Metabolic Mind Podcast

Metabolic Mind Podcast

Meet Dr. Bret Scher: The Host Behind Metabolic Mind

In a special role-reversal episode, producer Erica Gerard turns the microphone on host Dr. Bret Scher himself, tracing his path from a sports-obsessed San Diego kid to a rule-following cardiologist trained in low-fat, plant-based orthodoxy, through the personal and clinical frustrations that led him to ketogenic therapy, and on to his work at Diet Doctor and now Metabolic Mind. The conversation blends career reflection with lighter personal questions about hobbies, stress relief, and what keeps him hopeful about the future of metabolic psychiatry.

48 min July 21, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Psychiatry Research Priorities: Keto, GLP-1s, Exercise & Mental Illness

Dr. Bret Scher speaks with Dr. Toby Pillinger and Dr. Dina Farran of King's College London about their year-long priority setting partnership, a structured process bringing together patients, caregivers, and clinicians to determine the top 10 research questions on metabolic interventions for serious mental illness. The conversation covers how the project was built, what people actually want researched, and why the results reveal a striking shift in how patients themselves view the role of metabolism in psychiatric illness.

30 min July 19, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Lipidologist Questions the New Keto and Liver Disease Study

In this Metabolic Mind Bitesize episode, Dr. Bret Scher tackles a new study claiming ketogenic diets worsen fatty liver disease, a finding that appears to contradict prior research showing keto helps treat fatty liver. He breaks down why this retrospective cross-sectional study from China is deeply flawed, from never verifying ketosis to ignoring reverse causality and baseline differences, then contrasts it with a much stronger body of randomized controlled trial evidence showing the opposite conclusion.

8 min July 16, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

How One CGM Changed This Cardiologist’s Life

Dr. Bret Scher interviews cardiologist Dr. Jaimela Dulaney, who built her private practice around a plant-based approach before her own experience as an ultra-runner and a continuous glucose monitor revealed she was insulin resistant despite doing "everything right." She describes the difficult transition to low-carb and keto for herself, her practice, and her family, and how prioritizing metabolic health over LDL alone reshaped how she treats patients and views cardiovascular risk.

43 min July 14, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Dr. Dom D’Agostino on Why Metabolic Health Matters for the Brain

Recorded live at the CoSci 2025 conference, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Dominic D'Agostino for a wide-ranging conversation on metabolic health as the foundation of brain function. They discuss the Cholesterol Code documentary, the value of N-of-1 citizen science alongside traditional RCTs, teaching nutrition and ketogenic metabolic therapies to medical students, and D'Agostino's own Metabolic Link Podcast, which explores everything from metabolic psychiatry to an upcoming debate on fructose.

14 min July 12, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

First RCT of Keto for Schizophrenia & Bipolar Disorder: Results & Future Directions

A newly published randomized controlled trial explored whether ketogenic therapy could improve outcomes for people with psychosis spectrum disorders, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder with psychosis. In this interview, Dr. Julie Milder breaks down the study's design, key findings, and why longer-term data suggest ketogenic therapy may improve not only metabolic health, but also psychiatric symptoms and cognition.

19 mins July 10, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

First RCT of Keto for Schizophrenia & Bipolar Disorder: Results & Future Directions

Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Baszucki Group's Director of Neuroscience, Dr. Julie Milder, to unpack the first randomized controlled trial of ketogenic therapy for psychosis spectrum disorders. They walk through the unusual two-phase design, a four-week RCT that extended into a four-month open-label study, and discuss what the metabolic and psychiatric results reveal, plus the trial-design lessons shaping the next wave of research into ketogenic interventions for serious mental illness.

21 min July 10, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Schizophrenia, Bipolar, and Ketogenic Therapy: What We Learned From Results of New Trial

Metabolic Mailbag with Dr. Bret Scher and producer Erica tackles five listener questions in rapid fire: whether seed oils are truly dangerous, what anhedonia is and how it connects to antidepressants and ketogenic therapy, the ongoing plant-based versus keto debate, why the dawn phenomenon means something different for a type 2 diabetic than for someone in ketosis, and how to actually define ketoacidosis versus a high but benign ketone reading. Bret brings his usual skepticism toward nutrition epidemiology and healthy-user bias into each answer, while keeping the advice practical for everyday listeners.

4 min July 8, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Q&A: Are Seed Oils Bad? Plant-Based vs Keto? Dawn Phenomenon & More

Metabolic Mailbag with Dr. Bret Scher and producer Erica tackles five listener questions in rapid fire: whether seed oils are truly dangerous, what anhedonia is and how it connects to antidepressants and ketogenic therapy, the ongoing plant-based versus keto debate, why the dawn phenomenon means something different for a type 2 diabetic than for someone in ketosis, and how to actually define ketoacidosis versus a high but benign ketone reading. Bret brings his usual skepticism toward nutrition epidemiology and healthy-user bias into each answer, while keeping the advice practical for everyday listeners.

23 min July 5, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Setting the Record Straight on NATURE-CT and Ketogenic Diets

Dr. Bret Scher clarifies confusion around the NATURE-CT study on natural coronary plaque progression, pushing back on social media claims that it proves ketogenic diets are dangerous. He explains this study says nothing about keto specifically, and that comparisons to the retracted KETO-CTA study are scientifically invalid due to methodological flaws and mismatched baseline risk factors between the two very different populations studied.

8 min July 1, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Keto 101: Beginner’s Guide to Meals, Snacks, and Carb Limits

Dr. Bret Scher walks beginners through the practical basics of starting a ketogenic diet, covering which foods to eat and avoid, sample meal ideas, and keto-friendly snacks. He explains why he prefers describing foods as "compatible" with ketosis rather than strictly "keto" or "not keto," and emphasizes that lifestyle factors like sleep and stress also play a role in achieving and maintaining ketosis.

7 min June 26, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

David Baszucki: What My Son’s Recovery Taught Me About Mental Illness

In this special crossover episode from the Keto Bipolar Podcast, David Baszucki, founder and CEO of Roblox, joins his son Matt to discuss Matt's years-long struggle with bipolar disorder, including a harrowing manic episode that left Matt homeless on the streets of LA before David tracked him down. They share how their family's search for answers beyond heavy medication led them to discover ketogenic therapy, sparking the creation of Baszucki Group and helping launch the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry.

1hr 25min June 24, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Dr. Eric Westman on the Future of Metabolic Medicine

Dr. Eric Westman joins Dr. Bret Scher at the CoSci Conference to discuss the Cholesterol Code documentary and Dave Feldman's journey from self-experimentation to challenging medical assumptions about LDL and low-carb diets. Westman argues doctors overweight modest LDL changes while ignoring major reversals in diabetes and other metabolic conditions, and shares his perspective on responsibly integrating GLP-1 medications alongside lifestyle interventions like ketogenic diets.

22 min June 22, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Q&A: Keto for AFib, Heart Risk, Ketone Levels & More

Dr. Bret Scher and producer Erica tackle listener questions in this Metabolic Mailbag episode, covering whether keto helps or hurts AFib risk, concerns over the controversial KETO-CTA study's flawed initial data, and practical troubleshooting for someone experiencing low energy and brain fog despite strict adherence to keto. They wrap up with a stepwise approach for safely raising ketone levels when standard adjustments aren't working.

18 min June 19, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Do Eggs Actually Cause Heart Disease?

Dr. Bret Scher tackles the long-running debate over eggs and cholesterol, explaining that while eggs can mildly raise LDL for some people, this doesn't automatically translate to increased heart disease risk. He breaks down why headlines warning against eggs rely on weak observational data with tiny effect sizes, and highlights eggs' impressive nutritional profile, including protein, choline, and fat-soluble vitamins, arguing overall diet quality matters far more than egg consumption alone.

10 min June 17, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Dr. Ken Berry on the Medical Landscape of Chronic Disease

Dr. Ken Berry joins Dr. Bret Scher at the CoSci Conference to discuss the Cholesterol Code documentary and broader concerns about pharmaceutical influence on clinical guidelines. Berry shares his frustrating experience trying to engage the American Diabetes Association on low-carb diets for diabetes, which led him to co-found the American Diabetes Society, a parallel nonprofit aimed at offering evidence-based, low-carb-friendly guidance and reigniting doctors' curiosity as lifelong learners.

14 mins June 15, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The New Protein Guidelines Reignited the Plant vs. Animal Debate

Dr. Bret Scher responds to criticism of new federal protein guidelines that would roughly double current recommendations, arguing the old 0.8 grams per kilogram standard was only designed to prevent muscle loss, not support optimal health. He makes the case for 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram from whole food sources, addressing concerns that higher protein targets might push people toward processed protein products, and emphasizes better food literacy as the real solution.

7 mins June 12, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Fish Oil Linked to Alzheimer’s in New Study: Cause for Concern?

Dr. Bret Scher examines a new study using the ADNI database suggesting omega-3 supplements may accelerate cognitive decline in older adults with Alzheimer's, but argues the study has major limitations, most notably no data on supplement quality, dosage, or fish oil oxidation levels. He contrasts this with consistent evidence favoring dietary omega-3s from whole foods like fatty fish, and emphasizes that supplement quality and freshness matter far more than most people realize.

8 mins June 10, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

After Losing His Brother, He Set Out to Reinvent Mental Health Care

Kristian Ranta, who founded Meru Health after losing his brother to suicide despite him receiving traditional psychiatric care, discusses building a whole-person virtual mental health platform that incorporates blood work, nutrition (including low-carb and ketogenic options), sleep, and behavior change alongside therapy and medication. He shares published data showing Meru's integrative approach outperforms standard treatment for depression and anxiety, with benefits sustained up to two years post-treatment.

29 mins June 8, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

New Study from 25-Year Eating Disorder Expert

Dr. Guido Frank discusses his 22-person pilot study using a weight-maintaining ketogenic diet to treat anorexia nervosa, a condition with historically few effective biological treatments. By study's end, participants' scores fell below the clinical cutoff for anorexia, with weight remaining stable throughout, and Frank calls the results "astounding," stating he hasn't seen any other intervention work as well in his 25 years treating eating disorders.

34 mins June 5, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

What a Ketogenic Diet Did to Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms in a New Pilot Trial

Dr. Guido Frank discusses his newly published study in Communications Medicine testing a weight-maintaining ketogenic diet in adults with anorexia nervosa, a condition with historically limited biological treatment options. Of 22 participants, 82% completed the 14-week trial, and 72% showed eating and body-related concerns along with depression scores within the normal range, with no signs of symptom worsening or unwanted weight loss.

4 mins June 3, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Triglycerides Down, Plaque Unchanged: What This Trial Reveals

Dr. Bret Scher examines a new trial showing the drug olezarsen dramatically lowered triglycerides and ApoB, yet produced zero reduction in coronary artery plaque. He uses this as a case study for a broader point: lowering a lab number with a drug isn't the same as fixing the underlying metabolic dysfunction that caused it, drawing parallels to blood sugar, blood pressure, and weight management medications.

4 mins June 1, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Keto as an Adjunct to CBTp? Nicole Laurent Explains

Nicole Laurent discusses her Frontiers in Psychology paper proposing that ketogenic metabolic therapy could help people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders better engage with CBTp, a gold-standard treatment often limited by sleep disturbances, cognitive deficits, and low distress tolerance. She explains this conceptual framework isn't claiming keto treats psychosis directly, but that improved sleep, reduced symptoms, and better cognition could help patients initiate, participate in, and complete therapy more successfully.

21 mins May 29, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Q&A: Keto for Women, Dairy, Net Carbs, PCOS & More

Registered dietitian Temple Stewart joins Dr. Bret Scher for a Metabolic Mailbag Q&A, answering listener questions on managing carb cravings around the menstrual cycle, whether dairy fits into a ketogenic diet, and if vegetarians can achieve deep ketosis. She also shares practical guidance on protein intake to avoid hunger, starting carb targets for beginners, and how to use ketone testing and CGMs effectively without becoming discouraged by the numbers.

32 minutes May 27, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

GLP-1s, Weight Loss, and the Stigma We Don’t Talk About

Dr. Bret Scher reflects on a New York Post report showing people who lose weight with GLP-1 drugs face more stigma than those who don't lose weight at all, prompting him to examine his own criticism of these medications. He clarifies his concern isn't with patients choosing this tool, but with clinicians who prescribe GLP-1s without pairing them with lifestyle interventions, arguing the medical system needs to prioritize long-term metabolic health over quick fixes.

3 mins May 25, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The Truth About Psych Meds: Two Things Can Be True (From APA)

Reporting from the American Psychiatric Association conference, Dr. Bret Scher discusses the growing debate around psychiatric medication tapering, noting that while over-prescription is widely acknowledged, there's little research on how to safely de-prescribe. He argues responsible prescribing should include a plan for reassessment from the start, and explores how ketogenic and metabolic therapies might support the underlying biology that could make tapering safer for more patients, not just the "lucky" few.

5 mins May 22, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Is The Egg Debate Finally Over? See what a New Dementia Study Says.

Dr. Bret Scher unpacks a new observational study linking higher egg consumption to lower dementia risk, arguing the more interesting story lies in the baseline data: people eating the fewest eggs were actually healthier by nearly every measure yet showed no clear dementia advantage. He argues this weakens the case against eggs, revisits the outdated dietary cholesterol fears, and highlights eggs' nutrient density, despite noting the study's partial funding from the National Egg Board.

6 mins May 20, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

New Study Shows Keto Intervention Slashes Liver Disease Risk

Dr. Adam Wolfberg of Virta Health discusses new research in the Journal of Hepatology showing that a ketogenic intervention originally designed for type 2 diabetes also prevents fatty liver disease, comparing 5,000 Virta patients to a matched control group. Patients on the program had significantly lower rates of liver disease, with a number needed to treat of just 65 to prevent one case, highlighting how treating metabolic dysfunction broadly can protect multiple organ systems at once.

