What if everything we thought we knew about cholesterol and heart disease risk… doesn’t apply to everyone?

In this episode, world-renowned cardiologist Dr. Matthew Budoff unpacks the results of a landmark one-year study tracking 100 lean, metabolically healthy individuals on a ketogenic diet with extremely elevated LDL levels.

Dr. Budoff is the Program Director, Director of Cardiac CT, and the endowed chair of preventive cardiology at The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

In this interview, Dr. Scher and Dr. Budoff further break down the results of his new publication, which used advanced imaging to demonstrate that LDL cholesterol and ApoB levels are not associated with plaque progression in Lean-Mass Hyper Responders following a ketogenic diet.

📊 Surprising insights:

• Elevated LDL and ApoB did not predict plaque progression
• Some participants with LDLs over 500 showed no plaque at all
• A few participants even experienced plaque regression
• Existing plaque—not LDL-C or ApoB—did predict plaque accumulation in this population

Dr. Budoff explains what these results mean for clinicians, for patients using ketogenic therapy as a medical intervention, and for the broader conversation around cardiovascular disease risk.

“It is important that clinicians, along with the general public, are made aware that personalized, data-driven approaches to assessing risk should be considered based on individual conditions,” said Dr. Budoff. “The existence of this phenotype suggests that alternative markers or tests should be used to establish metabolic health in some cases.”

🎬 These exciting new findings are featured in Dave Feldman and Jen Isenhart’s upcoming documentary, The Cholesterol Code, the story of how a software engineer conducts a groundbreaking study on an unusual group of people—lean, healthy individuals whose doctors are convinced they’ll die young. Real stories of healing with ketogenic diets provide a blueprint for using food as powerful medicine.

Visit cholesterolcodemovie.com to learn more about the film and to be the first to hear about private screenings and the general release in the fall.

Expert Featured:

• Dr. Matthew Budoff
• X: https://x.com/budoffmd?lang=en
• https://lundquist.org/matthew-budoff-md

Resources Mentioned:

Plaque Begets Plaque, ApoB Does Not

• https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.101686

Diagnostic and Preventative Cardiovascular Imaging Center

• calciumscan.com

CMEs Mentioned:

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

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.

There’s been a lot of buzz—and confusion—about the new Keto-CTA study, examining plaque progression in Lean Mass Hyper-Responders (LMHRs).

Much of the social media debate has centered on whether high LDL on keto is safe or dangerous, driven largely by how to interpret the supplemental table comparing this study to others on LDL and plaque progression.

In this episode of the Metabolic Mind Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Matthew Budoff, a world-renowned cardiologist, cardiac CT researcher, and the study's lead investigator, to discuss the the supplemental table, what the plaque markers mean, and how this fits into the discussion of high- vs -low-risk plaque progression.

In this episode, we cover:

✅ What PAV (Percent Atheroma Volume) is, what it actually measures, and why it matters

✅ Why a 50% increase in plaque may sound scary, but can be deceiving

✅ The difference between “treatment-naive” and “treated” participants

✅ What the Miami Heart Study comparison reveals about keto, LDL, and plaque

✅ Why LDL alone may not tell the whole story about heart disease risk

✅ How some high-risk individuals may still benefit from statins and other therapies

This study doesn’t answer whether keto causes heart disease or not. Instead, it shows that high LDL on a ketogenic diet is not a reliable predictor of plaque progression across all individuals. What is predictive? The presence of existing plaque.

💡 Key takeaway: Relying on surrogate markers of heart disease, like LDL and ApoB, is not the best way to assess heart disease risk in all populations.

If you're concerned about how elevated LDL may be affecting your heart health, the best next step is to speak with your doctor about cardiac imaging to directly assess plaque and gain a clearer picture of your individual risk.

Expert Featured:

• Dr. Matthew Budoff
• X: https://x.com/budoffmd?lang=en
• https://lundquist.org/matthew-budoff-md

Resources Mentioned:

Plaque Begets Plaque, ApoB Does Not

• https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.101686

CMEs Mentioned:

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

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.

Is LDL cholesterol the best way to measure and predict heart disease?

New research suggests no!

Dave Feldman is an engineer turned citizen scientist who has devoted his life to understanding a phenomenon that some individuals around the world are experiencing: a robust increase in LDL cholesterol while on a ketogenic diet.

