

Metabolic Mind
Bret Scher
Metabolic Mind is working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. Metabolic interventions like ketogenic therapy are being used to treat serious mental illnesses like Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Major Depressive Disorder. We explore topics that can help you understand how Metabolic Psychiatry might help you or a loved one treat mental disorders
Watch our videos at https://www.youtube.com/@metabolicmind
Our channel is for information only. Consult your physician before changing your lifestyle or medications.
Watch our videos at https://www.youtube.com/@metabolicmind
Our channel is for information only. Consult your physician before changing your lifestyle or medications.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 5, 2024 • 7min
Stanford Twin Study: Are Vegan Diets Healthier?
The Stanford Twin Study has made headlines suggesting that vegan diets are healthier than omnivore diets, and we would likely all benefit from a more plant-based diet. The problem is that the conclusions are misleading, and the study doesn't actually show that. The true conclusion from this study is that among high carb diets, after eight weeks, those on a vegan diet ate fewer calories, lost more weight and lowered LDL and insulin more than those following a high carb omnivore diet. The Stanford Twin Study highlights how easy it is to misinterpret and misrepresent the findings from nutrition research.
Link to the study:
Cardiometabolic Effects of Omnivorous vs Vegan Diets in Identical Twins
A Randomized Clinical Trial
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2812392
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 nonprofit initiative incubated by Baszucki Group. Our mission is to provide education and resources in the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry, including ketogenic interventions for mental disorders.
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.
#MetabolicMind
#KetoForMentalHealth
#MetabolicPsychiatry
#vegan
#omnivore#DepressionTreatment
#MetabolicNeuroscience
#KetogenicMetabolicTherapy
#NutritionalKetosis#MentalIllness#DepressionDiet#AlternativeTreatment

Jan 31, 2024 • 41min
New Study Questions LDL Risk - An interview with Dave Feldman
Do we all have to worry that LDL causes heart disease, or could certain people, like low-carb "lean mass hyper responders" have less concern about LDL and heart risk? A new study from Dave Feldman and Dr. Matt Budoff suggests markedly elevated LDL in the setting of metabolic health and ketosis may not contribute to cardiac plaque and heart disease. While these data are not conclusive, they are highly suggestive and set the stage for future studies in this critically important area. Will this line of research eventually change everything we know about LDL? That's to be determined, but at least we're asking the question.
Featured in this episode
Dave Feldman https://cholesterolcode.com/ and https://citizensciencefoundation.org/
twitter/X @realDaveFeldman
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 nonprofit initiative incubated by Baszucki Group. Our mission is to provide education and resources in the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry, including ketogenic interventions for mental disorders.
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.
#MetabolicMind
#KetoForMentalHealth
#MetabolicPsychiatry
#MetabolicNeuroscience
#KetogenicMetabolicTherapy
#NutritionalKetosis#ldl #hearthealth
#CalciumScore#CoronaryCTA#LeanMassHyperResponder#LMHR

Jan 15, 2024 • 17min
What Do Adenosine, Forests & Keto Diets Have to do with Brain Health?
At Metabolic Mind, we often focus on ketogenic therapy as a treatment for severe mental illnesses like bipolar, schizophrenia, and depression. But it’s important to realize that a keto diet can also be a powerful preventative medicine to protect and optimize brain function. Dr. Susan Masino, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at Trinity College and the Charles Bullard Fellow in forest research at Harvard Medical School, discusses the therapeutic properties of ketogenic diets and the interconnection between brain health and ecological lifelines.
Dr. Masino discovered the ketogenic diet while researching ways to increase adenosine, a neuroprotective molecule that cannot be given as a medication due to severe side effects. Both adenosine and a ketone-based metabolism work through multimodal mechanisms to “precondition” the body, promoting health and enhancing resilience, helping to reverse disease and prevent it from occurring in the first place.
Featured in this episode:
Susan Masino, PhD
https://internet3.trincoll.edu/facprofiles/default.aspx?fid=1117011
Twitter/X: @MasinoSusan
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 nonprofit initiative incubated by Baszucki Group. Our mission is to provide education and resources in the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry, including ketogenic interventions for mental disorders.
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.
#MetabolicMind
#KetoForMentalHealth
#MetabolicPsychiatry
#MetabolicNeuroscience
#KetogenicMetabolicTherapy
#NutritionalKetosis#MentalIllness#Bipolar#KetoDiet#BrainHealth#PreventativeMedicine

Jan 8, 2024 • 39min
Can Changing Your Diet Change Your Mind?- with Metabolic Psychiatry Pioneer Dr. Georgia Ede
Is the key to optimizing physical and mental health eating so-called superfoods like dark chocolate, red wine and blueberries? Dr. Georgia Ede, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist and metabolic psychiatry pioneer, shares counter-evidence to mainstream views on the optimal human diet. In this interview, she discusses nourishing the brain by eating the right foods, protecting it by staying away from the wrong foods, and energizing it by cultivating a healthy metabolism. Ede argues that the key to healing, protecting, and enhancing brain function is keeping blood sugar (glucose) and insulin within a healthy range.

