75: Dr. Matt Bernstein: how improving metabolic health can radically transform our mental health

In this fascinating interview, Dr. Matt Bernstein explains the groundbreaking and fast developing field of metabolic psychiatry, and outlines the ways diet, exercise, and other lifestyle factors can radically transform mental health outcomes. He explains why metabolic dysfunction is  common to all manifestations of poor mental health, and why metabolic intervention can have profound benefits to all mental health disorders.

Dr. Matt Bernstein is Chief Medical Officer at EllenHorn Clinic, where he pursues alternative ways to help individuals achieve their best levels of functioning and happiness without relying solely on traditional psychiatric approaches, instead focussing on metabolism, nutrition, circadian-rhythm, biology, mind-body and exercise, He is also Chief Executive Officer at Accord, a residential clinic implementing metabolic psychiatry approaches to mental health, and is  one of the leading voices in the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry.  Dr. Bernstein received his medical degree from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He then trained at the MGH McLean Psychiatry Residency Program, where he served as chief resident and psychiatrist-in-charge, and later as assistant medical director of its schizophrenia and bipolar inpatient programme. 

In this episode, learn why metabolism and mitochondrial health is at the core of our mental health, why merely reducing symptoms is not the desired outcome, and how Dr. Matt Bernstein helps his patients function at their best and happiest in everyday life. Discover why diet is the most powerful intervention, and why behavioural choices, such as exercise, mind-body practices and circadian-rhythm alignment, deepen healing by improving metabolism. 

In this episode learn about:

• How Dr. Matt Bernstein discovered metabolic psychiatry and why it is so effective  in treating  mental health conditions, including psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, addictions, eating disorders, OCD, ADHD, and more.

• How metabolic psychiatry works without traditional psychiatric approaches, and why mainstream medicine often falls short in addressing the root-causes of mental health issues.

• Why the treatment goal is for patients to thrive in everyday life, rather than merely reducing symptoms.

• The link between metabolic dysfunction and mental health: how metabolic imbalances contribute to depression, anxiety, and treatment-resistant chronic disorders.

• How lifestyle interventions can reverse metabolic dysfunction: the role of ketogenic diets, exercise and circadian rhythms in improving metabolic and mental health.

• Key data and case studies that highlight the potential of metabolic psychiatry to transform mental health, and ways evidence is beginning to reveal that metabolic treatments outperform pharmaceuticals.

• How improving mitochondrial function boosts neurotransmitter function, BDNF, GABA-glutamate ratio, while reducing neuroinflammation and decreasing oxidative stress.

• Why mitochondrial health is fuelled by ketosis, and why good mitochondrial health profoundly improves our metabolism and mental health symptoms.

• Ways a ketogenic diet is a ‘miracle drug’, and how it can cure treatment-resistant mental health disorders and reduce anxiety and depression.

• What a ‘clean’ ketogenic diet looks like: the importance of high-quality whole foods and the targeted roles of fibre, proteins, cholesterol, and fats in optimising brain health.

• How to reach ketosis as a vegetarian or vegan, and practical guidance for those following plant-based diets.

• Root causes of poor mitochondrial health: how childhood trauma, toxins, pollutants, nutrient deficiencies, ultra-processed foods, sugar, and circadian rhythm dysregulation impact metabolism and mental health.

• An overview of Dr. Matt Bernstein’s 4-week minimum residential programme Accord, and how the programme uses diet, mind-body practices and circadian rhythm alignment to improve metabolism as the main intervention for improved mental health.

• Why over testing and over supplementing can become part of the problem, and is avoided in the programme.

• How treatment strategies are tailored to the individual: why personalised interventions require ongoing support, why the process can be challenging, but why the effort can be incredibly rewarding.