26 mins May 18, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Can Insulin Resistance Raise Suicide Risk?

Dr. Bret Scher examines a new Translational Psychiatry study finding that poorer metabolic health, measured through blood glucose, insulin, and lipid markers, correlates with higher rates of suicidal ideation, attempts, and death, even after adjusting for confounders like age and mental health diagnosis. While the study can't prove causation, he argues it strengthens the case for treating metabolic and mental health as deeply connected rather than separate domains in psychiatric care.

4 mins May 15, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The Biggest Mistake in Nutrition Advice

Dr. Bret Scher challenges the idea that one low-fat, high-carb diet works for everyone, arguing it rests on weak evidence and has hurt collective metabolic health. He explains that people respond differently to different diets, and for those with insulin resistance, low-carb and ketogenic approaches can be especially effective. Rather than one "best" diet, the episode calls for personalized nutrition that helps each person find a sustainable approach that works for them.

6 mins May 13, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Q&A: Troubleshooting Keto? Sleep, L-Carnitine, Protein Powders & More

Dr. Georgia Ede answers listener questions on ketogenic and carnivore diets, covering causes of insomnia when starting keto, the importance of carnitine testing for those on plant-based diets or certain medications, and how brain insulin resistance can exist even with normal blood tests. She also shares practical guidance on preventing unwanted weight loss by adjusting fat and protein intake, and explains why whole food protein sources are generally preferable to powders, especially whey.

24 mins May 11, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

ApoB Explained: What Your LDL Test Doesn’t Tell You

Dr. Bret Scher breaks down the difference between LDL cholesterol and ApoB, explaining that LDL measures cholesterol cargo while ApoB counts the actual number of particles, a better predictor of heart disease. He argues this distinction is really about metabolic health, since metabolically healthy people show close alignment between the two markers, while unhealthy people can have normal LDL but elevated ApoB. The takeaway: improving insulin sensitivity and metabolic health matters more than fixating on any single cholesterol number.

6 mins May 8, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Keto 101: Everything You Need to Get Started

Dr. Bret Scher walks through the basics of starting a ketogenic diet, covering how to set carb, protein, and fat targets, why keto is actually a moderate-protein diet rather than high-protein, and how to avoid the "keto flu" through gradual transitions and proper electrolyte intake. He also explains when and how to test ketone levels and stresses coordinating with a healthcare team if using keto to manage a medical condition or psychiatric symptoms like depression or bipolar disorder.

8 mins May 6, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Keto as Adjunctive Therapy for PTSD: New Case Study

Dr. Nicole Laurent discusses her case report on a 45-year-old woman with treatment-resistant PTSD, tied to military sexual trauma, who had tried nearly two decades of psychotherapy with little success before starting ketogenic metabolic therapy. After 25 weeks, her PTSD, depression, and anxiety scores dropped dramatically, changes far beyond what's typically seen with conventional treatment. The episode explores possible mechanisms, individualized ketone targets, and the importance of professional monitoring throughout treatment.

22 mins May 4, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Q&A: Are Thyroid Changes on Keto Normal? T3, Bone Health, Cannabis & More

Dr. Bret Scher answers common questions about ketogenic diets, including whether dropping T3 levels signals thyroid problems, how to monitor thyroid patients starting keto, and why uric acid and cortisol often rise temporarily during the adaptation phase. He also covers how cannabis use can undermine keto's benefits by triggering carb cravings, and clarifies that supplements alone can't fully replicate the metabolic benefits of true dietary ketosis.

20 mins May 1, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Coconut Oil and Alzheimer’s: A New Way to Fuel the Brain?

Dr. Bret Scher explores whether coconut oil, a source of ketone-producing fats, could support brain function in dementia, since the brain's ability to use ketones remains relatively preserved even as glucose metabolism declines with age and Alzheimer's. He discusses Dr. Mary Newport's widely known account of using coconut oil with her husband, along with research on brain energy metabolism, while addressing concerns that coconut oil's saturated fat content might harm heart health.

5 mins April 29, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Exogenous Ketones Explained – Dr. Dom D’Agostino

Dr. Dominic D'Agostino breaks down the different forms of exogenous ketones, MCT oil, ketone salts, and esters, and their varying absorption, safety, and tolerability. He raises specific concerns about 1,3-butanediol ketone esters, which the liver metabolizes similarly to alcohol, and shares his own experience combining supplements with a low-carb diet, including notably clean vascular scans despite years of elevated LDL. The episode explores where human research still lags behind promising animal studies.

44 mins April 27, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Do GLP-1s Work for Depression—or Is It Metabolism?

Dr. Bret Scher examines a new Lancet Psychiatry study on GLP-1 medications and mental health, finding that people with type 2 diabetes on GLP-1s like semaglutide had fewer severe psychiatric outcomes than those on other diabetes drugs. He explains this reflects "less worsening" rather than actual improvement in depression or anxiety, and explores how the findings fit into the broader emerging field connecting metabolic health and mental health, including ketogenic therapy.

5 mins April 24, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

GLP-1s and Cardiovascular Risk: What the Latest Evidence Reveals

Dr. Bret Scher examines a new BMJ Medicine study showing GLP-1 medications like semaglutide reduce cardiovascular risk, but only after 18 months of continuous use, and those benefits disappear within 18 months of stopping. He argues this reveals GLP-1s manage symptoms rather than fix underlying metabolic drivers, and makes the case for pairing these medications with sustainable nutrition and lifestyle changes rather than accepting lifelong dependence as the default.

6 mins April 22, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

High Cholesterol on Keto? Here’s One Psychiatrist’s Approach

Dr. Lori Calabrese shares a case study of a 29-year-old schizophrenia patient whose LDL climbed sharply on ketogenic metabolic therapy while nearly every other metabolic marker dramatically improved, allowing her to taper off antipsychotic medication. Rather than stopping the diet or dismissing the lipid changes, Calabrese tracked serial labs, investigated family history, and eventually looped in cardiology, illustrating why psychiatrists using metabolic therapies need working knowledge across specialties.

25 mins April 20, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

My LDL Went Up On Keto. Should I Stop? Cardiologist Explains

Podcast producer Erica shares her personal story of using a ketogenic diet to help taper off antidepressants and manage complex PTSD, seeing major improvement in both, despite her cholesterol rising sharply along the way. Dr. Bret Scher explains why a young, healthy person's elevated LDL isn't necessarily alarming on its own, and outlines when further cardiovascular testing makes sense versus when the benefits may outweigh the concern.

15 mins April 17, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

DGA vs AHA: Why Nutrition Guidelines Disagree

On this episode of the Metabolic Mind podcast, Dr. Bret Scher compares the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans with guidance from the American Heart Association, unpacking where they agree and where they diverge on animal foods, saturated fat, LDL cholesterol, and individualized nutrition.

9 mins April 15, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Can Ketogenic Therapy Help Depression & Anxiety? Real-World Evidence from Clinical Practice

What happens when ketogenic therapy moves from clinical research into real-world mental health care? Dr. Erin Bellamy shares results from her practice showing meaningful improvements in depression and anxiety, while exploring the role of personalized nutrition, ongoing support, and community in helping people successfully implement ketogenic therapy.

26 mins April 13, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Hope for Youth Mental Health: Beyond Antidepressants and ADHD Meds

For many children struggling with ADHD or depression, medication can be an important tool, but should it always be the first one? In this episode, Dr. Bret Scher examines concerns around psychiatric medication use in children and explores a broader approach that includes behavioral therapy, nutrition, careful prescribing, and emerging research into metabolic therapies.

7 mins April 10, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Research Shows Eating THIS Could Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk

On this episode, Dr. Bret Scher explores what the latest research says about ApoE4, diet, and dementia risk. Despite longstanding recommendations for ApoE4 carriers to limit red meat, emerging data challenges that assumption and raises new questions about how nutrition, metabolic health, and lifestyle may interact with genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

6 mins April 8, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Is This the Best Food Score Yet? | With Dr. Ty Beal

On this episode, Dr. Ty Beal introduces his new Nutritional Value Score, designed to account for nutrient density, protein quality, chronic disease risk, processing, and more. He explains why familiar rankings of foods like meat, eggs, whole grains, and processed cereals can change dramatically depending on what a scoring system chooses to measure.

47 mins April 6, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Rebuilding Trust In Your Body After a Mental Health Setback

Getting off track with ketogenic therapy can bring frustration, self-doubt, and a loss of trust in your body. Nicole Laurent explores how social pressures, restrictive thinking, and using food to regulate emotions can create barriers—and why reframing setbacks with curiosity and learning to work with your body may be an important part of moving forward.

6 mins April 3, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Rethinking Cholesterol Risk: What Lean Mass Hyper-Responders Reveal

Lean mass hyper-responders are challenging some long-standing assumptions about cholesterol and cardiovascular risk. Dr. Bret Scher explores why certain lean, metabolically healthy people experience dramatic increases in LDL cholesterol on a ketogenic diet—and the unanswered question of whether elevated LDL carries the same risk across very different metabolic states.

5 mins April 1, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Can You Prevent Dementia? A Neuroscientist Explains

On this episode, neuroscientist Dr. Tommy Wood explains how challenging the brain, maintaining metabolic and physical health, prioritizing recovery, and staying socially engaged may help preserve cognitive function. He also explores how genetics, nutrition, technology, and ketones fit into a broader strategy for building a more resilient brain as we age.

43 mins March 30, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Fell Out of Ketosis? Here’s How to Get Back Fast

Falling out of ketosis happens, but getting back on track doesn’t have to be complicated. Dr. Georgia Ede explains how factors like food choices, exercise, and fasting can help restore natural ketone production, while offering practical strategies for managing the increased hunger, brain fog, and low energy that can come with losing ketosis.

9 mins March 27, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Red Meat vs Plants: The Science Behind the Headlines

In this episode, Dr. Bret Scher examines two recent studies and highlights key limitations in their observational data, arguing that overall diet quality, calorie intake, lifestyle, and metabolic health may tell us far more than simply labeling meat as “bad” and plants as “good.”

9 mins March 25, 2026

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Depression and Metabolism: What This New Study Reveals

What can a small pilot study tell us about ketogenic therapy for depression? Dr. Fabiano Gomes shares the results of a 12-week intervention in people with moderate to severe depression, where participants successfully maintained nutritional ketosis and showed encouraging improvements in depression, anxiety, and anhedonia. The conversation also explores how these early findings could help shape future research and expand access to metabolic psychiatry.

31 mins March 23, 2026

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Growth Mindset for Mental Health: Turning Setbacks Into Strength

Mental health recovery isn’t always a straight path, and setbacks don’t have to mean starting over. Dr. Matt Bernstein shares practical strategies for navigating difficult periods, from recognizing early warning signs and leaning on support systems to creating a plan before a crisis occurs. He explains how approaching setbacks as opportunities to learn can help build greater resilience for the road ahead.

6 mins March 20, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

New York Times: Can a Keto Diet Really Improve Mental Health?

A New York Times article is bringing greater attention to the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry and the potential role of ketogenic therapy in mental health care. Dr. Bret Scher explores the early research, powerful lived experiences, and growing scientific interest behind this approach—while emphasizing that ketogenic therapy is being studied as a complement to, not a replacement for, standard psychiatric care.

3 mins March 18, 2026

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DIME Trial: New study finds a ketogenic diet may help some with severe depression

The DIME trial offers a new look at whether ketogenic therapy could benefit people with treatment-resistant depression. Dr. Megan Kirk Chang discusses the trial’s encouraging findings, why the ketogenic group did not significantly outperform the comparison diet, and how lessons around adherence, ketone monitoring, and study duration could shape the next generation of research.

35 mins March 16, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The Truth About Saturated Fat: What New Meta-Analysis Actually Found

In this episode, Dr. Bret Scher takes a closer look at a new meta-analysis examining saturated fat and cardiovascular health. He breaks down what the study actually found, why its results showed no statistically significant increase in heart attacks, strokes, cardiovascular deaths, or overall mortality, and why saturated fat may need to be considered within the context of a person’s overall diet and metabolic health.

6 mins March 13, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

What the Ketone Heart Risk Headlines Got Wrong

Can higher ketone levels really increase the risk of heart disease? Dr. Bret Scher takes a closer look at a recent study behind concerning headlines about ketones and cardiovascular risk, revealing why the findings don’t actually apply to nutritional ketosis or ketogenic diets—and why the distinction between correlation and causation matters when interpreting this research.

4 mins March 11, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The Hidden Metabolic Cause of Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease is becoming increasingly common, but what’s actually driving it? Dr. Amy Goss and Dr. Karen Jerome-Zapadka explain how insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia contribute to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and explore growing research showing how carbohydrate restriction and ketogenic interventions may help reduce liver fat and improve metabolic health.

33 mins March 9, 2026

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Ketogenic Therapy in Psychiatry: What the Experts Agree On

A new Delphi consensus paper published in Frontiers in Nutrition provides clinicians with practical guidance on using ketogenic metabolic therapy for mental health. Developed by experts across psychiatry, nutrition, and research, the paper outlines candidate selection, safety protocols, and monitoring standards to help healthcare providers confidently integrate ketogenic therapy into clinical practice as interest and research in metabolic psychiatry continue to grow.

4 mins February 25, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

What the Science Really Says About Ketogenic Diets and Heart Health

In this Metabolic Mind episode, Dr. Bret Scher addresses the claim that ketogenic diets are bad for heart health. He explains why many studies misrepresent keto, how cholesterol responses vary, and how ketogenic diets can improve key markers like triglycerides, HDL, insulin resistance, and blood pressure. Learn why metabolic health is central to heart health and how keto may play a role.

