Dr. Georgia Ede - Change your Diet, Change your Mind
Mar 4, 2024
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Dr. Georgia Ede discusses the metabolic basis of mental disorders and the benefits of a low-carb/ketogenic approach. Topics include: metabolic mechanisms underlying mental disorders, brain-healthy diet, inflammation's role in mental disorders, progression through paleo to keto to carnivore diets, combining pharmacological and nutritional strategies for mental health.
Metabolic theory of mental illness focuses on energy imbalances affecting brain metabolism, advocating for dietary interventions over medications.
Monitoring metabolic health indicators like insulin resistance and triglyceride levels provides insights into mental well-being and dietary needs.
Progressive stage model from paleo to carnivore diets aids in optimizing metabolic health, particularly for individuals with insulin resistance or glucose processing issues.
Deep dives
Understanding the Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness and Ketogenic Diets
Dr. Georgie Ead, a renowned expert in nutritional and metabolic psychiatry, discusses the metabolic theory of mental illness in her new book, 'Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind'. Contrary to the traditional view of mental health problems as chemical imbalances treated with medications, the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry focuses on imbalances in energy that disrupt normal brain metabolism. Dr. Ead highlights the potential of ketogenic diets to treat psychiatric conditions based on successful historical use and current scientific studies, indicating their role in stabilizing brain chemistry and improving various mental health disorders.
Importance of Monitoring Metabolic Health Indicators for Mental Well-being
Dr. Ead emphasizes the significance of monitoring metabolic health indicators to understand the potential metabolic mechanisms underlying mental disorders. She recommends assessing insulin resistance and other metabolic markers, often overlooked in standard clinical evaluations that primarily focus on cholesterol levels and blood sugar. By examining fasting insulin levels, triglyceride levels, and other metabolic markers, individuals can gain valuable insights into their metabolic health and its impact on mental well-being, enabling targeted dietary interventions for improved physical and mental health.
Transitioning from Paleo to Keto to Carnivore for Optimal Metabolic Health
Dr. Ead outlines a progressive stage model from paleo to ketogenic to carnivore diets for individuals seeking to optimize their metabolic health. Starting with the paleo diet as a foundation due to its alignment with human evolutionary patterns, she suggests lowering carbohydrate intake for those with insulin resistance. Transitioning to a ketogenic diet, characterized by very low carbohydrate consumption, aims to address brain glucose processing issues caused by insulin resistance. For some individuals, a carnivore diet may be a further step to enhance metabolic health and overall well-being.
Ketogenic Diet Benefits and Carnivore Diet Transition
Switching to a ketogenic diet can be impactful due to improved glucose processing, especially for those struggling with tolerating plant-based foods. Transitioning to a carnivore diet, devoid of plant products, can serve as a troubleshooting tool, particularly for individuals with gut or immune system damage. The shift to a carnivore diet is suggested as a short-term experiment to assess its effects on health and well-being.
Exercise, Insulin Sensitivity, and Intermittent Fasting
Exercise and intermittent fasting are highlighted as beneficial strategies for improving metabolic health. Exercise aids in enhancing insulin sensitivity, boosting metabolic rate, and facilitating glucose disposal without solely relying on insulin. Additionally, intermittent fasting is recommended for individuals who have not experienced desired outcomes with a low-carbohydrate diet, emphasizing the importance of differentiating between low-carb and ketogenic approaches.
Ketogenic Diet in Mental Health Treatment
The podcast explores the significant impact of a ketogenic diet on mental health, notably in cases of chronic mental illnesses where conventional treatments have been ineffective. A study demonstrated remarkable improvements in patients' psychiatric conditions and overall health through a mildly ketogenic Whole Foods diet. The synergistic effects of a ketogenic diet with psychiatric medications are discussed, emphasizing the potential for improved outcomes and reduced medication dependency.
There has been increasing discussion of the metabolic basis of mental disorders and the potential benefit a low-carb/ketogenic approach could hold with respect to the treatment of mental disorders. Psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Edes joins us for a discussion of major themes of her new book Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind. In this conversation we cover:
why Dr. Edes wanted to write this book
the underlying evidence to suggest that there is likely a fundamentally metabolic mechanism underlying mental disorders
what contributes to the evolution of developing a metabolic disorder within the brain
signs that one could be in a danger zone from a metabolic perspective
controversies and emerging views around cholesterol and other markers of metabolic health from an energy balance perspective
what a brain healthy diet looks like from a metabolic perspective
the role inflammation plays a potentially in the development and maintenance of mental disorders
Dr. Edes staged model or algorithm of progression through paleo to keto to carnivore to evaluate what benefits a metabolic approach might offer measures beyond nutritional factors that could impact upon metabolic health
discriminating between a metabolically-based depression vs. depression precipitated by loss of a job, relationship or similar (i.e., perhaps an expected and reasonable response to a stressor)
safely and effectively combining pharmacological and nutritional strategies
how can psychologists & psychotherapists, how can we leverage knowledge of the underlying metabolic processes to optimize their clinical - mainly psychotherapeutic - interventions
Feedback or comments? Email the podcast: oicbtpodcast@gmail.com
Dr. Georgia Ede is an internationally recognized expert in nutritional and metabolic psychiatry. Her twenty-five years of clinical experience include twelve years at Smith College and Harvard University Health Services, where she was the first to offer students nutrition-based approaches as an alternative to psychiatric medication. Dr. Ede co-authored the first inpatient study of the ketogenic diet for treatment-resistant mental illness, developed the first medically accredited course in ketogenic diets for mental health practitioners, and was honored to be named a recipient of the Baszucki Brain Research Fund’s first annual Metabolic Mind Award. Her new book Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind was released on January 30, 2024.
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