Jan 2, 2024 • 34min
Future of Precision Medicine & Nutritional Therapies for Mental Illness with Dr. Megan Kirk Chang
Dr. Megan Kirk Chang, Senior Researcher of Medical Science at the University of Oxford, discusses her upcoming trials looking at nutritional interventions: one focuses on ketosis for treatment-resistant depression, and the other will investigate whether the keto diet is as effective as the Mediterranean diet for individuals at risk for developing Alzheimer’s. She has a background in cognitive behavioral therapeutics (CBT), including experience coaching patients through interventions like mindfulness-based stress reduction, exercise, and yoga.
Dr. Kirk Chang brings a fresh, unbiased perspective and diverse scope of experience to her new research examining the therapeutic uses of the keto diet. The common thread throughout her career has been helping patients restore their sense of aliveness. She envisions psychiatric interventions of the future that are driven by precision medicine, effectively tailored to the unique biology and life circumstances of each patient.
Featured in this episode:
Dr. Megan Kirk Chang
https://www.phc.ox.ac.uk/team/megan-kirk-chang
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megankirkchang/
Instagram: @dr.megankirkchang
Twitter/X: @DrKirkChang
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 nonprofit initiative incubated by Baszucki Group. Our mission is to provide education and resources in the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry, including ketogenic interventions for mental disorders.
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.
#MetabolicMind
#KetoForMentalHealth
#MetabolicPsychiatry
#DepressionTreatment
#MetabolicNeuroscience
#KetogenicMetabolicTherapy
#NutritionalKetosis#MentalIllness#DepressionDiet#AlternativeTreatment

Dec 26, 2023 • 40min
GLP-1 and Ketosis: Novel Mental Health Treatments
World-renowned psychiatrist Dr. Roger McIntyre joins to discuss the potential of GLP1 medications like Wegovy and Ozempic in treating mental health disorders, comparing them to ketogenic therapy. They explore the intersection of medication effects and ketogenic therapy, the role of brain energy in psychiatric treatments, and the evolution and hope in psychiatric care.

Dec 18, 2023 • 21min
Treating Bipolar with Keto - 100 Self-Reports with Dr. Iain Campbell
Ketogenic diets are emerging as an exciting new alternative treatment for bipolar disorder and other psychiatric conditions. Many people may see remission of their psychiatric symptoms and may be able to reduce or eliminate their intake of psychiatric medications. Dr. Iain Campbell, a researcher who lives with Bipolar II, collected survey data from over 100 individuals treating their bipolar disorder with ketogenic therapy. While the data are not at the same level as randomized controlled trials, the results are amazingly encouraging and indicate a substantial improvement in people's quality of life.
Featured in this episode:
Dr. Iain Campbell
https://www.bipolarketostudy.com/
Twitter/x: @IainCampbellPhD
Dr. Iain Campbell's pilot study pre-print:
Pilot study of a ketogenic diet in bipolar disorder
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-open/article/pilot-study-of-a-ketogenic-diet-in-bipolar-disorder/3C44C39ACE747A042179D2876D1AB143?
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 nonprofit initiative incubated by Baszucki Group. Our mission is to provide education and resources in the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry, including ketogenic interventions for mental disorders.
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.
#MetabolicMind
#KetoForMentalHealth
#MetabolicPsychiatry
#BipolarTreatment
#MetabolicNeuroscience
#KetogenicMetabolicTherapy
#NutritionalKetosis#MentalIllness#BipolarDiet
#AlternativeTreatment

9 snips
Dec 11, 2023 • 47min
Ketosis and Depression: An inspiring personal story from Stanford's Healthcare Innovation Lab.
Ben Rolnik, Director of Stanford's Healthcare Innovation Lab, candidly shares his battle with depression and how ketogenic therapy placed his symptoms into remission. He discusses the profound changes brought by dietary shifts, emphasizing the interplay between mental health and biology. Ben advocates for further research to identify those who could benefit from ketogenic interventions, while reflecting on the transformative effects on his energy and motivation. His personal journey highlights the crucial relationship between health and overall wellbeing.

Dec 4, 2023 • 21min
Psychiatrist Shares His Experience With GLP1 Weight Loss Drugs with Dr Rodrigo Mansuer
Dr. Rodrigo Mansur, a University of Toronto psychiatrist, discusses the use of GLP1 weight loss drugs in psychiatry, exploring their potential to target symptoms of depression and anxiety. He highlights the research behind these medications and the importance of monitoring for adverse effects. The podcast delves into the connection between metabolic and mental health, emphasizing the need for careful consideration when using these drugs in psychiatric populations.

Nov 20, 2023 • 18min
Treating Weight Gain From Psychiatric Medications with Dr Matt Bernstein
Can you successfully lose weight that you’ve gained from antipsychotics and other psychiatric medications for bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and other mental health disorders? Dr. Matthew Bernstein faces this question daily in his psychiatric practice and believes a combination of ketogenic therapy and medications like Wegovy or Ozempic may lead to sustained weight loss - as long as it is done safely and with a plan.
Dr. Bernstein also acknowledges that stubborn weight gain is a common side effect of psychiatric medications that standard "diet and exercise" weight loss advice doesn't address. Will GLP1 agonist weight loss drugs become the norm? Or should ketogenic therapy be the first-line therapy? These are ongoing questions patients and doctors will have to keep asking as this field evolves.
Expert features in this episode
Matthew Bernstein, MD
https://www.ellenhorn.com/our-team/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-bernstein-5743338
Watch our previous video with Dr. Bernstein
https://youtu.be/oA6KaqJhVDY?si=gFeaLAMN_KOKaDo
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 nonprofit initiative incubated by Baszucki Group. Our mission is to provide education and resources in the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry, including ketogenic interventions for mental disorders.
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
#MetabolicMind
#KetoForMentalHealth
#MetabolicPsychiatry
#BipolarTreatment
#KetogenicMetabolicTherapy
#NutritionalKetosis#MentalIllness#Bipolar#GLP1#Ozempic#Wegovy#Weightloss