6 mins February 20, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

RFK Jr. Sparks Debate: Can Keto Help Serious Mental Illness?

In this Metabolic Mind episode, Dr. Bret Scher explores the growing research behind ketogenic therapy for mental illness, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Learn how metabolic psychiatry is reshaping our understanding of brain health, why early studies show promise, and how ketogenic diets may serve as a powerful adjunctive treatment alongside standard psychiatric care.

5 mins February 19, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Saturated Fat & the Dietary Guidelines: A Cardiologist Weighs In

In this Metabolic Mind episode, Dr. Bret Scher analyzes the latest dietary guidelines and the science behind saturated fat. He reviews observational studies, randomized trials, and keto research to explain why saturated fat from whole foods may not be harmful in a low-carb context, and why focusing on overall diet quality and metabolic health matters more than strict saturated fat limits.

18 mins February 13, 2026

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Healing Beyond Psychiatry: A Mother’s Story of Bipolar Disorder and Recovery

After years of hospitalizations, medications, and searching for answers, Jan Baszucki shares her family's journey through bipolar disorder and the mental health system—and the unexpected path that led her son into long-term remission. This powerful conversation explores the challenges families face, the promise of metabolic psychiatry, and why addressing brain metabolism may offer new hope for serious mental illness.

23 mins February 12, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

A New Hope for Depression: The Power of Ketogenic Therapy

New research highlighted by Metabolic Mind suggests that ketogenic therapy may be a promising adjunctive treatment for depression. In this episode, Dr. Bret Scher reviews a remote 14-week pilot study, the KIND Trial, and a larger meta-analysis showing that ketogenic diets may help reduce depression symptoms, anxiety, and anhedonia, while offering new hope for people who have not responded fully to standard treatments.

6 mins February 11, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Q&A: Keto & Heart Risk, Liver & Kidney Safety, Keto Snacks, Supplements & More

In this Metabolic Mind mailbag episode, Dr. Bret Scher answers common keto questions about high LDL cholesterol, statins, liver and kidney safety, nuts on a ketogenic diet, supplements, and whether daily ice cream can keep you out of ketosis. Learn how to think about cardiovascular risk in context, what makes a healthy keto diet, and how to approach common concerns with a more nuanced, evidence-based perspective.

29 mins January 19, 2026

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Q&A: Caffeine, Carnivore, Meds, and Ketones—What’s Helping or Hurting Your Mental Health?

Does caffeine affect ketosis? Is carnivore really too high in protein? And what should you do if your medications are making it harder to reach therapeutic ketone levels? In this Metabolic Mailbag, Dr. Bret Scher and Dr. Georgia Ede answer some of the most common questions about ketogenic therapy, offering practical guidance on caffeine, carnivore diets, medication management, and how to personalize a metabolic approach for better mental health.

28 mins December 29, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Q&A: Cholesterol, CRP, & Ketogenic Therapy — A Cardiologist Weighs In

In this Metabolic Mind mailbag episode, Dr. Bret Scher answers common questions about cholesterol on keto, saturated fat, CRP inflammation, gluconeogenesis, and affordable ways to track ketosis. Learn how to interpret LDL changes in context, whether you can do keto without animal fat, what high CRP really means, and when ketone testing matters for metabolic and mental health.

28 mins December 29, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Q&A: Healthy Fats, Alcohol, Perimenopause, & More

Learn how to build a healthy ketogenic diet with the best fat sources, avoid common keto mistakes, and understand the role of supplements, alcohol, and carb cycling. This expert Q&A explains how whole foods support brain and metabolic health, why processed keto products can be harmful, and how to troubleshoot issues like anxiety on keto.

31 mins December 15, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

New Alzheimer’s Trial Reveals Surprising Insight on Brain Health

A new clinical trial reveals semaglutide does not improve cognition in Alzheimer’s disease, challenging earlier observational findings. This highlights the complexity of dementia and suggests metabolic improvements from drugs alone may not be enough. Emerging research points to ketogenic therapy as a promising approach, offering the brain an alternative fuel source when glucose metabolism is impaired.

6 mins December 2, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Metabolic Mailbag: Ketone Plateaus, Sleep Issues, Fat Intake, and More

In this Metabolic Mind mailbag episode, Dr. Bret Scher and Dr. Georgia Ede answer listener questions about ketogenic diets, ketone plateaus, and mental health. They explain why blood ketone levels may decrease over time, when it makes sense to aim for higher ketones, and how endogenous ketosis differs from exogenous ketone supplements. The discussion also covers total versus net carbs, hidden carbohydrates in processed keto foods, and practical strategies for managing diet related insomnia during keto adaptation.

35 mins November 17, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Why Setbacks Can Happen with Ketogenic Therapy for Mental Illness — and How to Respond

Ketogenic therapy can lead to meaningful improvements in mental health, but the path isn’t always a straight line. Matthew Baszucki and Lauren Kennedy West share the setbacks and challenges they’ve experienced along the way, from fluctuating ketone levels and medication tapering to stress, exercise, social pressures, and symptom recurrence—and how they’ve learned to adapt while maintaining their progress.

58 mins November 10, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

A UC Davis Scientist on Why Meat Isn’t the Climate Villain

Is eating less meat really one of the most effective ways to fight climate change? Dr. Frank Mitloehner challenges common assumptions about livestock and the environment, breaking down the actual contribution of animal agriculture to U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and examining the environmental claims surrounding the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet. He also explains why changing farming practices—particularly reducing methane emissions—may offer a more practical path to lowering livestock’s climate impact.

41 mins November 3, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Why People with Mental Illness Die Younger—and What We Can Do About It

People with serious mental illness face a dramatically higher risk of premature death, but psychiatric symptoms themselves aren't the leading cause. In this conversation, Dr. Margaret Hahn and Dr. Sharmili Tharanajah explore how cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction, and psychiatric treatments contribute to this risk, and what clinicians can do to better protect both mental and metabolic health.

39 mins October 27, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Can a Ketogenic Diet Help Treat Cancer?

New research is exploring whether a ketogenic diet can help support cancer treatment, particularly for aggressive brain tumors like glioblastoma. Scientists discuss how ketosis may influence cancer metabolism, improve patient quality of life during chemotherapy and radiation, and potentially extend survival when used alongside standard care. Ongoing clinical trials aim to better understand how metabolic therapies such as ketogenic nutrition may play a role in future cancer treatment strategies.

33 mins October 20, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Go Slowly: A Beginners Guide to Psychiatric Drug Tapering (Part 2)

In part two of Metabolic Mind’s series on psychiatric medication tapering, Dr. Bret Scher and psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede explain why deprescribing is highly individualized, why common “cut in half” approaches can backfire, and how hyperbolic tapering better matches how the brain responds to dose changes. They discuss practical tools like compounding pharmacies and tapering strips, warning signs of withdrawal, the difference between acute and protracted withdrawal, and why strengthening overall brain health through sleep, stress management, nutrition, exercise, and therapy can improve the odds of a safer taper.

38 mins October 15, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Exposing the Truth Behind EAT-Lancet’s Diet Report & MisInfluencer Campaign

Dr. Georgia Ede joins Dr. Bret Scher on the Metabolic Mind Podcast to examine the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet and the controversy around its push to reduce or eliminate animal foods worldwide. They discuss why EAT-Lancet’s human-health claims rely heavily on nutrition epidemiology, what the report concedes about nutrient shortfalls and supplementation, and why a one-size-fits-all global diet may be risky for vulnerable populations. The episode also unpacks the “mis-influencer” campaign targeting critics, questioning whether the response addresses scientific critiques or focuses on discrediting dissent.

39 mins October 13, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Taper Down Slowly: A Beginners Guide to Psychiatric Drug Tapering (Part 1)

In this Metabolic Mind Podcast episode, Dr. Bret Scher and psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede unpack the often-misunderstood realities of psychiatric medication tapering and deprescribing. They explain why most clinicians aren’t formally trained to taper safely, outline major medication classes (antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers/anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines, stimulants), and describe how the brain adapts to medications through homeostasis—making abrupt dose reductions risky. The conversation clarifies how to distinguish withdrawal from relapse using timing and symptom patterns (including “brain zaps” and flu-like effects), critiques claims that antidepressant withdrawal is rare or mild, and shares practical resources and peer-support options to help patients advocate for safer, personalized taper plans.

41 mins October 8, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

When low-carb isn’t enough: A Doctor’s Journey with GLP-1s.

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 how medications can sometimes be life-changing.

32 mins October 6, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The Healing Depression Project: A New Path Beyond “Treatment Resistant” Depression

The Metabolic Mind Podcast features Silvia Covelli and functional medicine psychiatrist Dr. Achina Stein discussing the Healing Depression Project, an immersive retreat designed to address root causes of chronic and treatment-resistant depression. They explore how functional medicine testing, therapeutic ketogenic nutrition (gluten- and dairy-free), sleep repair, morning light exposure, daily walking, meditation, and intensive psychodrama can work together to reduce symptoms. The conversation highlights why a one-size-fits-all, pill-only approach often falls short, shares early outcome data and follow-up insights, and offers practical priorities for people seeking sustainable depression recovery through metabolic and lifestyle strategies.

50 mins October 1, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The Future of Mental Health Care: Training Doctors in Ketogenic Therapy

University of Maryland pharmacy professor Deanna Kelly joins Dr. Bret Scher to discuss Live It, Launch It, a new research-based training program that helps clinicians learn ketogenic therapy for mental illness by combining structured education with firsthand keto experience. They cover why clinician capacity is a bottleneck, how the 40-participant pilot will measure confidence and competence, updates on efforts to restart Maryland’s paused schizophrenia keto trial, and how ketogenic therapy compares with GLP-1 medications for managing antipsychotic metabolic side effects. The episode also explores why metabolic interventions may impact not just weight and insulin resistance, but meaningful psychiatric outcomes like negative symptoms and functioning.

30 mins September 29, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The Hidden Drivers of Anxiety and Depression in College Students

College psychiatrist Ryan Patel shares five evidence-based lifestyle interventions for young adults—sleep, nutrition, activity, technology use, and systems-level support—and explains how Ohio State’s KIND ketogenic trial informs care for depression. Practical strategies to boost mental health, academic performance, and long-term resilience.

52 mins September 22, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

College Mental Health Crisis: How Students Can Combat Depression & Anxiety

College mental health is in crisis—but there’s hope. In this Metabolic Mind episode, psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede and researcher (and Army veteran) Drew Decker explain how ketogenic strategies can fit real campus life: dining halls, exams, social events, even travel. Learn what the KIND study revealed about feasibility, rapid symptom improvements, and simple campus changes—like food labeling and student keto clubs—that can make metabolic mental health support both practical and empowering.

38 mins September 15, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Keto for Depression: ~70% Improvement for College Students in New Study

A groundbreaking study from The Ohio State University shows that ketogenic therapy may *dramatically* reduce symptoms of major depression in college students. Dr. 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.

34 mins September 11, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The Ultra-Processed Food Debate: Science, Bias, & Truth

In this Metabolic Mind Podcast episode, Dr. Bret Scher hosts Harvard endocrinologist Dr. David Ludwig and investigative journalist Gary Taubes for a lively debate on ultra-processed foods, nutrition research quality, and scientific bias. They unpack why “ultra-processed” can be a vague, catch-all category, critique how randomized trials and media headlines may overstate conclusions, and discuss methodological red flags like short crossover designs, energy density confounding, and uneven dropouts. The conversation explores confirmation bias in peer review and funding, why mechanism-based thinking matters (especially for refined carbohydrates), and what individuals can do now—experiment thoughtfully with diet changes to see what improves their health.

53 mins September 9, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Can Keto Put Schizophrenia in Remission? A Case That Shocks Experts

In this Metabolic Mind Podcast episode, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with registered nutritional therapist and health coach Moira Newiss about a striking case report: a man with schizophrenia and psychosis who achieved remission through sustained ketogenic therapy while facing homelessness and major socioeconomic barriers. They discuss how fasting first introduced him to ketones, why early keto attempts failed due to carbohydrate cycling, and what changed when he stabilized therapeutic ketosis with a simplified two meal routine and affordable foods like high fat ground beef and tallow. The conversation explores real world implementation, medication system “success” versus patient defined recovery, and why this case challenges assumptions about cost, feasibility, and the potential of metabolic approaches in serious mental illness.

32 mins September 8, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

This Fat is Increasing Your Risk of Chronic Disease

In this episode of The Metabolic Mind Podcast, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with Dr. Sean O’Mara about visceral fat, the metabolically active fat surrounding organs and the heart that may drive inflammation and chronic disease. They cover how visceral and epicardial fat are detected on CT or MRI, why these fat depots are often underreported, and what practical steps may help reduce them, including removing ultra-processed foods, using sprint-based training, improving sleep and stress, and applying a gradual fasting approach. Learn why visceral fat differs from subcutaneous fat and how addressing it may improve metabolic health, cardiovascular risk, and overall healthspan.

45 mins September 2, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The Truth About Treatment Resistant Depression: Part Three (Nutrition and Lifestyle)

In Part 3 of Metabolic Mind’s series on treatment-resistant depression, psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede and host Dr. Bret Scher explore how lifestyle interventions, especially nutrition, can powerfully affect mood and brain function. They discuss the connection between metabolic health and depression, why brain glucose processing may be impaired in treatment-resistant cases, and how ketogenic therapy can provide ketones as an alternative fuel for the brain. Learn practical strategies for exercise, sleep and circadian rhythm support, and the key medical tests that can help identify insulin resistance, plus why addressing potentially reversible root causes can restore hope and expand treatment options.

