Metabolic Mind

Meal timing, morning light, sleep, and exercise can all influence circadian rhythm, with potentially important effects on metabolic health.

In this episode, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with circadian biology expert Dr. Satchin Panda about how our internal clocks work, what disrupts them, and how everyday timing choices can affect metabolism, brain function, and long-term health.

Dr. Panda describes how light helps synchronize the brain’s central clock, while food timing may influence clocks in other organs and tissues. He also breaks down why the timing of your first and last meals matters, what shift work can do to metabolic health, and how even a one-hour clock change for “daylight savings” can disrupt circadian biology.

They discuss:

• How circadian rhythms influence metabolism and brain function
• Why morning light and daytime light exposure matter
• The difference between central and peripheral circadian clocks
• Why Dr. Panda recommends waiting one to two hours after waking before eating
• Why eating several hours before bed may support sleep and metabolic health
• Why the timing of a time-restricted eating window matters, not just its length
• What research in firefighters suggests about food timing during shift work
• Practical strategies for people working overnight or irregular schedules
• How light exposure is being used in some mental health settings
• Why Dr. Panda favors permanent standard time over changing the clocks twice a year

Dr. Panda’s research offers a practical framework for thinking about circadian health. Paying closer attention to habits like when you eat, get sunlight, exercise, and sleep may help keep your internal clocks better aligned.

👉 Looking for lifestyle practices that can help support metabolic and mental health? Sign up for THINK+SMART and receive our free guide: metabolicmind.org/thinksmart/get-started/

🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

#CircadianRhythm #TimeRestrictedEating #MetabolicMind

Expert Featured:

Dr. Satchin Panda

• https://www.instagram.com/satchin.panda/?hl=en
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/satchin-panda-926ba369
• https://x.com/SatchinPanda

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

Can ketogenic therapy help offset some of the metabolic side effects of clozapine while preserving its psychiatric benefits?

Dr. Deanna Kelly, a leading clozapine researcher, joins Dr. Bret Scher to discuss what she has seen clinically when ketogenic therapy is used alongside clozapine and other antipsychotic medications.

Dr. Kelly shares the case of a patient taking clozapine who also had diabetes and metabolic syndrome. After five weeks on a ketogenic diet, the patient’s glucose, insulin, and hemoglobin A1C returned to the normal range. She also explains why people taking antipsychotics such as clozapine or olanzapine may have a harder time reaching ketosis and why careful monitoring matters.

They discuss:

• Using ketogenic therapy alongside clozapine
• Metabolic side effects associated with antipsychotic treatment
• Why ketosis may be harder to achieve on clozapine or olanzapine
• Changes in clozapine blood levels that may occur with ketogenic therapy
• Why lower clozapine levels do not automatically mean the dose should be increased
• The possibility of gradually reducing antipsychotic doses once someone is stable
• Why Dr. Kelly views dose reduction through a harm-reduction lens
• The importance of expert clinical supervision when adjusting psychiatric medications

The research in this area is still limited, but Dr. Kelly believes there is real promise in exploring whether ketogenic therapy can help reduce metabolic burden and, in some cases, support lower antipsychotic doses without sacrificing psychiatric stability.

Medication safety is critical. Clozapine and other psychiatric medications should only be adjusted with experienced clinical supervision, especially when starting ketogenic therapy, because medication levels and effects can change as metabolism changes.

💡 Learn more about the importance of clinical support with psych meds and how ketogenic therapy may impact medication needs and dosage on our Keto and Psych Meds Topic Page: www.metabolicmind.org/resources/topics/keto-and-psych-meds/.

🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

#Clozapine #KetogenicTherapy #MetabolicPsychiatry

Expert Featured:

Dr. Deanna L. Kelly

• https://www.metabolicmind.org/team/deanna-kelly-pharmd-bcpp/
• https://x.com/ProfDeannaK
• https://www.instagram.com/dr.deanna.kelly/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-l-kelly-pharmd-bcpp-3a8b299b/?isSelfProfile=false

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that adults with ADHD had more than a fourfold higher association with cognitive impairment and dementia later in life. The finding doesn't mean ADHD causes dementia, but it raises important questions about what these conditions may share biologically.

In this video, Dr. Bret Scher breaks down the study and explores one possible connection: brain energy metabolism.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 187,000 adults and also found that people with a higher genetic risk for ADHD had a 35% greater likelihood of cognitive decline, even without an ADHD diagnosis. Dr. Scher explains why these findings may point toward shared biological pathways involving glucose metabolism, mitochondrial function, insulin sensitivity, and the brain’s ability to meet its energy needs.