Dave’s past research has identified a unique phenotype dubbed Lean Mass Hyper-Responders (LMHRs). LMHRs respond to ketogenic therapy with a metabolic profile that includes elevated LDL-C and ApoB levels with otherwise healthy metabolic markers, including low triglycerides, high HDL, low blood pressure, low insulin resistance, and low BMI.

In Dave’s most recent publication, what most doctors would consider dangerously high LDL levels in LMHRs did not correlate with an increased risk of heart disease.

In this video, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dave Feldman to discuss this groundbreaking study and its implications for ketogenic therapy and cardiology.

Key Takeaways:

• LMHRs on a long-term ketogenic diet who show elevated LDL can show robust metabolic health
• LDL-C and ApoB were not linked to plaque progression in LMHRs
• Existing plaque did predict future plaque accumulation in LMHRs
• Individualized approaches to cardiovascular risk assessment are crucial to serve this group better.

🎬 These exciting new findings are featured in Dave Feldman and Jen Isenhart’s  upcoming documentary, The Cholesterol Code, the story of how one engineer’s health experiment sparks a global investigation, exposing myths about cholesterol and reshaping our understanding of heart health. Real stories of healing from disease with ketogenic diets provide a blueprint for using food as powerful medicine.

Visit cholesterolcodemovie.com to learn more about the film and to be the first to hear about private screenings and the general release in the fall.

Expert Featured:

Resources Mentioned:

Coronary Artery Plaque Progression in Asymptomatic Lean Mass Hyper-Responders: A Case Series

• https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.101686

CMEs Mentioned:

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

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 type 2 diabetes be reversed, eliminating the need for medications with completely normal blood sugar levels?

For decades, type 2 diabetes has been considered a chronic, progressive conditions and the standard approach has been to just manage it to slow it down. But what if remission was possible?

Dr. David Unwin, a UK-based NHS physician, has demonstrated how low-carb and ketogenic interventions can lead to drug-free diabetes remission. His work has transformed patient outcomes and challenged conventional medical guidelines.

In this interview, Dr. Unwin shares how he has helped over 150 patients achieve drug-free remission using a low-carb ketogenic approach. We also cover:

🔹 The science behind reversing type 2 diabetes

🔹 How his NHS clinic has achieved one of the highest diabetes remission rates in the world

🔹 The role of real-world data in changing medical practice

🔹 The resistance from traditional healthcare and how to overcome it

🔹 Why media coverage and patient success stories are crucial for spreading awareness

🔹 Practical tips for patients and doctors interested in metabolic health

Dr. Unwin's research-backed approach challenges conventional wisdom and offers a hopeful alternative for those struggling with metabolic conditions.

Join Dr. Bret Scher as he and Dr. Unwin dive into the science, data, and real-world applications of ketogenic therapy not just for diabetes, but for metabolic and mental health as well.

#MetabolicHealth #KetogenicTherapy #DiabetesRemission

Expert Featured:

Dr. David Unwin

X: https://x.com/lowcarbgp?lang=en

Resources Mentioned

• What predicts drug-free type 2 diabetes remission? Insights from an eight-year general practice cohort study
• Renal function in patients following a low carbohydrate diet for type 2 diabetes: a review of the literature and analysis of routine clinical data from a primary care service over 7 years
• Dr. Tro Kalayjian Publishes Research Paper Confirming the Benefits of Lifesyle-Based Metabolic Care
• TOWARD Health
• Dr. Unwin’s Low Carb Diet Sheet

CMEs Mentioned:

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

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.

Not all medical research is created equal, so how do we know which studies to trust?

The phrase evidence-based medicine (EBM) is often misunderstood and misused. What does it truly mean to rely on evidence in clinical decision-making?

Dr. Gordon Guyatt, the father of the term evidence-based medicine, explains how to assess scientific studies, understand the strength of different types of evidence, and apply findings to clinical decisions.

Want to make better-informed health decisions? This interview will help you learn how to critically assess medical evidence for yourself. In this conversation, Dr. Guyatt breaks down:

✅ Why some studies are more trustworthy than others✅ The limitations of observational studies in nutrition and medicine✅ How the GRADE framework categorizes evidence from high to low certainty

✅ How to critically assess nutrition and mental health research

✅ The importance of patient values in clinical decision-making

As new chronic disease treatments emerge from rapidly evolving research, understanding the quality of evidence is more important than ever. The ability to distinguish robust data from weak correlations isn’t just a skill—it’s essential for making informed, effective decisions in patient care.