29 mins August 25, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The Truth About Treatment-Resistant Depression: Part Two (TMS and Psychedelics)

In part two of Metabolic Mind’s series on treatment resistant depression, Dr. Bret Scher and psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede review the leading next step treatment options beyond standard antidepressants. They discuss neurostimulation therapies like ECT, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and vagus nerve stimulation, along with rapid acting approaches such as ketamine, FDA approved esketamine (Spravato), and psilocybin. Learn how these treatments differ in effectiveness, session requirements, side effects, cost, and accessibility, and why response prediction remains difficult. The episode also previews part three, focused on lifestyle and metabolic interventions including diet, exercise, and other foundational strategies that may address root causes of depression.

27 mins August 20, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

What Doctors Really Think About the ‘Miracle’ Weight Loss Drugs

In this Metabolic Mind Podcast episode, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with Dr. Mark Cucuzzella and Dr. Tro Kalayjian about GLP 1 weight loss medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, and why responsible prescribing matters. They discuss who may benefit most, why comprehensive evaluation and lifestyle support should come first, and how food addiction, sleep apnea, insulin resistance, and stress influence outcomes. The conversation covers real world effectiveness, side effects, muscle loss concerns, cost and sustainability, and the need for GLP 1 stewardship, including minimum effective dosing, resistance training, and clear plans for tapering when appropriate.

43 mins August 19, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The Truth About Treatment Resistant Depression: Part One (Breaking the Myth)

In this episode of The Metabolic Mind Podcast, Dr. Bret Scher and Harvard trained psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede explore the realities of treatment resistant depression and why it is often the norm rather than the exception. They examine the limits of the chemical imbalance theory, the results of the landmark STAR D trial, and why antidepressants frequently fail to deliver lasting relief. The discussion highlights overlooked contributors such as brain inflammation, low brain derived neurotrophic factor, and metabolic dysfunction, while previewing emerging treatments including transcranial magnetic stimulation, ketamine, psychedelic assisted therapy, and lifestyle and metabolic interventions. This three part series offers a hopeful and science based look at new options for people struggling with depression.

26 mins August 13, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

6 Clear Signs You Might Have Food Addiction & What You Can Do

Is 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.

57 mins August 11, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Q&A’s: Are Sweeteners Helpful or Harmful? Dairy? Ketone Levels, Longevity, and More

Ketogenic 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 also learn why some people experience initial worsening symptoms, how to transition more gradually, and when to seek support from experienced clinicians.

28 mins August 6, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Do We Have Kidney Health All Wrong?

Is high protein intake responsible for chronic kidney disease? Have you ever heard that ketogenic diets are harmful to your kidneys? These are just a few of the common kidney health myths debunked in this interview with Dr. Thomas Weimbs, who says that traditional views on what causes chronic kidney disease are “definitely not founded in science.” Dr. Thomas Weimbs, professor and vice chair at UC Santa Barbara, has spent decades studying chronic kidney disease (CKD). His recent research explores the impact of ketogenic interventions on kidney function, and the findings may surprise you. Rather than harming the kidneys, Dr. Weimbs is finding that keto can actually improve kidney function in people living with CKD.

32 mins August 4, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Q&A: Harvard Trained Psychiatrist Answers Your Mental Health and Diet Questions. Ep. 1

What’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.

33 mins July 30, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Will GLP-1 Drugs Replace Diets Forever?

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are changing how the medical system approaches obesity and metabolic disease. But are they a replacement for dietary intervention? Or are dietary interventions a replacement for these medications? Could they be used together for even better outcomes? In this conversation, Dr. David Ludwig (Harvard, Boston Children’s Hospital) and journalist Gary Taubes explore the science behind GLP-1s, their impact on insulin, weight loss, and chronic disease, and where dietary strategies like low carb or ketogenic therapy fit in.

45 mins July 28, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Free Help for Mental Illness? This Program is Making It Real

Ketogenic 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.

18 mins July 24, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The Truth About Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms

Does psychiatric medication withdrawal exist — or is it just a myth? For anyone who’s lived through it, the question alone can feel insulting. Psychiatric drug withdrawal is real. While the experience varies widely, for many, it’s not “brief and mild” as many guidelines state it is. It can be intense, destabilizing, and often misunderstood. One of the most painful challenges is trying to determine whether what you're experiencing is withdrawal or relapse.

38 mins July 23, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Visceral Fat and the Chronic Health Epidemic

Visceral fat, insulin resistance, and metabolic dysfunction are driving the chronic disease epidemic—and yet, they're still misunderstood. In this compelling conversation, former FDA commissioner Dr. David Kessler, MD, explains why he believes visceral adiposity is the greatest public health failure of our lifetime.

38 mins July 21, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Are We Using GLP-1 Medications All Wrong? with Dr. Ben Bikman

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, 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.

34 mins July 14, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

New Study Using CGMs Reveals Surprising Truth About Your Blood Sugar

Did 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.

25 mins July 9, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

This Molecule Might Be the Key to Beating Addiction

Can 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.

31 mins June 30, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The Truth About Tapering Off Psychiatric Medications

Have you ever thought about stopping psychiatric medications? Maybe you have tried it. If so, you’re not alone. Many individual across the world have considered or tried stopping their psychiatric medications and success is variable. The withdrawal from psychiatric medication tapering can be incredibly complex, and doing it safely requires both medical and psychological support.

44 min June 23, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

What’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.

23 mins June 23, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

14 Keto Myths Debunked

Are ketogenic diets dangerous? What about nutrient deficiencies, gout, gut health, keto rash, bone density loss, or kidney stones? In this video, registered dietitian and ketogenic therapy expert Beth Zupec-Kania, RDN, CD, shares insights from over 30 years of clinical experience to address the most common concerns and misconceptions about ketogenic therapies.

52 mins June 17, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The Truth About Nutrition Science: Is The Government Getting it Wrong?

Is nutrition research getting the support it needs to inform public health policy? Despite the rise in chronic diseases related to lifestyle factors like diet, nutrition research only receives $2.2 billion of the $30 billion NIH budget. At first glance, this may seem like a lot of money, but its utilization is spread thin, and, as Dr. David Ludwig and Gary Taubes highlight in this interview, it’s primarily used to fund misleading short term trials that confirm existing nutrition biases.

1 hr 10 mins June 4, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

“Can Drinking Ketones Help Treat Mental Illness?” featuring Dr. Karin Huizer

Can exogenous ketones help treat mental illness? In this interview, psychiatry resident and researcher in the Netherlands Dr. Karin Huizer shares groundbreaking insights into her pilot study using ketone esters for mental health. The hope is that this early research will inform us to whether or not supplemental ketones are a viable option for mental health, which could be especially useful for patients who struggle to follow a full ketogenic diet.

32 mins May 31, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

What Happens When Kids Try Keto for Bipolar? featuring Elizabeth Errico

Youth mental illness is on the rise, and treatment options are often limited, especially for kids with bipolar disorder. In this interview, Elizabeth Errico, founder of the Children's Mental Health Resource Center (CMHRC), shares how her organization is implementing ketogenic therapy in a real-world setting for kids aged 6 to 17. The year-long study is part of a larger initiative supported by the Baszucki Group to expand mental health care options through metabolic approaches.

33 mins May 31, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Can Ketogenic Therapy Put OCD Into Remission?

Can ketogenic therapy help reduce or even resolve symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)? Dr. Chris Palmer and research assistant Aaron MacDonald join Metabolic Mind to discuss one of the first published case series exploring metabolic and ketogenic interventions for OCD.

40 mins May 27, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Mental Health Meets Heart Health in New Mayo Clinic Initiative

Can ketogenic therapy improve both cardiovascular and mental health? A new study at Mayo Clinic is exploring that question. This research marks a powerful full-circle moment: the ketogenic diet was first used to treat epilepsy at Mayo Clinic over 100 years ago. In this episode, we sit down with two leading physician-scientists from Mayo Clinic: Dr. Mark A. Frye (Psychiatry) and Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez (Preventive Cardiology). Together, they explore how nutrition—particularly ketogenic therapy—can play a role in treating bipolar disorder, improving cardiovascular health, and addressing shared metabolic pathways that impact both heart and brain health.

50 mins May 19, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

New Research Pinpoints Midlife Brain Decline & How to Slow It

This episode of the Metabolic Mind Podcast features Dr. Lily Mujica Parodi, a Baszucki Endowed Chair of Metabolic Neuroscience, and Dr. Kirk Nylen, Managing Director of Neuroscience at Baszucki Group. Together with host Dr. Bret Scher, they explore groundbreaking research on insulin resistance in the brain and its link to dementia and cognitive decline. The conversation highlights a critical age window for intervention, the stabilizing role of ketones on brain networks, and the potential of ketogenic diets and lifestyle changes to prevent or slow neurodegeneration. Listeners gain both scientific insight and practical takeaways on how metabolic health influences long-term brain function.

47 mins May 12, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

How Mitochondria Shape Your Mind, Mood, & Mental Health with Dr. Martin Picard

This episode features mitochondrial psychobiologist Dr. Martin Picard discussing his new Nature study that maps mitochondrial “hardware” across the human brain and links it to MRI signals. He explains how different brain regions and cell types have distinct “mitotypes,” why that matters for brain energy and mental health, and how this could enable non-invasive measures of mitochondrial content and function (MitoBrainMap). The conversation explores practical implications—diet, sleep, movement, stress, and social connection—as levers that shape brain energetics, while cautioning against one-size-fits-all prescriptions. Picard also previews upcoming work on saliva/blood biomarkers and his broader vision to reframe health and consciousness through an energetic lens.

38 mins May 5, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Can Creatine Help with Depression? Exploring the Science with Dr. Nick Fabiano

This Metabolic Mind episode features psychiatrist Dr. Nick Fabiano on why the gym staple creatine may also benefit depression. He explains how creatine supports brain energy (ATP/phosphocreatine) and reviews emerging evidence showing faster, greater antidepressant responses when added to SSRIs or CBT. The discussion covers practicals—typical dosing (5g/day), safety, supplement quality—and open questions about optimal dosing, diet context, and pairing with exercise. Listeners get a balanced take on who might consider creatine and what to discuss with their clinicians.

25 mins April 28, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Can Keto Help Pediatric Bipolar? Groundbreaking Trial Begins

This episode features UCLA psychiatrist Dr. David Miklowitz on the first multicenter trial testing ketogenic therapy as an adjunct for adolescents and young adults (12–21) with bipolar disorder. He explains how pediatric bipolar can present differently from adults, why family-centered care and psychoeducation matter, and how meds remain first-line while diet may help reduce relapse and symptom burden. The study spans UCLA, Cincinnati, Colorado, and Pittsburgh, includes a two-week ramp-up to keto, weekly dietitian support, finger-stick ketone/glucose tracking, and pre/post labs (e.g., HOMA-IR, CRP, lipids). Listeners learn who might qualify, what outcomes are being measured, and how nutrition could complement medication and therapy in youth bipolar care.

30 mins April 25, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Can Ketogenic Therapy Help Autism and Mental Health? | Dr. Eline Dekeyster on Mechanisms & Hope

This episode features researcher Dr. Eline Dekeyster on ketogenic therapy for autism spectrum disorder—why it may help and how to make it workable in real life. She explains overlapping mechanisms (brain energy deficits, mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, neurotransmitter balance) and how ketosis can provide alternative fuel and potentially reverse biochemical abnormalities. The conversation digs into adherence—sensory issues, food selectivity, family and coaching support, gamified tracking—and her lab’s ongoing case reports and personalized “single-case” experiments (with adult studies planned). Dekeyster also shares her personal experience using ketosis for mood stability, underscoring that this is not medical advice but a promising avenue for future research and care.

39 mins April 21, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Keto-CTA Study Confusion: Addressing the Misunderstandings with Dr. Budoff

Cardiologist Dr. Matt Budoff returns to explain how coronary CT metrics—especially percent atheroma volume (PAV) and non-calcified plaque—should be interpreted in the new lean mass hyper-responder study. He clarifies that plaque did progress in some participants, but the rise was similar to treated cohorts in other trials and was not linked to keto-induced LDL or ApoB levels. The episode unpacks why relative percent changes can mislead when baseline plaque is tiny, and why calcium score/CTA help distinguish low- from higher-risk individuals. Practical takeaway: keto wasn’t shown to drive plaque; use imaging to check for atherosclerosis and treat documented plaque per standard care, independent of diet.

34 mins April 16, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

How This Doctor Put Over 150 Patients into Diabetes Remission

Dr. David Unwin, a UK NHS GP, shares how he has achieved over 150 cases of drug-free type 2 diabetes remission in his practice using low-carb nutrition. He emphasizes the power of real-world data, showing improvements in blood sugar, kidney and liver health, and cardiovascular risk factors. Despite pushback, support from the Royal College of GPs and strong patient outcomes have amplified his work through national media. He highlights continuous glucose monitoring, insurance incentives, and recognizing food addiction as key drivers for the future of metabolic health care.

40 mins April 7, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The Truth About Evidence-Based Medicine with Dr. Gordon Guyatt

Dr. Gordon Guyatt, who coined the term evidence-based medicine, explains its core principles: weighing the trustworthiness of evidence, relying on systematic reviews, and integrating patient values into care. He highlights how small associations in nutrition studies (like red meat and heart disease) are easily explained by bias, unlike the large, undeniable risks seen with smoking. Guyatt stresses the GRADE system as a structured way to judge evidence quality and guide decision-making. For clinicians, this means focusing on when evidence is strong versus when patient preferences must drive care, while the public should learn to distinguish trustworthy from less reliable claims.

