Metabolic Mind

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.They break down:The overlap between GLP-1 drugs and low carb dietsWhy long-term use of these drugs may come with hidden costsHow shared mechanisms open the door to combination therapyWhat current studies are missing and the urgent need for better trialsWhy metabolic health (not just weight loss) should be the focusThis conversation challenges the idea that the answer is either medication or nutrition therapy. The reality is that every individual is different, and for many, the most effective path to healing may involve a thoughtful combination of both. Rather than choosing one over the other, we should focus on tailoring care to the unique needs of each individual with the goal of getting the best outcomes.Expert Featured:Dr. David LudwigX: https://x.com/davidludwigmdGary Taubeshttps://x.com/garytaubeshttps://uncertaintyprinciples.substack.com/Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

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.Nicole shares how her own journey through cognitive impairment led her to ketogenic therapy, and how that experience transformed her clinical practice. Today, her Brain Fog Recovery Program is helping individuals with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, early Alzheimer's, and more—many of whom are on disability and unable to access traditional care options.We at Baszucki Group were proud to offer a matching grant to help Nicole expand access to more people in need, and we’re happy to report that the matching goal has been reached between the time of recording and posting. However, that is not the end of the support needed to expand the capabilities and awareness of this life-changing program.Topics discussed:Why ketogenic therapy can be so effective for mental illnessHow Nicole’s program offers structured, compassionate supportHer nonprofit’s mission to serve low-income and disabled populationsWhat the fundraising campaign is doing to expand accessHow to sign up for the program or contribute to its growthExpert Featured:Nicole Laurent, LMHCResources Mentioned:Visit: https://www.every.org/brain-fog-recovery-source📩 Email for nonprofit access: nonprofit@mentalhealthketo.com📩 Email for private consultation: nicole@mentalhealthketo.comFollow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

In this conversation, Dr. Mark Horowitz, a psychiatrist and researcher specializing in medication withdrawal, shares his firsthand insights into the complexities of antidepressant tapering. He argues that current clinical guidelines severely underestimate the intensity of withdrawal symptoms, leading many patients to feel gaslit. Dr. Horowitz clarifies the critical distinction between withdrawal and relapse, highlights the need for improved research methodologies, and advocates for a more personalized approach to depression treatment, emphasizing the importance of lifestyle changes.

David Kessler, former FDA commissioner and author, dives deep into the crisis of visceral fat and its role in chronic health issues. He argues that ultra-processed foods are harming our biology and that addiction to these foods is misunderstood. Kessler shares his personal struggles with weight, stressing the importance of targeted dietary strategies like ketogenic diets. The conversation critiques current dietary guidelines, reveals the connection between metabolism and mental health, and warns that GLP-1 drugs are merely a short-term fix.

Dr. Ben Bikman, a metabolic health researcher and professor at BYU, discusses innovative ways to use GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. He suggests microdosing these drugs to curb cravings instead of high doses long-term. Bikman emphasizes the benefits of low-carb diets and the importance of habit changes for sustainable health. This approach aims to preserve muscle while facilitating fat loss, rethinking traditional obesity management as a temporary solution rather than a lifelong dependency on medication.

Dr. Cristina Nigro, a Neuroscience Program Officer at the Baszucki Group, dives into groundbreaking research on personalized nutrition. She reveals that blood sugar responses to foods can vary dramatically between individuals, spotlighting the study that categorized people as 'potato spikers' or 'grape spikers.' Further, she discusses how continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) can tailor dietary guidelines and improve mental health management. By emphasizing our unique metabolic profiles, Nigro challenges the one-size-fits-all approach to diet and health.

Can ketogenic therapy help treat multiple mental health disorders at once? In this video, we explore a dramatic case report where ketogenic therapy put bipolar depression, binge eating disorder, anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD into remission. Clinical psychologist Dr. Erin Louise Bellamy joins Dr. Bret Scher to discuss her recently published case report of a 38-year-old woman whose life went from “a mind shattered now restored” in just 12 weeks on a medically supervised ketogenic therapy program. Results so impressive that it forced other practitioners to dismiss the results as being “clinically improbable.” In this interview, we cover:- How achieving higher therapeutic ketone levels impacted her mental health symptoms- How they tailored her diet to achieve a level of ketosis that kept her symptoms in remission- Why ketogenic therapy may target shared mechanisms across psychiatric diagnoses- The concept of trans-diagnostic remission and treating root causes, not just symptoms- The role of dietary compliance, food addiction awareness, and tailored guidance- How ketogenic therapy can work alongside medications or as a primary intervention for some patientsWhile the results from this case report may seem out of this world, again and again we are seeing ketogenic therapy provide impressive levels of relief for individuals who are really struggling with mental illness. We hope that these stories will reset the expectations for what is possible in psychiatric care. #MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #MentalHealth #Psychiatry #BipolarDisorder #PTSD #ADHD #Anxiety #BingeEatingDisorder #NutritionAndMentalHealthExpert Featured:- Dr. Erin Louise Bellamy - Website: ikrt.org- X: https://x.com/erinlbellamy- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinlouisebellamy/?hl=enResources Mentioned:Transdiagnostic remission of psychiatric comorbidity in post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD, and binge-eating disorder using ketogenic metabolic therapy: a retrospective case reporthttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/392930410_Transdiagnostic_remission_of_psychiatric_comorbidity_in_post-traumatic_stress_disorder_ADHD_and_binge-eating_disorder_using_ketogenic_metabolic_therapy_a_retrospective_case_reportFollow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/

Join Dr. Susan Masino, a neuroscience and psychology professor at Trinity College, as she unpacks her groundbreaking research on adenosine and its potential in treating addiction. She discusses how adenosine balances dopamine activity and its link to cravings. The conversation explores how ketogenic diets might enhance adenosine levels, aiding in recovery from substance and food addictions. Additionally, Masino touches on the connections between metabolic health, mental well-being, and emerging therapies that could revolutionize addiction treatment.

In this insightful discussion, Dr. Anders Sørensen, a Danish psychologist with a PhD in psychiatry, shares his expertise on tapering off psychiatric medications. He emphasizes the importance of tailored strategies and the psychological challenges of withdrawal. Listeners will learn how withdrawal can mimic relapse, the critical role of psychotherapy during the process, and why current clinical guidelines often overlook the nuanced experiences of long-term patients. Dr. Sørensen advocates for a holistic approach that includes lifestyle interventions to support emotional well-being.

In this engaging discussion, psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede, who advocates for metabolic therapies in mental health, delves into the complexities of treatment-resistant depression. She questions the traditional use of antipsychotics and highlights surprising links to suicide risk. Ede shares insights from new studies on the metabolic side effects of these medications and promotes alternative approaches like ketogenic therapy. This thought-provoking conversation challenges conventional treatments and underscores the potential of dietary interventions for better mental health outcomes.