Eating Disorder Treatment: A Functional Medicine Approach: Episode Rerun

In this episode of The Root Cause Medicine Podcast, Dr. James Greenblatt—psychiatrist, educator, and author—shares his personalized, functional medicine approach to supporting individuals with eating disorders.

Drawing from over 30 years of clinical experience, Dr. Greenblatt explains how nutrient deficiencies, malnutrition, and genetic individuality play a major role in mental health conditions like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. He also discusses the importance of lab testing and how personalized supplementation and nutrition strategies can be used alongside therapy and medication.

You’ll learn:

This episode offers a compassionate, science-backed perspective for clinicians, families, and anyone interested in integrative mental health care.

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03:43 - Addressing Malnutrition in Eating Disorder Treatment

04:40 - The different types of eating disorders

07:03 - Zinc deficiency: symptoms, testing, and supplements

15:54 - How omega-3 deficiency could impact eating disorders and body dysmorphia

19:09 - Brain differences and adaptive responses in eating disorders

22:52 - Dietary changes, genetic vulnerability, and eating disorders

26:53 - The role of B vitamins in eating disorder treatment

30:31 - Celiac disease and its link to eating disorders

34:33 - Treating binge eating disorder

37:47 - The importance of amino acids in nutrition and mental health

38:36 - An innovative medical model in eating disorder treatment

39:58 - Training clinicians in functional approaches for mental health

41:13 - Dr. Greenblatt's journey, practice, and books

47:06 - Lithium as a nutrient versus prescription medication

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