46 mins March 31, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Exciting New Research on Keto for Pediatric Mental Health

Two pediatric bipolar studies are underway: a randomized trial across UCLA, Cincinnati, Colorado, and Pittsburgh, and a CMHRC real-world pilot delivering six months of ketogenic therapy to families nationwide.

19 mins March 24, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

How I Overcame “Treatment-Resistant” Mental Illness: Laura Delano’s Journey

From “professional patient” to paradigm shift: years of escalating diagnoses/polypharmacy and a “treatment-resistant” label, a suicide attempt, then questioning the system after coercive experiences and reading Anatomy of an Epidemic.

55 mins March 17, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Exploring the Link Between Genetics and Brain Metabolism in Psychiatry with Dr. Harry Pantazopoulos

Researchers studied gene expression in the amygdala using postmortem brain samples from people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression to look at metabolic pathways.

28 mins March 17, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Personalized Psychiatry: Using Blood Tests to Find the Right Mental Health Treatment

This Metabolic Mind episode with psychiatrist-scientist Dr. Alexander Niculescu explains how precision psychiatry uses blood-based biomarkers to personalize diagnosis and treatment. By measuring gene expression, MindX Sciences’ tests distinguish depression from bipolar risk, match patients to specific medications at lower doses, and integrate nutraceutical and lifestyle options. The goal: faster relief, fewer side effects, de-prescription when possible, and a path toward preventative, objective mental healthcare.

51 mins March 10, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Reversing Schizoaffective Disorder with Ketogenic Therapy: A Case Series

Licensed counselor Nicole Laurent shares a new case series where ketogenic therapy led to remission of psychotic and mood symptoms in schizoaffective disorder. She explains how individualized keto ratios, careful medication adjustments, and patient empowerment delivered rapid improvements and sustained recovery.

33 mins March 3, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

New Treatment For Bipolar: A New Ketogenic Therapy Study with Dr. Iain Campbell

Ketogenic therapy for bipolar disorder shows promise: in a University of Edinburgh pilot led by Dr. Iain Campbell, daily tracking linked higher blood ketones—especially above ~2.0 mmol/L—to better mood, energy, and lower anxiety/impulsivity. Brain MR spectroscopy also showed notable glutamate reductions, hinting at a mechanism. The study and a new Metabolic Psychiatry Hub highlight growing evidence that targeted ketosis may aid mood stabilization while improving metabolic health.

31 mins February 28, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

How Ketones Support the Aging Brain; Psychiatric Meds disrupt brain energy – Dr. Stephen Cunnane

Dr. Stephen Cunnane, PhD, professor at the University of Sherbrooke, shares groundbreaking research on brain fuel metabolism in dementia, psychosis, and Parkinson’s disease. Using advanced PET imaging, his team shows how impaired glucose use in the brain contrasts with preserved ketone uptake—opening the door for ketogenic strategies, MCTs, and carb reduction as therapies. He also highlights promising results from retirement home residents on lower-carb diets and early data combining exercise and ketone supplements in Parkinson’s patients.

34 mins February 24, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

How to Decode Nutrition Studies: Make Sense of Research Strength and Quality with Dr. Adrian Soto-Mota

Internal medicine physician-scientist Adrian Soto-Mota, MD, PhD, breaks down how to read nutrition studies without the hype. He explains NHANES strengths and limits, why some keto headlines conflict, how randomized trials compare, and which biomarkers and biological age tools offer better clues for heart health, longevity, and quality of life.

34 mins February 17, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Is a Ketogenic Diet Effective For Adolescent Mental Health?

Psychiatrist Lori Calabrese, MD, shares practical lessons from using ketogenic metabolic therapy with adolescents facing serious mental illness. She explains how family buy-in, teen engagement, tailored teaching styles, and a skilled dietitian drive success; why teens often enter ketosis faster than adults; and how to navigate social life, medications, and flexible “ketone targets” without triggering disordered eating. Real-world cases span first-episode psychosis, major depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, anxiety, autism, and ADHD—highlighting a patient-centered approach that can change a young person’s trajectory for life.

17 mins February 10, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Keto for Women: Insights on Hormones, PCOS, Menopause, and more from the SHE IS Lab with Dr. Madison Kackley

Dr. Madison Kackley, PhD, and her SHE IS Lab at Ohio State are pioneering research on ketogenic interventions tailored for women. From menstrual cycle regulation and PCOS to perimenopause, postpartum depression, and exercise recovery, her studies reveal how ketosis uniquely impacts women’s health. With a focus on body composition, brain health markers like BDNF, and individualized nutrition, this episode explores why ketogenic therapy may be especially powerful for women across all life stages.

27 mins February 3, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Why Mental Health Care Is Failing & What We Can Do About It with Dr. Chris Palmer

Dr. Chris Palmer (Harvard/McLean) returns to discuss metabolic psychiatry, why only a small fraction of patients receive effective, evidence-based care, and how shifting research toward clinical trials, lifestyle interventions, and ketogenic therapies could transform outcomes. He challenges the gene-only model, outlines a biopsychosocial, metabolism-first framework, and calls for studies on safe medication tapering—areas NIMH underfunds today. A must-listen for clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and families seeking proven paths to better mental health.

59 mins January 27, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Revolutionizing Assisted Living: Hal Cranmer’s Ketogenic & Carnivore Approach to Senior Wellness

Hal Cranmer, owner of A Paradise for Parents assisted living homes in Arizona, shares how ketogenic and carnivore nutrition, combined with movement, sunlight, and community, are transforming the health of his elderly residents. By shifting away from processed foods toward nutrient-dense meals, residents are lowering blood pressure and blood sugar, regaining strength, improving memory, and even returning home to live independently. In this inspiring Metabolic Mind episode, Hal explains how better food and lifestyle strategies can revolutionize elder care while remaining affordable and practical.

39 mins January 20, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Exercise as a Prescription for Depression with Dr. Nicholas Fabiano

Dr. Nick Fabiano, psychiatry resident and researcher, joins the Metabolic Mind Podcast to explain how exercise can be prescribed as a treatment for depression. He shares the latest evidence showing exercise is as effective as antidepressants or therapy, explores why even small amounts of movement improve mood and brain health, and introduces a practical FITT framework for clinicians to personalize exercise prescriptions. Fabiano also discusses the biological, psychological, and social mechanisms behind exercise’s antidepressant effects, the role of adherence, and how movement can complement or reduce the need for medication.

45 mins January 13, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The 2025 Dietary Guidelines with Nina Teicholz: A Turning Point for Public Health?

Investigative journalist and Nutrition Coalition founder Nina Teicholz joins the Metabolic Mind Podcast to expose major flaws in the U.S. Dietary Guidelines process. She details how decades of biased science, industry influence, and political control have sidelined over 2,000 clinical trials on low-carb and ketogenic diets. Teicholz and host Dr. Bret Scher discuss why current recommendations still demonize meat and saturated fat, how untested computer models are shaping national nutrition policy, and what must change to make future guidelines truly evidence-based and focused on metabolic health.

55 mins January 7, 2025

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

How Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) Improve Metabolic and Mental Health

In this episode of the Metabolic Mind Podcast, Dr. Bret Scher explores how continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) can transform metabolic and mental health. He explains how CGMs track real-time glucose responses to meals, exercise, sleep, and stress, revealing patterns that traditional lab tests miss. Dr. Scher breaks down what healthy glucose ranges look like, how to interpret data for those on low-carb or ketogenic diets, and why small daily glucose insights can lead to lasting behavioral change. A must-listen for anyone interested in optimizing brain and body health through better metabolic awareness.

8 mins December 30, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

How Your Microbiome Shapes Your Body and Mind with Dr. Jack Gilbert

In this Metabolic Mind episode, microbiome pioneer Dr. Jack Gilbert demystifies your 40 trillion gut partners, explaining how diet, fermented foods, fecal transplants, and exercise shape a resilient microbial “rainforest.” He breaks down why dysbiosis varies by disease, how metabolites influence appetite and fat storage, and why fiber isn’t one-size-fits-all—especially for low-carb and ketogenic eaters. Gilbert also previews a near future of AI-driven, daily microbiome monitoring that turns data into tailored diet, probiotic, and activity advice. Learn practical steps to reduce ultra-processed foods, support gut diversity, and leverage mitochondria–microbe crosstalk to improve metabolic and mental health.

41 mins December 23, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Tapering Psychiatric Medications Safely: Insights with Dr. Josef

Psychiatrist and former FDA insider Dr. Josef joins Dr. Bret Scher to unpack deprescribing psychiatric medications—how to taper SSRIs, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers safely (5–10% monthly, patient-led, often with liquid/compounded doses), avoid withdrawal, and address root causes with metabolic and ketogenic therapies. Real patient stories, practical taper protocols, and a fresh look at antidepressant “chemical imbalance” myths make this a must-hear for anyone navigating psychiatric meds and metabolic mental health.

48 mins December 16, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Ketogenic Diets in Alcohol Addiction: Breakthrough Research with Dr. Wiers

Neuroscientist and psychiatrist Dr. Corinde Wiers from the University of Pennsylvania joins Dr. Bret Scher on the Metabolic Mind Podcast to discuss how ketogenic diets and ketone supplements may transform treatment for alcohol use disorder. She explains how ketosis reduces withdrawal symptoms, lowers benzodiazepine needs, and decreases alcohol craving by restoring brain energy metabolism. The episode explores the science behind acetate and ketones, new imaging data showing the brain’s preference for ketones over glucose, and the potential of metabolic therapies for addiction and mental health recovery.

26 mins December 9, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Whole-Person Care for Mental Health: Dr. Scott Fears on Amae Health’s Approach

Psychiatrist and CMO of Amae Health, Dr. Scott Fears, joins the Metabolic Mind Podcast to share how integrated psychiatric care plus metabolic therapies can transform outcomes in serious mental illness. Learn how ketogenic diets, health coaching, grocery-store training, and continuous data from wearables reduce hospitalizations, enable safe deprescribing, and deliver value-based results. Discover a scalable “food as medicine” model that unites psychiatry, primary care, and real-world behavior change to improve metabolic and mental health together.

35 mins December 4, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Why Body Composition Matters More Than Weight Loss: A Ketogenic Approach with Dr. Bret Scher

Discover why weight loss alone isn’t the goal—body composition is. Dr. Bret Scher breaks down how ketogenic diets, adequate protein, and resistance training can drive fat loss while preserving muscle, compares Ozempic/Wegovy (semaglutide) outcomes to keto results, and shares practical steps to improve metabolic health without sacrificing lean mass.

7 mins November 25, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

How to Taper Psychiatric Medications Safely: Expert Advice on Med Management with Dr. Lori Calabrese

Psychiatrist Lori Calabrese explains how ketogenic diets affect psychiatric medications, sometimes amplifying their effects, and outlines a thoughtful approach to safe medication tapering. She discusses distinguishing side effects from relapse, stabilizing metabolism first, and using lifestyle tools like exercise and sleep to make deprescribing smoother and more effective.

18 mins November 18, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

How a Keto Diet Impacts Psychiatric Meds: Insights from Metabolic Psychiatry with Dr. Deanna Kelly

Pharmacist and psychiatry professor Deanna Kelly explains how high-fat and ketogenic diets alter psychiatric drug absorption and metabolism. She discusses risks with quetiapine, lithium, and the new xanomeline–trospium combination, how medications can disrupt ketosis, and why communication with pharmacists is critical for safe, effective metabolic therapy.

27 mins November 11, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Why Healthcare Reform Needs a New Focus with Dr. Martin Makary

Johns Hopkins surgeon Marty Makary joins Metabolic Mind to argue America’s health crisis stems from lies and corporate capture—not partisanship. He calls for a root-cause reset: cleaner food, circadian-friendly schools, limits on student phone use, and food-as-medicine over polypharmacy. The Senate roundtable showed bipartisan momentum, but real change will come from public education that moves markets and from medicine shedding conflicts and embracing prevention.

32 mins October 29, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Treating Type 1 Diabetes and Depression with a Ketogenic Diet | Lisa La Nasa’s Journey

Type 1 advocate Lisa La Nasa shares how therapeutic carbohydrate reduction ended years of 40–400 glucose swings, eased depression, and restored her sense of control—after standard care failed. In this Metabolic Mind episode, she explains adapting Dr. Bernstein’s approach, differentiating ketoacidosis from nutritional strategies, and building diaVerge Diabetes to coach others toward steadier sugars, lower insulin, and better quality of life.

25 mins October 28, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Can Keto Help Treat Bipolar & Schizophrenia? A New Trial Explores Its Potential

A powerhouse Australian team is running a first-of-its-kind randomized trial testing a 2:1 ketogenic diet versus national healthy-eating guidelines for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Built on animal data showing bioenergetic dysfunction and keto benefits, the study pairs equal, high-touch support in both arms and tracks psychiatric symptoms, cognition, daily well-being, metabolic labs, wearables, and the microbiome. Dietitian-led, real-world implementation emphasizes self-efficacy; early participant stories highlight more energy, clearer mood, weight loss, and renewed work and family life.

41 mins October 21, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Carnivore Diet for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: New Source of Hope? With Nick Norwitz, PhD

PhD researcher-med student Nick Norwitz joins Metabolic Mind to unpack a new case series where a carnivore ketogenic diet put refractory IBD into remission, exploring mechanistic plausibility, profound mental-health gains, and why this patient-led signal warrants RCTs. He also critiques sensational red-meat/diabetes studies—tiny effects, heavy confounding—calling for nuanced, non-tribal interpretation of nutrition science.

