Everyday Wellness with Cynthia Thurlow ™

Ep. 452 Protecting Your Brain: Inflammation, Sleep & Neuroplasticity with Dr. Drew Ramsey

Mar 29, 2025

01:09:31

Today, I have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Drew Ramsey, a board-certified psychiatrist, author, and a leading voice in nutritional psychiatry and integrative mental health.

With over 50 million Americans facing mental health challenges, Dr. Ramsey and I discuss the effects of loneliness, connection, and the quality of attachment. We explore the importance of boundaries and self-awareness, as well as the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and we dive into public awareness of mental health, factors that negatively affect brain health, and the crucial role of sleep in overall well-being. Our conversation also includes insights on how to find high-quality mental health care from qualified professionals, and we look at protective factors for our brains, like neuroplasticity, inflammation reduction, and maintaining a diverse microbiome.

I hope you find this insightful discussion with Dr. Ramsey as valuable, engaging, and enlightening as I did while recording it.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

The challenges of being in a caregiving role
Perimenopause and the impact on women’s health
Dr. Ramsey explains the concept of interpersonal psychotherapy
Why self-awareness is necessary for improving mental health
How social media and modern lifestyles impact mental health
Urban living and its impact on sleep and mental health
Mental health benefits of maintaining a diverse microbiome and avoiding ultra-processed foods
Strategies for improving sleep quality
Why personalized mental health treatments are essential
The role of psychedelic medicine in mental health treatments

Bio: Dr. Drew Ramsey

Drew Ramsey, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist, author, and leading voice in Nutritional Psychiatry and integrative mental health. He is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the founder of the Brain Food Clinic and Spruce Mental Health. For twenty years, he served as an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University, where he taught and supervised psychotherapy and nutritional psychiatry.

Dr. Ramsey has authored five books, including Healing the Modern Brain, and three e-courses. He is a dynamic speaker, podcast host, and educator who has delivered three TEDx talks, and his work has been featured by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Today Show, NPR, and other notable outlets. He lives in Jackson, WY, with his wife and family.

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