The Metabolic Mind Blog:
Fueling Mental Health

How Ketosis, Metabolism, and Timing Could Shape Your Brain’s Future

Professor Matt Budoff responds to questions about the new study on Keto, Cholesterol and Plaque Progression

A Closer Look at a Common Yet Misunderstood Mental Health Condition — and the Emerging Therapies That Are Changing Lives

A one-year prospective study found that very high cholesterol in 100 otherwise metabolically healthy individuals on a ketogenic diet for an average of 5 years did not correlate with atherosclerosis.

Psychosis, like dreams, is an altered reality—vivid, surreal, and immersive. With metabolic healing, I process its lessons with clarity instead of fearing relapse.

My journey from psychosis to remission: How I restored my brain energy.

And why metabolic brain dysfunction is a more accurate description.

Thinking about keto long-term? Research supports its safety and effectiveness, especially for mental and metabolic health, with no proven risks from ongoing ketosis.

Insights from Dr. Iain Campbell’s Research

Healing isn’t just about symptom relief—it’s about transformation. THINK+SMART offers a roadmap for recovery, helping individuals reclaim their lives.

Have you wondered if there is a better way to predict the risk for heart disease than using LDL cholesterol? It turns out, there is. Discover why coronary imaging tests offer a clearer picture—and how this article can help demystify them.

Embark on your ketogenic therapy journey with confidence! This guide shares 10 essential steps for safe and effective implementation to improve mental and metabolic health.

From the depths of psychosis to the light of recovery, this article explores how envisioning a better future can transform despair into hope.

Current USDA dietary advice fuels chronic diseases, ignoring evidence on ultra-processed foods and metabolic health.

Enjoy this holiday season with empowering keto tips from our community. Discover practical strategies, emotional insights, and how to cultivate a no-compromise mentality. 

Emerging research highlights the potential of ketogenic therapy to address PTSD’s metabolic roots, offering hope for better treatments and outcomes.

From end-of-life care to personal rebirth: reflections on life, death, and the profound impact of healing through metabolic therapies for mental and neurological health.

An overview of carb cycling on keto: potential benefits, considerations, and guidance for those interested in flexible ketosis.

Ten Awardees have received a $10,000 prize to help them pursue future goals.

Mental illness can be reversible through metabolic therapies, challenging the idea of lifelong chronic diagnoses in psychiatry.

Through metabolic therapies, I've discovered that the positives I once believed were tied to my bipolar illness—like creativity and philosophical thinking—can be retained in recovery.

Understanding how to balance protein intake while on a ketogenic diet can be essential for those using this dietary approach to treat a psychiatric condition. Here are six key points on protein consumption for those implementing ketogenic therapy.

Harness hedonic adaptation to boost happiness: practice negative visualization, savor experiences, and embrace failure for personal growth.

Enjoy a happy keto-friendly summer with increased energy & a vibrant social life. Savor delicious keto foods, engage in enriching activities, & embrace solitude for healing.

This blog is from an interview conducted by Metabolic Mind’s Dr. Bret Scher with Deanna Kelly, PharmD, BCPP, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Reinforce positive behaviors by visualizing your Future Self: Let meditation and metabolic therapies guide you to your desired future.

Five Things I Share from a Lived-Experience Perspective

We recommend working with trained clinicians when implementing a medical keto diet, but what are the options if a patient cannot access metabolic psychiatry care?

I’m grateful to be well, so why am I also angry?

Ketogenic therapy has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of bipolar disorder. Rigorous research is investigating mechanisms, but some patients may not want to wait.

Can vegetarians and vegans use ketogenic therapy as a cutting-edge treatment for psychiatric disorders?

We need advocates to rally for precision psychiatry and better, more effective mental health treatment options.

Learn how Dr. Erin Bellamy has seen ketogenic therapy's success in her own practice.

What can you expect from the Metabolic Mind blog?

This piece was originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle on May 23, 2023.

Time to connect with your Future Self! This article explores how the “science of Future Self” can help with implementing Metabolic Therapies.

An emerging connection between metabolic and mental health can change treatment paradigms for psychiatric illness.

My very merry Christmas without the cookies: how eating with all your senses and using the power of language can enhance your holidays.

Sensational headlines are attention-catching, but there may be more than meets the eye

Learn more about bipolar disorder in Dr. Bret Scher’s interview with Dr. Iain Campbell, a research scientist from the University of Edinburgh studying – and living with – bipolar disorder

If you’re considering using a ketogenic diet to treat a mental disorder, it’s extremely important to seek professional guidance from your treating clinicians. Here are key points to discuss with your physician.

Embracing a body-positive approach to metabolic mental health.

A recent study published in Nature Medicine showed that there is a connection between higher blood levels of erythritol and a higher risk of stroke and heart attacks. Does this mean that we should all stop having erythritol-sweetened products? Read on to see how Bret Scher, MD recommends that we look at this study.

When countless people are suffering and lives are at stake, why invest time and money in Randomized Controlled Trials?

What you eat can directly impact your metabolic health and your mental health.

When starting a ketogenic diet or initiating therapeutic nutritional ketosis for treating a psychiatric illness, careful management of your medications is critical.

An inspiring story of how one family used a ketogenic diet to get their daughter and their lives back from the cognitive decline that comes with Down Syndrome.

Emerging evidence indicates that ketogenic therapy can help treat mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anorexia, and others. But some may question whether it is safe.

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.

There’s a common belief that ketogenic therapy increases your risk of developing heart disease. But the reality is there is no such evidence.

Is ice cream healthy? Or has nutritional epidemiology misled us again?

Read this article to learn what insulin resistance is and how to test for it.