36 mins October 14, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Safe Tapering Practices for Anti-Depressants with Dr. Mark Horowitz

Deprescribing expert Dr. Mark Horowitz explains why psychiatric-med withdrawal is so often mistaken for relapse, how short-trial guidelines mislead clinicians, and the safer “hyperbolic” taper that uses liquids/compounding to make tiny final cuts. Learn practical signs of withdrawal vs. recurrence, what can buffer symptoms, who should (and shouldn’t) come off, and where to find evidence-based support.

48 mins October 7, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

How Ketosis Affects Health and Longevity: Expert Insights from Isabella Cooper, PhD

PhD researcher Isabella Cooper joins Metabolic Mind to discuss how insulin, leptin, and mitochondria shape longevity—and why long-term ketosis may protect against chronic disease. She unpacks her study on women cycling in and out of ketosis, the evolutionary role of ketones, and why diet quality, not just ketone levels, determines health.

52 mins September 30, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Keto Diet and Heart Disease: Keto Diet and Heart Disease: What New Research Reveals About Cardiac Risk with Dr. Bret Scher

Does a ketogenic diet increase heart disease risk? A GRADE-assessed meta-analysis of 29 clinical trials in type 2 diabetes shows improved glycemia, triglycerides, HDL, and blood pressure with no significant rise in LDL or total cholesterol—echoed by other trials (including Virta). Learn why most patients shouldn’t be denied ketogenic therapy over unfounded cardiac concerns and how to navigate outliers like lean-mass hyper-responders.

6 mins September 23, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Cholesterol & Heart Health: Insights from LDL Research on Keto with Dave Feldman & Nick Norwitz, PhD

A JACC: Advances study comparing lean-mass hyper-responders on ketogenic diets to matched controls found no significant difference in coronary plaque by CCTA despite about five years of much higher LDL exposure. The findings question a one-size-fits-all lipid hypothesis, elevate imaging-based risk assessment over LDL alone, and point to metabolic health, HDL/triglycerides, and particle composition as key factors. Results are preliminary, with longitudinal and mechanistic analyses forthcoming.

44 mins September 16, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Healing Metabolism to Heal Schizoaffective Disorder: Lauren Kennedy West’s Medical Keto Journey

After seven months on a medical ketogenic diet, YouTuber and advocate Lauren Kennedy West reports full remission from schizoaffective disorder and freedom from psychiatric medications. In conversation with Dr. Bret Scher and Hannah Warren on The Metabolic Mind Podcast, she reflects on how metabolic therapies transformed her life, the shortcomings of conventional psychiatry, the importance of patient self-advocacy, and the power of lifestyle and nutrition in restoring both mental and physical health.

38 mins September 9, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Protein on Keto: How Much is Too Much? with Dr. Bret Scher

This Metabolic Mind episode with Dr. Bret Scher explains how to determine optimal protein intake for ketogenic therapy. It breaks down the limitations of the RDA, clarifies the difference between dietary and therapeutic ketosis, and provides practical ranges (1.0–1.4 g/kg) for supporting muscle, satiety, and metabolic health while maintaining ketosis.

9 mins September 2, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Keto Offers Hope in the Bronx: Endocrinologist Uses Diet to Help Underserved Patients Recover Health

Endocrinologist Mariela Glandt’s South Bronx program uses the OwnaHealth app and a ketogenic, low-carb plan to reverse metabolic disease in a Medicaid population. Patients report rapid A1C reductions, major medication cutbacks, and broad quality-of-life gains, proving keto can be affordable, scalable, and effective across socioeconomic lines.

22 mins August 21, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Ketogenic Therapy for Migraine Management – with Dr. Elena Gross

Neuroscientist Elena Gross explains how a metabolic subtype of migraine—driven by brain energy deficits, inflammation, and oxidative stress—can respond to ketogenic strategies. She shares trial data showing strong benefits in biomarker-defined responders and outlines a four-pillar plan: stabilize glucose, lower oxidative stress, optimize micronutrients, and add ketones (dietary and/or exogenous). Discover practical ways to personalize migraine care with metabolic therapies.

39 mins August 12, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Best Diet for Mental Health: Keto or Mediterranean? with Dr. Bret Scher

This Metabolic Mind episode with Dr. Bret Scher explores whether the Mediterranean or ketogenic diet is better for mental health. While Mediterranean diets show modest benefits for depression, emerging studies on ketogenic therapy suggest stronger effects for conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The discussion highlights shared dietary principles, key metabolic differences, and strategies for integrating nutrition into mental health care.

8 mins August 5, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Can Cutting Carbs Improve Mental Health? Myths and Facts with Dr. Bret Scher

This Metabolic Mind episode with Dr. Bret Scher explores whether carbohydrates are harmful to mental health. It explains how the impact of carbs depends on individual metabolic health, lifestyle, and goals—especially when using ketogenic therapy for mental illness. The discussion highlights how ketosis changes brain energy use, why some carbs can be beneficial, and how tools like CGMs can personalize dietary decisions.

8 mins July 29, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Keto, Microbiome, and Depression: A New RCT led by Dr. Timur Liwinski

Swiss clinician–scientist Timur Liwinski is running a 10-week randomized controlled trial testing a medical ketogenic diet for major depression, tracking HAM-D scores alongside metagenomic microbiome changes. With structured nutrition counseling and pragmatic design, the study probes whether species-appropriate, low-carb eating can outperform standard care in metabolic psychiatry.

25 mins July 22, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Hundreds Report Dementia Improvement with Ketones: Dr. Mary Newport’s Report

In this episode, Dr. Mary Newport discusses her groundbreaking work using coconut oil and MCT oil to improve dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms. She and Dr. Bret Scher explore how simple ketogenic strategies may support brain health, reduce inflammation, and offer new hope for patients and caregivers worldwide.

29 mins July 15, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

From Lived-Experience to Trailblazing Keto Research – with Maria Edwards

Bipolar II survivor and researcher Maria Edwards shares how a ketogenic diet helped her taper off meds, control symptoms, and eliminate migraines—and why she’s now running clinical studies on ketosis for brain injury and PTSD. Hear her team-based care approach, feasibility data bringing hospitalized patients into ketosis, early PTSD signals, and what’s next for metabolic therapies in psychiatry.

36 mins July 8, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Long-Term Safety of Ketogenic Diets – with Dr. Bret Scher

This Metabolic Mind episode with Dr. Bret Scher explores the safety of long-term ketogenic diets. Addressing common myths about nutrient deficiencies, heart risk, and eating disorders, Dr. Scher explains why well-formulated ketosis can be sustainable and beneficial for mental and metabolic health, particularly in people achieving remission from serious conditions.

13 mins July 1, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Ketogenic Therapy: How 3 Patients Put Depression and Anxiety in Remission with Dr. Lori Calabrese

Connecticut psychiatrist Dr. Lori Calabrese shares a new case series showing rapid, full remission of depression and anxiety using ketogenic therapy. In conversation with Dr. Bret Scher, she explains how personalized keto nutrition, monitoring, and community support can transform brain energy, reduce symptoms within weeks, and offer a powerful, real-world path to metabolic mental health.

26 mins June 24, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Accelerating the Science of Ketogenic Therapy for Mental Health with Julie Milder, PhD

Baszucki Group Director of Neuroscience Dr. Julie Milder explains how a global research community is fast-tracking ketogenic metabolic therapies for serious mental illness. Learn about new multi-institution trials, embedded mechanistic science, clinician toolkits for real-world data, and why philanthropy is catalyzing the next wave of metabolism-based psychiatry.

24 mins June 17, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Is Ketogenic Therapy Safe for Children? – with Dr. Matthew Calkins

Is ketogenic therapy safe for kids? Family and obesity medicine specialist Dr. Matt Calkins makes the case that supervised, well-formulated low-carb diets differ from 4:1 epilepsy protocols and can safely improve pediatric metabolic health, challenging American Academy of Pediatrics cautions while highlighting strong A1C results in type 1 diabetes and the need for clinician support over blanket warnings.

42 mins June 10, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Can I Try a Medical Keto Diet for Mental Illness Without a Metabolic Psychiatrist?

Can’t find a metabolic psychiatrist? In this Metabolic Mind episode, Hannah Warren shares how to start ketogenic therapy for mental health safely when expert help is scarce—covering risk mitigation, labs and medication monitoring with your current clinician, using keto coaches for targeted consults, building family and peer support, and personalizing diet and lifestyle to sustain therapeutic ketosis.

33 mins June 3, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Is It Safe for Me to Do a Keto Diet?

Worried keto isn’t safe with no gallbladder, gout, kidney issues, bariatric surgery, or high LDL? This Metabolic Mind episode explains why ketogenic therapy is often safe—and sometimes beneficial—when supervised: how to ramp fat without a gallbladder, manage early uric-acid changes, balance protein for kidney health, and individualize plans for cholesterol and heart disease.

8 mins May 27, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Ketogenic Diet for ADHD and Depression: New Study Explores Mental Health Impact

Oxford and MedPsy launch a UK study testing ketogenic therapy for ADHD and depression, pairing group coaching with a tracking app and comparing it to standard Eat Well guidance. Founder Ally Houston shares his own keto-driven recovery, plans a wearables data pilot, and invites participants and supporters as matched crowdfunding kicks off.

27 mins May 21, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

What is a Good Bipolar Diet?

Many “brain-healthy food” lists for bipolar disorder are based on poor evidence. In this Metabolic Mind episode, Dr. Bret Scher reviews Healthline’s claims about grains, fish, nuts, and chocolate, explaining why these foods aren’t proven to help bipolar disorder and how ketogenic therapy offers a far more powerful, evidence-backed way to improve brain metabolism and mental health.

7 mins May 13, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Can a Medical Keto Diet Treat Depression in College Students? – with Dr. Jeff Volek

Professor Jeff Volek joins the Metabolic Mind Podcast to share insights from three decades of ketogenic diet research and his latest study on depression at Ohio State University. He explains how ketosis addresses metabolic dysfunction across many diseases, outlines what defines a well-formulated ketogenic diet, and discusses how early findings show promise for improving mental health through nutritional ketosis.

29 mins May 6, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Does the Brain Need Carbs?

Dr. Bret Scher debunks the myth that the brain needs carbohydrates, explaining how it can thrive on ketones while producing its own glucose through gluconeogenesis. In this Metabolic Mind episode, he explores why ketogenic therapy can be safe, effective, and potentially life-changing for people with brain-based conditions like depression and dementia.

4 mins April 29, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Solutions to Prevent Early Death in Bipolar Disorder with Dr. Melvin McInnis

Dr. Melvin McInnis of the University of Michigan joins the Metabolic Mind Podcast to discuss his groundbreaking research revealing the high premature mortality risk among people with bipolar disorder and its connection to metabolic dysfunction. He shares insights into new metabolic-focused treatments, including a pilot study on exogenous ketones, and advocates for healthcare policy changes to improve education, lifestyle support, and clinical resources for those living with bipolar disorder.

42 mins April 22, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Trailblazing Stanford Trial Shows Keto Improves Serious Mental Illness – with Dr. Shebani Sethi

Stanford psychiatrist Dr. Shebani Sethi joins the Metabolic Mind Podcast to discuss her landmark pilot trial showing that a ketogenic diet led to 75% recovery and complete reversal of metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. She explains how improved energy, sleep, and reduced psychotic symptoms transformed participants’ lives, highlights the study’s strong adherence and safety, and explores the growing promise of ketogenic therapy as an adjunctive treatment for serious mental illness.

23 mins April 15, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Are We Biased Toward a Keto Diet?

Dr. Bret Scher breaks down how to spot both anti-keto and pro-keto bias in discussions about metabolic and mental health. He explains why many doctors dismiss ketosis due to limited medical training, outlines common misconceptions on both sides, and calls for a balanced, evidence-based approach to therapeutic ketosis as a potential treatment for brain-based disorders.

7 mins April 8, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Collaborative Science: How Individuals are Enhancing Research – with Dave Feldman

Engineer-turned-researcher Dave Feldman recaps the Collaborative Science Conference, a community-funded, charity-driven event advancing lean-mass hyper-responder research and a more collaborative model of science. Hear how crowdfunding, citizen science, and academic partnerships are reshaping studies on LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and ketogenic diets—and what’s coming next.

23 mins April 1, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Why Keto for Mental Health May Not Be Working for You – with Dr. Bret Scher

Dr. Bret Scher explains seven reasons why ketogenic therapy may not improve mental health as expected and how to fix them. From optimizing ketone levels and addressing nutrient deficiencies to managing medications, sleep, and stress, this episode of the Metabolic Mind Podcast provides expert insights into making ketosis more effective for mood and brain health.

9 mins March 25, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Keto Bipolar Hypomania Risk: Is Ketosis Safe for Mood Stability?

Dr. Bret Scher discusses the potential risk of hypomania when starting a ketogenic diet for bipolar disorder with experts Dr. Georgia Ede and Nicole Laurent. They explain how gradual transitions, electrolyte management, and clinician supervision can minimize risks while maximizing mental health benefits from ketogenic therapy.

14 mins March 18, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Can a Keto Diet Help People Suffering from Depression? – with Dr. Erin Bellamy

Psychologist-researcher Erin Bellamy explains how ketogenic therapy can improve depressive symptoms using a personalized, stepwise path from low carb to ketosis. She details timelines, depression subtypes, and safe coordination with clinicians, plus her new support service at IKRT.org for data-driven metabolic mental health.

33 mins March 11, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Insulin Resistance in Alzheimer’s, Infertility, Migraines and More – with Dr. Ben Bikman

BYU researcher Ben Bikman explains how insulin resistance connects metabolic and mental disorders and how to fix it through nutrition and strength-focused lifestyle changes. Learn how insulin impacts the brain, why carb control matters, and the practical steps to improve insulin sensitivity for both body and mind.