He covers:

• What the study found about ADHD and later cognitive decline
• Why association doesn't establish causation
• The possible connection between ADHD, brain energy metabolism, and dementia
• How sleep, chronic stress, and metabolic health may influence long-term brain health
• Why ketogenic therapy is being explored as a way to provide the brain with an additional fuel source
• How exercise and sleep may support brain metabolic function
• Why this research makes early attention to metabolic health worth considering

The research connecting ADHD, metabolism, and dementia is still developing. For people living with ADHD, these findings offer another reason to think about long-term brain health and the metabolic factors that may be modifiable over time.

👉 Interested in learning more about the potential connection between ADHD and metabolic health? Check out our blog: https://www.metabolicmind.org/resources/library/blog/stories/ketogenic-therapy-for-adhd/

🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

#ADHD #Dementia #MetabolicHealth #MetabolicMind

Expert Featured:

Bret Scher, MD - Baszucki Group Medical Director & Host of the Metabolic Mind Podcast

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-scher-08baaa102/
• https://www.instagram.com/drscher858/?hl=en
• https://x.com/bschermd

Resources Mentioned:

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Late-Life Cognitive Impairment

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2854889

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

ADHD is often described as a problem with attention or hyperactivity, but psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede argues that the condition is much more complex, involving executive function, dopamine regulation, and potentially brain energy metabolism.

In this episode of Metabolic Mind, Dr. Bret Scher and Dr. Georgia Ede take a deeper look at ADHD, from how it is diagnosed and treated to emerging research on nutrition and glucose metabolism, including questions about ketogenic therapy

Dr. Ede draws on years of experience treating ADHD, including her time at Harvard University, Smith College, and the Hallowell Center. She explains why some people living with ADHD can focus intensely on things that interest them while struggling with everyday tasks, why stimulants can be so effective for some people, and where lifestyle strategies may fit alongside conventional care.

They cover:

• What ADHD actually is and why the name can be misleading
• How inattentive and hyperactive symptoms can look very different
• Why ADHD can affect work, relationships, self-esteem, and quality of life
• How stimulant and non-stimulant medications work
• What older studies found when children living with ADHD followed simplified whole-food diets
• Evidence of altered brain glucose metabolism in ADHD
• Why researchers are exploring possible links between ADHD and metabolic health, including research on mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation
• What Dr. Ede has observed clinically with whole-food and ketogenic approaches
• How ketogenic therapy may interact with stimulant medications
• Why there is no established ketone level for ADHD
• The first randomized controlled trial now underway at Oxford studying ketogenic therapy in adults living with ADHD and depression

The clinical evidence for ketogenic therapy in ADHD is still early, and Dr. Ede emphasizes that we do not yet know how effective it will be or who is most likely to benefit. But with research now underway, the metabolic side of ADHD is becoming an important area to watch.

Anyone considering dietary or medication changes should discuss them with their healthcare provider. Medication adjustments require supervision from a prescribing clinician.

👉 Interested in learning more about the potential connection between ADHD and metabolic health? Check out our blog: https://www.metabolicmind.org/resources/library/blog/stories/ketogenic-therapy-for-adhd/

🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

#ADHD #KetogenicTherapy #MetabolicPsychiatry

Expert Featured:

Dr. Georgia Ede, MD- Author, Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiaedemd/
• https://x.com/GeorgiaEdeMD
• https://www.instagram.com/georgiaedemd/

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

Does perimenopause make ketosis harder? Can a carnivore diet provide too much protein? And which nutrient deficiencies matter most for mental health?

In this episode of Metabolic Mailbag, Dr. Bret Scher and psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede answer listener questions about ketogenic therapy, menopause, carnivore diets, protein intake, and nutrition for mental health.

They discuss how hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can affect insulin sensitivity and ketone levels, and why some women may need to adjust their carbohydrate intake, exercise, or other aspects of their routine to maintain the same metabolic response.

They also cover:

• Why perimenopause and menopause can make ketosis more difficult
• How changing estrogen levels may affect insulin resistance and mental health
• Histamine intolerance and gut changes during perimenopause
• Whether carnivore diets can become too high in protein
• How to think about protein intake when therapeutic ketosis is the goal
• Why adding fat may help adjust the protein-to-fat ratio on carnivore
• Common nutrient deficiencies that can affect mental health
• The roles of B12, choline, folate, iron, iodine, and omega-3 fatty acids
• Why correcting a deficiency does not always resolve psychiatric symptoms
• The difference between folic acid and methylfolate

Dr. Ede also shares why appetite and satiety can feel very different on a well-formulated ketogenic or carnivore diet, and why individual needs often change over time.

🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

#MetabolicMind #QuestionAndAnswer #KetogenicTherapy

Expert Featured:

Dr. Georgia Ede, MD- Author, Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiaedemd/
• https://x.com/GeorgiaEdeMD
• https://www.instagram.com/georgiaedemd/

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

Some “healthy” foods may be working against your metabolic health.

In this episode of Metabolic Mind, Dr. Bret Scher examines how products such as agave nectar, commercial green juices, low-fat fruit yogurt, and açaí bowls can create a health halo while delivering large amounts of rapidly digestible sugar.

Dr. Scher explains how liquid carbohydrates, added sugars, and concentrated fructose may affect satiety, insulin response, hunger, and other markers of metabolic health. He also examines how front-of-package phrases such as “natural,” “low fat,” “made with real fruit,” and “superfood” can make certain products appear healthier than their nutrition labels suggest.

The episode covers:

• How liquid and rapidly digestible carbohydrates affect satiety differently from whole foods
• Why agave nectar’s low glycemic index does not tell the full story about how its fructose content is processed by the liver
• How removing fiber and adding fruit can change the metabolic effects of some commercial green juices
• How some low-fat fruit yogurts replace fat with added sugar
• Why some açaí bowls can deliver a large, rapidly absorbed sugar load
• How to assess total carbohydrates, added sugar, and ingredient lists
• Why front-of-package health claims may offer an incomplete picture of a food’s nutritional content

This episode offers a practical guide to recognizing misleading health claims and evaluating nutrition labels through a metabolic health lens.

👉 Want to stay up to date with the latest research on metabolic health and metabolic psychiatry? Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed: metabolicmind.org/about-us/newsletter/

🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #FoodAsMedicine

Expert Featured:

Bret Scher, MD - Baszucki Group Medical Director & Host of the Metabolic Mind Podcast

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-scher-08baaa102/
• https://www.instagram.com/drscher858/?hl=en
• https://x.com/bschermd

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

How did humans go from being deeply connected to our food to barely knowing where it comes from or how it was made?

In this episode of Metabolic Mind, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with experimental archaeologist and chef Dr. Bill Schindler about what human evolution can teach us about food, nutrition, and the way we eat today. Drawing on archaeology and his time with hunter-gatherer communities around the world, Dr. Schindler traces how human diets changed through hunting, food processing, agriculture, and eventually the modern food system.

A major turning point came with agriculture. Dr. Schindler describes how dietary diversity declined as societies became more dependent on a smaller number of staple crops, while people also became increasingly removed from the source and preparation of their food.

They cover:

• How hunting and food processing shaped human evolution
• What changed when humans transitioned to agriculture
• What Dr. Schindler has learned from spending time with modern hunter-gatherer communities
• Why those communities cannot be viewed as untouched examples of ancestral life
• How culture and environment shape what different populations eat
• Why nourishment involves more than macronutrients alone
• How food traditions can create a deeper connection to what we eat
• Why Dr. Schindler and his wife Christina created the Modern Stone Age Kitchen
• How fermentation, sourdough, nose-to-tail cooking, and other traditional techniques are used in a modern restaurant
• Why the way food is prepared may be just as important as the ingredients themselves

At the Modern Stone Age Kitchen, Dr. Schindler has tried to bring those lessons into everyday life by making familiar foods from scratch and using traditional preparation methods to improve nutrient density and reconnect people with the story behind their food.

🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

#AncestralNutrition #MetabolicMind #FoodAsMedicine

Expert Featured:

Dr. Bill Schindler

• https://www.instagram.com/drbillschindler/?hl=en
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bill-schindler-46243211
• https://www.facebook.com/drbillschindler/
• https://www.facebook.com/modernstoneagekitchen/
• https://www.instagram.com/themodernstoneage
• https://www.youtube.com/@themodernstoneage

Resources Mentioned:

• https://modernstoneage.com/
• https://modernstoneage.circle.so/ancestral-table-home
• https://modernstoneage.com/shop/p/eat-like-a-human-autographed-book

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

A new study claims ketogenic diets cause liver damage and early death. Here’s what you need to know.

A 2025 mouse study recently made headlines, warning that ketogenic diets may lead to fatty liver, high triglycerides, and a shortened lifespan.

But here’s the catch:

These findings were in genetically altered mice fed a 90% fat diet, filled with highly synthetic components, and they contradict what human trials have shown again and again.

In real people, ketogenic diets have consistently been linked to:

✅ Lower liver fat and improved liver enzymes

✅ Reduced triglycerides

✅ Improved insulin sensitivity and A1c

✅ Medication reduction or even remission in type 2 diabetes

So why the disconnect?