#MetabolicMind #EvidenceBasedMedicine #MedicalResearch #NutritionScience #GRADEMethod #HealthDecisions

Expert Featured:

Dr. Gordon Guyatt, MD

Resources Mentioned:

Core GRADE Workshop

CMEs Mentioned:

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

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 the ketogenic diet help kids with bipolar disorder? We are excited to announce new research is finally exploring this question.

The ketogenic diet was first discovered over 100 years ago for children with epilepsy. Could ketogenic therapy also improve mental health outcomes for youth with serious conditions like bipolar disorder? Dr. Kirk Nylen joins Dr. Bret Scher to discuss two groundbreaking studies underway that are tackling this question head-on.

In this episode, they dive into:

🔬 The Child and Adolescent Bipolar Network (CABIN) study – a multi-site RCT testing ketogenic therapy in pediatric bipolar disorder

🏥 Children’s Mental Health Resource Center (CMHRC) study – A real-world pilot study exploring the practical application of ketogenic interventions for kids with bipolar

🛠️ How data emerging from these studies could add new tools to clinicians' toolboxes

As the youth mental health epidemic continues to rise, we must continue to pursue better solutions. We are hopeful that this research will not only expand treatment options but also inspire more pediatric clinicians to consider the powerful role ketogenic therapy can play in improving mental health outcomes for children.

Expert Featured:

Dr. Kirk Nylen, PhD

Managing Director of Neuroscience as Baszucki Group

Resources Mentioned

Children’s Mental Health Resource Center

• https://cmhrc.org

CMEs Mentioned

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

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.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 - Introduction to ketogenic interventions for pediatrics and Kirk Nylen, PhD.
• 2:17 - The history of ketogenic therapies in pediatrics. How safe are ketogenic therapies for children?
• 6:37 - Bipolar study on children: background of the Child Bipolar Network study. How are they testing and what are they looking for?
• 10:11 - How does the Children’s Mental Health Resource Center address the gaps in pediatric bipolar research?
• 13:25 - Summary of the state of research on ketogenic therapies for bipolar in children and what questions remain.

Can you safely taper off psychiatric medications? And what are the potential harms of long-term psychiatric care?

Laura Delano spent years as a professional patient, navigating psychiatric diagnoses, multiple medications, and a life defined by treatment.

In this interview, Laura discusses her 13-year experience as a psychiatric patient, the impact of long-term medication use, and how she took control of her health to successfully taper off multiple psychiatric drugs.

Now, as the founder of Inner Compass Initiative and author of Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance (available March 18, 2025), she’s dedicated to helping others navigate informed choices about psychiatric medications, diagnoses, and withdrawal.

💡 In this episode, we cover:

✅ Laura’s personal story of polypharmacy and its effects

✅ The impact of long-term psychiatric medication

✅ The challenges of tapering and withdrawal

✅ How Laura has rebuilt her life beyond medications

✅ How Laura built a nonprofit to support others on the same path

✅ The role of diet, lifestyle, and community in mental health recovery

✅ Why informed consent is crucial for psychiatric treatment decisions

✅ The mission of Inner Compass Initiative

Laura’s new book Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance is available March 18, 2025.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This conversation includes discussion of suicidality and a suicide attempt. Please take care when watching.

#MentalHealth #Psychiatry #Deprescribing #PsychiatricMedication #Tapering #MetabolicPsychiatry

Expert Featured:

Laura Delano

Resources Mentioned:

Inner Compass Initiative

• https://www.theinnercompass.org/

Laura’a New Book: Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance

• https://www.amazon.com/Unshrunk-Story-Psychiatric-Treatment-Resistance/dp/1984880489

The Challenges of Going off Psychiatric Drugs

• https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/04/08/the-challenge-of-going-off-psychiatric-drugs

CMEs Mentioned:

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

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.

Brain Energy and metabolism appear to play critical roles in the development and treatment of psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. And emerging research suggests that our gene expression influences how our brain uses energy, thus linking the fields of genetics and metabolism.

In this episode, Dr. Harry Pantazopoulos, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, joins Dr. Bret Scher to discuss fascinating new research into the relationship between gene expression and metabolism in serious mental illness.