39 mins March 4, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Improving Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder – with Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Mark Frye

Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Dr. Mark Frye explores how metabolic health, nutrition, and emerging therapies like ketogenic diets could transform bipolar disorder treatment. He discusses the future of psychiatry, the impact of insulin resistance on mood, and the need for precision nutrition to address both mental and physical well-being.

43 mins February 26, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Could Your Diet Be Causing Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression? – with Dr. Uma Naidoo

Harvard psychiatrist and chef Dr. Uma Naidoo shares how everyday foods shape anxiety and mood through the gut–brain axis, blood sugar, and inflammation. Learn which ingredients to skip (ultra-processed foods, hidden sugars, certain seed oils), what to add (omega-3s, spices, fermented foods, fiber), and why probiotics and supplements work best alongside real meals. With simple, realistic tips—rotisserie-chicken shortcuts, eggs-in-a-mug, build-your-own salads—and a thoughtful look at when ketogenic therapy fits, this conversation translates cutting-edge nutritional psychiatry into step-by-step actions to calm your mind and support long-term metabolic health.

41 mins February 19, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Could GLP1 medications help patients go keto?

In this wrap-up episode, Dr. Bret Scher compares GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy and Ozempic with ketogenic therapy for metabolic and mental health. Experts discuss benefits, risks, and why lifestyle interventions—especially ketogenic diets—should come first, with GLP-1s serving as short-term bridges to lasting wellness.

12 mins February 12, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Stanford Twin Study: Are Vegan Diets Healthier?

Dr. Bret Scher unpacks the Stanford Twin Study comparing vegan and omnivore diets, revealing why the media’s claims that “vegan is healthier” oversimplify the science. In this episode, he explains the study’s design limitations, short duration, and focus on two high-carb diets, noting that calorie differences—not food type alone—likely drove the results. The discussion challenges popular narratives around plant-based diets, explores issues of sustainability and long-term health, and invites Stanford researchers to collaborate on a new, more comprehensive trial comparing vegan and ketogenic diets to advance nutrition science and public understanding.

8 mins February 5, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

New Study Questions LDL Risk – An interview with Dave Feldman

Dr. Bret Scher interviews engineer and citizen scientist Dave Feldman about new baseline data from a coronary CT angiography study of Lean Mass Hyper-Responders—lean, metabolically healthy people who develop very high LDL on low-carb diets. In a matched analysis against participants from the Miami Heart Study, LMHRs showed no statistically significant difference in total coronary plaque at baseline despite LDL averages near 270 mg/dL and some values above 500 mg/dL. Within both cohorts, LDL levels did not correlate with plaque burden. The episode underscores scientific nuance: these findings do not “disprove” the LDL hypothesis and apply to a carefully selected population; the pivotal question is what the one-year follow-up scans will show about plaque progression. Scher and Feldman also discuss how modern imaging—CAC and CTA—can help individualize cardiovascular risk decisions beyond one-size-fits-all cholesterol targets, while reminding listeners to partner with their clinicians for context-specific care.

41 mins January 31, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

What Do Adenosine, Forests & Keto Diets Have to do with Brain Health?

Dr. Bret Scher talks with neuroscientist Dr. Susan Masino about why ketogenic therapy isn’t a single-mechanism “drug” but a multi-pathway approach that can stabilize brain networks and support long-term resilience. Masino’s research centers on adenosine—an energy- and signaling molecule that rises with ketone metabolism and helps suppress seizures, modulate neural activity, and drive epigenetic changes. She introduces “preconditioning,” showing how ketosis can ready the brain to better withstand future insults such as stroke, with adenosine as a key mediator. Beyond diet, Masino bridges neuroscience with her forestry work, summarizing evidence that regular exposure to nature lowers anxiety and loneliness and should be treated as a practical, community-level tool for mental health. The conversation reframes brain care around prevention: combine ketogenic strategies, time in nature, and other lifestyle supports to build durable mental well-being—while working with clinicians for safe, individualized implementation.

17 mins January 15, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Can Changing Your Diet Change Your Mind?- with Metabolic Psychiatry Pioneer Dr. Georgia Ede

Harvard-trained psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede joins Dr. Bret Scher to cut through “brain superfood” hype and lay out a science-first framework for eating to improve mood, reduce anxiety, and protect memory. Drawing on clinical experience and rigorous evidence, Ede explains how unstable blood sugar and chronically high insulin drive brain inflammation and oxidative stress—and why restoring healthy metabolism (sometimes with lower-carb or ketogenic strategies) can sharpen thinking and stabilize emotions. She clarifies common nutrition myths, from the limits of observational food studies to the debate over seed oils and saturated fat, and makes the case for whole-food patterns—including some animal foods—to supply essential brain nutrients. Practical takeaways include using continuous glucose monitors, simple labs, and symptom tracking to personalize your plan. If you want clear, actionable guidance for lifelong brain health—beyond clickbait and diet wars—this episode is your roadmap.

39 mins January 15, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Future of Precision Medicine & Nutritional Therapies for Mental Illness with Dr. Megan Kirk Chang

Can nutritional ketosis offer hope for treatment-resistant depression? In this Metabolic Mind episode, Dr. Bret Scher interviews Dr. Megan Kirk Chang, a Senior Researcher at the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care. With a PhD in Kinesiology and Health Sciences and advanced training in Health Psychology, Dr. Kirk Chang has spent her career studying non-pharmacologic mental health interventions—from mindfulness and compassion training to exercise therapy. Now, she’s turning her scientific lens to ketogenic diets as potential adjunctive treatments for depression, cognitive decline, and psychosis. In this conversation, she explains why she’s entering the metabolic psychiatry field despite not coming from a nutrition background, noting that “there’s too much of a signal to ignore.” She details her upcoming Oxford trials comparing ketogenic and Mediterranean diets in treatment-resistant depression and dementia-risk populations, exploring mechanisms involving neurotransmitter regulation, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and the gut-brain axis. Dr. Kirk Chang also discusses the challenges of conducting dietary trials—ethical considerations, public misconceptions about keto, and the rigorous safety standards required for research approval. With curiosity, empathy, and scientific rigor, she argues that precision nutrition may become an essential part of mental healthcare—helping people “return to their sense of aliveness.” This episode bridges cutting-edge research, lived compassion, and the future of nutritional psychiatry.

34 mins January 2, 2024

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

GLP-1 and Ketosis: Novel Mental Health Treatments

Can weight-loss drugs help the brain? In this Metabolic Mind episode, Dr. Bret Scher interviews Dr. Roger McIntyre—Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology at the University of Toronto—about GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., Wegovy, Ozempic) and ketogenic therapy in mood disorders. Dr. McIntyre explains why psychiatry’s spotlight is moving from simple neurotransmitter theories to brain energy and cellular metabolism, and how GLP-1s might aid mood both indirectly (better metabolic health) and directly (GLP-1 action in brain circuits). He draws parallels with nutritional ketosis, noting overlapping effects on inflammation, insulin signaling, mitochondria, and neural networks. While optimistic, he stresses staying within current GLP-1 indications and building high-quality clinical trials for both medications and keto before broad psychiatric adoption. The takeaway: a future of “brain-protective” care that integrates meds, diet, sleep, exercise, and psychotherapy—shifting treatment toward resilience and offering real hope for people with depression and bipolar disorder.

40 mins December 26, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Treating Bipolar with Keto – 100 Self-Reports with Dr. Iain Campbell

Can ketogenic therapy help stabilize bipolar disorder—especially the hard-to-treat depressive side? In this Metabolic Mind episode, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Iain Campbell, a Baszucki Brain Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh who also lives with bipolar II. Campbell shares results from a first-of-its-kind online survey of more than 100 people using ketogenic diets for bipolar disorder: many report substantial improvements, extended remissions (some lasting years), and marked reductions in depression and suicidal thinking. He also previews data from a pilot study of 27 participants showing that higher blood ketone levels correlate with better mood, energy, and lower anxiety—especially above ~2.0 mmol/L—and that objective markers shift in a therapeutic direction, including reduced brain glutamate (on MRS) and lower serum lactate, consistent with improved mitochondrial function. While the team is clear about limitations (self-selection, not a randomized trial), the qualitative stories are powerful, and the quantitative signals are promising. Campbell outlines what’s next: a randomized controlled trial and a new metabolic psychiatry research hub in Edinburgh to accelerate rigorous science. If you’re curious about the intersection of ketosis and serious mental illness—or you’re a clinician looking for emerging, adjunctive tools—this conversation offers data, mechanisms, and lived experience in one place.

21 mins December 18, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Ketosis and Depression: An inspiring personal story from Stanford’s Healthcare Innovation Lab.

In this powerful Metabolic Mind episode, Dr. Bret Scher interviews Ben Rolnik—Director of the Stanford Healthcare Innovation Lab—about his lifelong battle with depression and the surprising therapy that changed everything: a ketogenic diet. After years of coping through psychotherapy, mindfulness, and medications like Adderall, Ben reframed his symptoms as “biogenic,” explored cerebral insulin resistance, and learned he’s an APOE-ε4/ε4 carrier. Going keto led to a rapid, lasting transformation: steady mood, clear thinking, stable energy, and relief from IBS—benefits that have held for months. Now a new father, Ben shares how ketosis restored his day-to-day reliability and joy, and why he’s working to identify clinical phenotypes so clinicians can predict who will benefit most. His message is hopeful and practical: while research races ahead, ketogenic therapy is a relatively safe, accessible option many can try under medical guidance—offering real potential to reclaim a life from treatment-resistant depression.

47 mins December 11, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Psychiatrist Shares His Experience With GLP1 Weight Loss Drugs with Dr Rodrigo Mansuer

In this Metabolic Mind episode, Dr. Bret Scher interviews psychiatrist–scientist Dr. Rodrigo Mansur (University of Toronto) about GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) in psychiatry. Beyond weight loss, GLP-1s act on brain circuits tied to mood, motivation, and cognition—raising the possibility of direct antidepressant and pro-cognitive effects. Mansur shares early signals from pilot work and an ongoing placebo-controlled trial of oral semaglutide in depression, where interim monitoring shows improvement without emergent suicidality so far. He emphasizes caution and balance: prioritize lifestyle and medication optimization, consider metformin, and reserve GLP-1s for carefully selected patients with close safety monitoring. For clinicians and patients navigating medication-induced weight gain and treatment-resistant symptoms, this conversation lays out current evidence, open questions, and how to discuss risks and benefits in real-world care.

21 mins December 4, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Treating Weight Gain From Psychiatric Medications with Dr Matt Bernstein

Psychiatric medications can save lives—but for many people they also trigger rapid weight gain and serious metabolic side effects. In this Metabolic Mind episode, psychiatrist Dr. Matthew Bernstein joins Dr. Bret Scher to unpack what actually works for medication-induced weight gain. They discuss why standard tools like metformin and generic “diet and exercise” advice often fall short, where GLP-1 receptor agonists (Wegovy, Ozempic) and dual GLP-1/GIP drugs (tirzepatide) can fit, and the under-recognized risk of losing precious lean mass and regaining fat when these drugs are stopped. Dr. Bernstein shares how clinician-guided ketogenic therapy can deliver a true “win-win,” improving mood, cognition, and metabolic health together. You’ll hear practical strategies for protein targets, resistance training, CGM and ketone monitoring, and building a coordinated care team so medications support—not replace—sustainable lifestyle changes. If you or your patients are struggling with antipsychotic-related weight gain, this conversation offers a balanced, science-literate roadmap to protect metabolic health without sacrificing psychiatric stability.

18 mins November 20, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Don’t Call It Bipolar Disorder with Hannah Warren

In this Metabolic Mind episode, Dr. Bret Scher interviews writer and advocate Hannah Warren, who describes putting her bipolar I disorder into remission with ketogenic therapy. After three psychotic breaks, years on antipsychotics, >70 lbs of weight gain, and pervasive brain fog, Hannah discovered Dr. Chris Palmer’s Brain Energy and transitioned from intermittent fasting to a structured ketogenic approach—despite being vegetarian and dairy-free. She now frames her diagnosis as “neurometabolic dysfunction,” highlighting the physiological roots of serious mental illness and the power of nutrition, ketone tracking, meditation, journaling, and exercise to restore stability, creativity, and quality of life. Recorded at the Global Symposium on Ketogenic Therapies, the conversation explores practical keto strategies, social hurdles, body-positive language, and why patient stories are vital to metabolic psychiatry. If you’re navigating medication-induced weight gain, cognitive dulling, or recurring episodes, this inspiring discussion offers hope, tools, and a reframing toward agency and remission.

30 mins November 14, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Brain Energy, Mitochondria, and Mental Health with Dr. Chris Palmer

In this Metabolic Mind episode, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Harvard psychiatrist and Brain Energy author Dr. Chris Palmer to explore why he believes most mental disorders are actually metabolic brain disorders driven by dysfunctional mitochondria. Palmer explains how mitochondria do far more than produce energy—they regulate neurotransmitters, hormones, inflammation, epigenetics, and responses to stress and trauma, offering a unifying framework for depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety. Drawing on a century of data on ketogenic diets for epilepsy, he describes how nutritional ketosis, fasting, sleep, and targeted exercise can promote mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis, potentially leading to long-term recovery for some patients. The conversation also covers the limits of supplements and “quick fixes,” the metabolic side effects of antipsychotic medications, and Palmer’s call for more clinicians and clinical trials in metabolic psychiatry to address the global crisis of under-treated mental illness.

49 mins October 9, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

What are Metabolism and Metabolic Health, and How Do They Impact Mental Health?