In this video, Dr. Bret Scher breaks it down:

• What the mouse study really showed (and what it didn’t)
• Key biological differences between mice and humans
• Why human evidence still supports a well-formulated ketogenic diet’s safety and benefits
• What to look for when evaluating nutrition headlines

Animal data can provide hints and raise important questions, but when human trials show clear benefits, that’s the signal we should trust.

👉 Learn more about the powerful effect of metabolic therapies on the brain and body by subscribing to Metabolic Mind: https://www.youtube.com/@metabolicmind.

#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #FoodAsMedicine

Expert Featured:

Dr. Bret Scher

• Baszucki Group Medical Director
• https://x.com/bschermd

Resources Mentioned:

A long-term ketogenic diet causes hyperlipidemia, liver dysfunction, and glucose intolerance from impaired insulin secretion in mice

• https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adx2752

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

Can ketosis change symptoms of bulimia? Is low-carb eating safe in your 80s? And what really happens to digestion on a carnivore diet?

In this episode of Metabolic Mailbag, Dr. Bret Scher answers questions about ketogenic therapy for eating disorders, low-carb diets in older adults, carnivore diets and gut health, constipation on a ketogenic diet, and even a few easy keto movie-night snacks. He also looks at why being in ketosis may affect symptoms differently than simply eating low carb, what to consider when fasting later in life, and how to think about bowel habits and microbiome changes when fiber intake is very low.

He covers:

• Whether intermittent fasting and low-carb eating are appropriate at age 81
• Why adequate protein remains important with fasting
• What current research suggests about ketogenic therapy and eating disorders
• Fiber, bowel habits, and constipation on carnivore and ketogenic diets
• What emerging research suggests about microbiome diversity on carnivore
• Magnesium options for constipation
• Simple keto snack ideas for a movie night

As always, Dr. Scher emphasizes individual context, clinical guidance, and the importance of looking beyond a single number or dietary rule.

🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #MetabolicMailbag

Expert Featured:

Bret Scher, MD

• https://www.instagram.com/drscher858/?hl=en
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-scher-08baaa102/
• https://x.com/bschermd

Resources Mentioned:

Papers

• https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06000774
• https://toward.health/dr-tro-co-authors-case-series-demonstrating-feasibility-of-ketogenic-diet-for-patients-with-obesity-binge-eating-food-addiction-symptoms/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://www.wsj.com/health/can-ozempic-treat-binge-eating-for-some-the-answer-is-yes-dbdc009f?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://journals.bioscientifica.com/mah/article/4/1/MAH250015/77637/Long-term-adherence-to-the-carnivore-diet-and-its
• https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms4654
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6546328/

Videos

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cThdgRm9ApE

Additional resources

• https://brainenergy.com/

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.

Alzheimer’s disease is usually discussed in terms of plaques, tangles, and genetics. Dr. Stephen Cunnane has spent years studying another piece of the puzzle: what happens when the aging brain can no longer use glucose efficiently, and whether ketones can help fill that energy gap.

In this interview, Dr. Bret Scher and Dr. Cunnane discuss the metabolic side of cognitive decline, including insulin resistance, brain glucose metabolism, and why metabolic health may play an important role in both prevention and treatment.

They cover:

• Why brain glucose utilization declines with age and Alzheimer’s disease
• How ketones may provide an alternative fuel for the brain
• What clinical trials of ketogenic diets, MCTs, and exogenous ketones have found so far
• Why some studies show improvements in quality of life or daily function even when cognitive measures change less
• What APOE4 may mean for treatment and prevention
• Why type 2 diabetes is such an important modifiable risk factor for dementia
• The roles of exercise, carbohydrate reduction, MCTs, and other lifestyle strategies
• Why Dr. Cunnane believes prevention should begin long before cognitive symptoms appear

Dr. Cunnane also shares news about SPARCUS, the Sprott Prevent Alzheimer Research Collaboration at the University of Sherbrooke. The new program will support research and education around multi-domain metabolic approaches to cognitive health, including reduced carbohydrate intake, MCTs, exercise, and omega-3 supplementation.

The research is still evolving, but Dr. Cunnane argues that we already know enough about metabolic health to start taking modifiable dementia risk factors more seriously.

👉 Want to stay up to date with the latest research on metabolic health and metabolic psychiatry? Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed: metabolicmind.org/about-us/newsletter/

🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

#AlzheimersDisease #MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy

Expert Featured:

Dr. Stephen Cunnane

• https://recherche-cerveau-sherbrooke.ca/en/laboratory-team/

Resources Mentioned:

• https://event.fourwaves.com/kc-5

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

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.