Dr. Pantazopoulos’ study reveals a fascinating insight: while metabolic dysfunction is a common feature of serious mental illnesses, each condition exhibits its own distinct patterns of altered gene expression that impacts metabolic function. This suggests that the underlying metabolic dysfunction in mental illness arises through different mechanisms unique to each disorder.

In this interview you will learn:

The benefits of studying metabolic function and gene expression of the amygdala Which genes show altered expression in each mental illness, and how these changes affect metabolism How shifting the brain’s energy source from glucose to ketones could offer a promising way to address changes in metabolic gene expression How these study findings could translate to targeted clinical care

Although these findings are not yet ready to directly influence clinical psychiatric care models, they provide a critical foundation for future research aimed at tailoring metabolic therapies to the unique needs of each individual.

Expert Featured:

Harry Pantazopoulos, MD

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-pantazopoulos-04460413/

X: @HarryPantazopo1

Studies Mentioned:

Transcriptomic Analysis of the Amygdala in Subjects with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder Reveals Differentially Altered Metabolic Pathways

Differentially Altered Metabolic Pathways in the Amygdala of Subjects with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder

CMEs Mentioned:

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

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.

Is psychiatry stuck in the 19th century? For decades, psychiatry has relied on trial and error but is there a better way to provide precise, personalized, and preventative treatment?

Dr. Alexander Niculescu, professor of psychiatry at the University of Arizona and CEO of MindX Sciences, is at the cutting edge of transforming psychiatry into an objective, data-driven field. With blood tests evaluating specific biomarkers, doctors may now be able to measure mental health, better understand symptoms, and predict which treatments will work best.

In this conversation, Dr. Niculescu explains how his research is helping reshape how we diagnose and treat mental illness allowing for a more personalized approach and potentially better outcomes. He shares research demonstrating how utilizing biomarkers can allow practitioners to better understand the current state of a patient’s mental health to assist in prevention and tailor both medications and lifestyle interventions for better outcomes.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why psychiatry is still practiced like 19th-century medicine and how to modernize it
• How blood tests can pinpoint the right treatment for a patient including lifestyle interventions, medication choice, and dosing
• How blood tests can identify the nuanced difference between mental illnesses like depression and bipolar disorder at a biological level
• Why these tests could be more reliable than genetic testing
• How early screening could help prevent serious mental illness
• The future of personalized lifestyle recommendations for mental health

At Metabolic Mind, we believe mental health care must evolve to incorporate metabolic interventions alongside innovative diagnostic tools. Our vision is a future where the metabolic health of every individual is assessed and addressed with evidence-based interventions, leading to improved mental health for all.

Expert Featured:

Dr. Alexander Niculescu

https://mindxsciences.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-niculescu-md-phd-b460a75/

Studies Mentioned:

Special Report: Precise, Personalized, and Preventive Psychiatry

https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2024.12.12.27

CMEs Mentioned

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

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.

Is it possible for ketogenic therapy to significantly reduce schizoaffective symptoms in 2 weeks? What about putting symptoms into complete remission in 6 weeks?

Licensed Mental Health Counselor Nicole Laurent joins Dr. Bret Scher to discuss her newly published case series showcasing the dramatic improvements in individuals with schizoaffective disorder using ketogenic metabolic therapy.

In this interview, Nicole shares:

• The life-changing stories from the patients and their families
• How she collaborated with healthcare teams to ensure better outcomes
• How she determines the right type of ketogenic diet for each patient
• The role of nutrient deficiencies and supplementation in treatment
• How medications were handled and her perspective on medication changes with ketogenic therapy
• The profound transformations in her patients’ lives, including returning to school and regaining independence

These stories offer hope and add to the growing evidence that ketogenic therapy can help individuals struggling with mental illness.

Want to hear more real-life experiences of people reclaiming their mental health through metabolic therapy? Hear from our community of experts by experience, including their challenges, setbacks, and successes on the path to recovery at metabolicmind.org/think-smart.

Expert Featured:

Nicole Laurent, LMHC

https://mentalhealthketo.com/

Founder and Medical Director of Mental Health KetoX: @KetoCounselor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nlaurent/

Instagram: mentalhealthketo/

Studies Mentioned

Ketogenic metabolic therapy for schizoaffective disorder: a retrospective case series of psychotic symptom remission and mood recovery

https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1506304

CMEs Mentioned

Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hope

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616

Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illness

• https://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615

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.