This Metabolic Mind episode features Dr. Bret Scher breaking down metabolism, metabolic health, and how modern living drives metabolic dysfunction. He explains how constant exposure to ultra-processed foods, limited movement, and chronically high insulin levels lead to insulin resistance, fatty liver, visceral fat, and impaired energy production. By understanding this mismatch between our evolutionary biology and our current environment, viewers gain clarity on how improving metabolic health may also support better brain function and mental well-being.

9 mins October 2, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Is Ketosis Safe for Mental Health?

In this Metabolic Mind episode, Dr. Bret Scher explains why nutritional ketosis is a safe, natural metabolic state and not to be confused with life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis. He breaks down how the body alternates between burning glucose and fat, how ketones fuel the brain, and why ketogenic therapies are emerging as powerful tools for improving mental health. This clear explanation helps viewers—and their clinicians—understand the science behind ketosis, its safety, and its potential benefits for conditions like bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia.

7 mins September 20, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Ketosis and Alzheimer’s: A Metabolic Neuroscience Journey With Dr. Stephen Cunnane

In this Metabolic Mind episode, neurologic researcher Dr. Stephen Cunnane explains how ketones act as an alternative—and often preferred—fuel for the aging and Alzheimer’s brain when glucose uptake falters. He shares PET imaging data, results from a 6-month MCT trial in mild cognitive impairment, and why ketogenic and ketone-based therapies could help preserve cognition in neurodegenerative diseases, especially when combined with exercise and modest carbohydrate restriction.

41 mins September 7, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Fasting and Ketosis to treat Dementia With Dr. Matthew Phillips

In this Metabolic Mind episode, neurologist and researcher Dr. Matthew Phillips explains why metabolic strategies like ketogenic diets and intermittent fasting may be some of the most powerful tools we have for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. He shares clinical trial results showing improved function and quality of life, unpacks how restoring mitochondrial and brain energy metabolism works, and makes the case for shifting neurology toward metabolic, patient-empowering care.

39 mins August 28, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Mitochondria – The Key To Disease and Mental Health with Dr. Martin Picard

In this Metabolic Mind episode, mitochondrial researcher Dr. Martin Picard breaks down what mitochondria really are—living, communicating energy hubs inside nearly every cell—and how they link metabolism to mental health. He explains how genetics, diet, toxins, stress, and even our daily emotions can shape mitochondrial function, and shares practical ways to support healthier mitochondria through movement, fasting, and cultivating positive, meaningful experiences.

55 mins August 23, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Keto and MCT for Alzheimer’s, One Doctor’s Family Journey

In this powerful Metabolic Mind episode, neonatologist Dr. Mary Newport shares how she used coconut oil, MCT oil, and ketogenic strategies to help her husband with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. She explains the science of brain insulin resistance, why ketones can act as an alternative fuel in dementia, and how targeted nutritional ketosis led to dramatic—though not curative—improvements in his cognition, mood, and daily function. This inspiring story highlights the emerging role of ketogenic diets and ketone therapies in Alzheimer’s care and healthy brain aging.

47 mins August 14, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Keto For Alzheimer’s: A Treatment Whose Time Has Come

In this Metabolic Mind episode, nutritionist and author Amy Berger (“The Alzheimer’s Antidote”) breaks down why Alzheimer’s is increasingly viewed as “type III diabetes” and a problem of brain energy shortage. She explains how ketogenic diets, MCT oil, and exogenous ketones can help fuel insulin-resistant neurons, support mitochondrial health, and potentially improve cognition in people with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease. Amy also critiques microbiome-focused research, highlights the central role of metabolic health (insulin, triglycerides, weight), and offers practical perspective on using nutritional ketosis as a hopeful, science-based strategy for dementia prevention and treatment.

20 mins August 4, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

AnorExit: A new Treatment Model for Anorexia

Learn how the new AnorExit program is pioneering the medically supervised use of ketogenic therapy for anorexia by combining expert nutrition guidance, peer support from someone in long-term recovery, and coordinated care with physicians and therapists. In this Metabolic Mind episode, dietitian Denise Potter explains why nutritional ketosis, once considered inappropriate for eating disorders, may actually help correct underlying metabolic and psychiatric factors when applied safely in a structured, multidisciplinary setting. This discussion explores early case-study success, the science behind ketosis, and how individuals can explore this emerging therapeutic option under expert supervision.

17 mins July 26, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Keto For Anorexia- 5 Dramatic Individual Journeys

In this powerful Metabolic Mind episode, host Dr. Bret Scher shares five deep, personal interviews with people who battled severe anorexia nervosa—some nearly dying, others cycling through conventional treatment for decades—who ultimately found remission after incorporating therapeutic nutritional ketosis into a broader healing journey. They describe how shifting to ketogenic or carnivore-style diets improved brain energy, reduced obsessive food thoughts and crippling anxiety, and allowed therapy, relationships, and life to finally take root. While not a one-size-fits-all cure and never something to attempt without expert supervision, these stories challenge the idea that anorexia is a lifelong sentence and highlight ketogenic metabolic therapy as a promising, hopeful avenue to explore with experienced clinicians.

70 mins July 13, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Treating Anorexia with Keto

This Metabolic Mind episode shares the remarkable recovery of Caroline Beckwith, who battled severe anorexia nervosa for more than fifteen years and found lasting remission by combining a medically supervised ketogenic diet with ketamine infusions. After years of ineffective standard treatments, obsessive exercise, and even substance use, shifting to therapeutic nutritional ketosis changed her brain chemistry, quieted the relentless anorexic voice, and allowed her to rebuild a full life. Her story challenges the assumption that all restrictive diets are dangerous in eating disorders and instead positions ketogenic metabolic therapy, when carefully supervised, as a promising new option for people with anorexia who have lost hope.

31 mins June 27, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Upcoming Research Study: Ketogenic diet for Anorexia Nervosa

This episode of the Metabolic Mind Podcast features Dr. Guido Frank of UC San Diego, a leading researcher in eating disorders, discussing why anorexia nervosa remains one of the most lethal psychiatric conditions and why standard treatments often fall short. Dr. Frank explains how stress and impaired brain glucose metabolism may intensify restrictive behaviors and why therapeutic nutritional ketosis could provide a new metabolic pathway to stabilize brain energy and reduce obsessive thoughts about food and weight. He also outlines his upcoming clinical trial investigating ketogenic therapy for anorexia, offering cautious but meaningful hope for those seeking new science-based treatment options.

25 mins June 19, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Psychiatrist Transforms His Practice with Keto and Metabolic Treatments

In this Metabolic Mind Podcast episode, psychiatrist Dr. Matt Bernstein shares how a family crisis and years of seeing patients plateau on conventional medications led him to integrate metabolic therapies and nutritional ketosis into his practice. Trained at Harvard and McLean Hospital, Bernstein explains why standard psychiatry excels at crisis stabilization but often fails to restore full functioning, and how conditions like PANDAS/PANS, infections, autoimmune issues, and metabolic dysfunction can underlie persistent psychiatric symptoms. He describes his practical, sustainable approach using intermittent fasting, low-glycemic whole foods, and ketogenic strategies, and reports profound improvements in depression, bipolar disorder, and overall functioning with far fewer side effects than traditional drugs. This conversation offers clinicians and patients an inspiring, science-informed look at metabolic psychiatry and why nutritional ketosis may be a powerful tool in modern mental health care.

42 mins June 6, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Does Keto Cause Heart Disease?

In this Metabolic Mind episode, Dr. Bret Scher breaks down whether nutritional ketosis increases cardiovascular risk and explains why common claims about keto and heart disease are not supported by evidence. He clarifies that no clinical trials have ever shown ketogenic diets to increase heart attacks or strokes, and that the observational studies often cited against keto do not involve people in nutritional ketosis and are plagued by poor data and healthy-user bias. Dr. Scher also discusses how LDL cholesterol should not be interpreted in isolation, why full metabolic health markers matter more, and what current research reveals about lean mass hyper-responders who experience large LDL increases on keto. This episode offers a clear, science-based look at how to assess cardiac risk while using nutritional ketosis therapeutically for metabolic, neurological, or psychiatric conditions.

16 mins May 15, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Metabolic Therapies for Psychiatry: State of the Evidence

This Metabolic Mind episode features Stanford psychiatrist Dr. Shebani Sethi and leading bipolar disorder researcher Dr. Cynthia Calkin as they break down the scientific evidence behind metabolic psychiatry and ketogenic therapies for serious mental illness. The conversation explores why metabolic dysfunction often precedes psychiatric diagnoses, how nutritional ketosis may improve symptoms of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety, and what current pilot studies and clinical trials reveal about this emerging field. The episode also examines the difference between evidence needed for clinical guidelines versus evidence needed for treating a real patient in crisis, highlighting how nutritional ketosis may offer a safe, powerful therapeutic option when standard psychiatric treatments fail. This is a comprehensive, science-based discussion for clinicians, researchers, and families exploring metabolic interventions for mental health.

35 mins May 15, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Adjusting Psychiatric Medications on a Keto Diet

This Metabolic Mind episode dives deep into how to safely manage and taper psychiatric medications when starting a ketogenic diet for bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Harvard-trained psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede explains why meds should never be stopped abruptly, how to choose which drug to taper first, and why ultra-slow, individualized dose reductions are often safest. Lived-experience advocate Matt Baszucki shares his detailed journey using therapeutic ketosis, sleep tracking, and a compounding pharmacy to gradually reduce antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and lithium over several years—without relapsing into mania. If you’re considering keto for mental health and wondering what it means for your medications, this episode offers practical, real-world guidance you can discuss with your clinician.

57 mins April 25, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Silencing the Anorexic Voice: Ketosis and Ketamine for Anorexia

This episode explores a groundbreaking pilot study using a ketogenic diet and ketamine infusions to treat chronic anorexia nervosa, a condition with one of the highest mortality rates in psychiatry. Dr. Bret Scher talks with Dr. Barbara Scolnick, Dr. Guido Frank, and Dr. Lori Calabrese about how therapeutic ketosis, carefully supervised nutritional support, and targeted ketamine therapy helped five adults achieve meaningful and sustained relief from anorexic thoughts and depressive symptoms. The conversation highlights the metabolic mechanisms behind anorexia, why ketosis may stabilize the brain, how ketamine can expand cognitive flexibility, and what careful clinical oversight is required to replicate these results safely. This emerging metabolic-psychiatry approach offers hope for a population often left without effective options.

43 mins April 14, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

The Link between Insulin Resistance and Depression – An interview with Dr. Natalie Rasgon

On this Metabolic Mind Podcast episode, Dr. Natalie Rasgon explains how long-term research found that people with markers of metabolic dysfunction were more than twice as likely to develop major depression over time. She also discusses what these findings mean for patients and clinicians, and why addressing metabolic health early may play an important role in mental health.

28 mins April 6, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Keto for Brain Health – A Dramatic Personal Journey

In this emotional Metabolic Mind Podcast episode, Dr. Bret Scher shares the extraordinary recovery of Susie, a woman with Down Syndrome and early-onset Alzheimer’s whose severe cognitive decline and daily seizures reversed dramatically after starting a ketogenic diet. With insights from her mother Mary and Dr. Annette Bosworth, the episode explores how nutritional ketosis can improve brain function, reduce seizures, restore cognitive skills, and transform family life. This powerful story highlights the growing scientific interest in metabolic therapies for dementia, epilepsy, and neurodevelopmental conditions.

39 mins April 4, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Metformin, Insulin Resistance and Bipolar Depression: From Research to Clinical Care

In this episode of the Metabolic Mind Podcast, Dr. Bret Scher talks with metabolic psychiatrist Dr. Cynthia Calkin about her landmark TRIO-BD study, which shows that treating insulin resistance with metformin can rapidly improve long-standing, treatment-resistant bipolar depression. Calkin explains how people with bipolar disorder have dramatically higher rates of insulin resistance, obesity, and blood–brain barrier leakage—and how targeting these metabolic problems can restore mood, function, and quality of life, sometimes after decades of failed treatments. The conversation explores the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry, the role of metformin and other insulin-sensitizing strategies, and the promise of diet and lifestyle (including ketogenic-style approaches) as powerful tools for conditions like bipolar disorder, PTSD, and major depression.

45 mins March 24, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Researcher with Bipolar Shatters Stigma

In this powerful Metabolic Mind Podcast episode, Dr. Bret Scher interviews researcher and bipolar disorder advocate Dr. Iain Campbell, who combines lived experience with scientific expertise to explore the promise of metabolic therapies for mood disorders. Campbell shares how a ketogenic diet profoundly improved his bipolar symptoms, inspiring him to study brain energy, insulin resistance, mitochondrial function, and ketogenic interventions through a new four-year fellowship at the University of Edinburgh. He discusses stigma, the limitations of standard medications, emerging clinical research, and why metabolic psychiatry may offer a transformative new path for people living with bipolar disorder. A must-listen for anyone interested in ketogenic diets, mental health innovation, and the future of psychiatric care.

32 mins March 24, 2023

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Metabolic Mind Podcast

Metabolic Mind: Metabolism and Mental Health

The Metabolic Mind Podcast, hosted by cardiologist Dr. Bret Scher and powered by the Baszucki Group, explores the rapidly emerging field of metabolic psychiatry—where metabolic health and mental health intersect. Inspired by Roblox founder David Baszucki’s son recovering from mental illness through nutritional ketosis, the show examines how conditions like insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes are tightly linked with disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, and other serious mental illnesses. Featuring scientists, clinicians, and people with lived experience, Metabolic Mind explains how ketogenic diets and other metabolic therapies—long used for epilepsy—may help stabilize brain function and improve psychiatric symptoms, offering education, real-world stories, and hope for patients, families, and clinicians seeking new options in mental health care.

4 mins March 23, 2023

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