge Eating Disorder

Topics: Bipolar 1, Binge Eating Disorder, ADHD

Kelsey S.

Kelsey S.

managing

Depression, OCD, Trichotillomania, & PTSD

Topics: depression, OCD, PTSD, Trichotillomania

Lewis Anstee

Lewis Anstee

recovered-from

Paranoid Schizophrenia

Topics: Schizophrenia

Shannon Harwood

Shannon Harwood

recovered-from

Bipolar 2

Topics: Bipolar 2

Lexa Martinez de la Cueva

Lexa Martinez de la Cueva

Healing From

Schizoaffective Disorder

Topics: Schizoaffective Disorder

Oliver Seligman

Oliver Seligman

managing

Bipolar 1

Topics: Bipolar 1

Elisabeth Sloetjes

Elisabeth Sloetjes

recovered-from

Bipolar 2 with Rapid Cycling

Topics: Bipolar 2

J.P. Weedon

J.P. Weedon

recovering-from

Bipolar Disorder

Topics: Bipolar 1

Michelle Hurn

Michelle Hurn

in-remission-from

Anorexia, Depression & Anxiety

Topics: depression, anxiety, Anorexia Nervosa

Valerie Anne Smith

Valerie Anne Smith

in-remission-from

Schizophrenia, OCD & Anorexia

Topics: Anorexia Nervosa, OCD, Schizophrenia

Moira Newiss

Moira Newiss

treating

Depression & Anxiety

Topics: depression, anxiety

Brianna Mitchell

Brianna Mitchell

recovering-from

Pre Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Topics: PMDD

Natasha Smikles

Natasha Smikles

managing

ADHD & Anxiety

Topics: anxiety, ADHD

General Questions

What is the connection between metabolic health and mental health?

Many people are surprised to learn that numerous studies indicate that those with poor metabolic health, including impairments like insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, or type 2 diabetes, have a significantly increased risk of serious mental illness such as bipolar disorder, major depression, or schizophrenia.

The correlation holds in the opposite direction as well; those with serious mental illness have a higher likelihood of having metabolic dysfunction. Clinical experience and emerging evidence suggest that improving metabolism through ketogenic diets–as well as smart approaches to nutrient deficiencies, sleep, exercise, and stress reduction–can create mental health. This is the connection we explore at Metabolic Mind.

What are metabolic therapies for mental health?

Metabolic therapies for mental health are interventions or treatments that improve systemic metabolic and mitochondrial function to prevent, reduce, or eliminate symptoms of psychiatric illness. Typical therapies include nutritional ketosis, sleep management, movement/exercise, substance use management, meditation, and mindfulness. In addition, medications that improve insulin resistance are sometimes used to address psychiatric symptoms.

What mental illnesses can be helped by metabolic therapies?

At Metabolic Mind, we are primarily focused on the most serious mental illnesses like major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and anorexia nervosa. But in his book Brain Energy, Dr. Chris Palmer posits that if mental illness results from metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction of the brain, then any disorder caused by disordered energy metabolism could benefit from these therapies. According to Dr. Palmer, the scientific literature has identified mitochondrial dysfunction in the following psychiatric conditions:

  • schizophrenia
  • schizoaffective disorder
  • bipolar disorder
  • major depression
  • autism
  • anxiety disorders
  • obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • anorexia nervosa
  • alcohol use disorder (alcoholism)
  • marijuana use disorder
  • opioid use disorder
  • borderline personality disorder
  • Alzheimer’s disease

What is ketogenic therapy for mental illness?

Ketogenic therapy for mental illness is a sustained dietary strategy that improves metabolic function by inducing therapeutic nutritional ketosis to prevent, reduce, or eliminate symptoms of psychiatric illness.

There can be many different components of ketogenic therapy, but it often includes selecting a low-carb dietary strategy (what and what not to eat), establishing a target macronutrient ratio (typically 60% calories or more from fat), measuring ketones daily, and restricting timing of eating (when and when not to eat). Ketogenic therapy can also include tracking metabolic and mental health measures (see our sample lab order here), and supplementing with electrolytes, MCT oil, exogenous ketones, carnitine, Vitamin D, B12, and other nutrients.