Metabolic Mind

Do SSRIs help your brain?SSRI medications are among the most widely prescribed antidepressants, but what if we’ve misunderstood how they work? In this interview, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with biochemist and nutrition scientist Dr. Chris Masterjohn to explore a deeper, more systemic view of mental health and how we treat it.Dr. Masterjohn reveals why serotonin isn’t just a “mood booster,” how SSRIs may be disrupting mitochondrial function, and why focusing on lifestyle strategies that support brain energy metabolism could unlock new paths for treating depression.🔍 What you’ll learn:Chris’s personal journey from veganism to carnivoreThe importance of testing for nutrient deficienciesHow mitochondria influence mood and cognitionWhy SSRIs may disrupt brain energy metabolismThe truth about serotonin and morning sunlightWhy exercise & nutrition often outperform medicationWhat SSRIs really do (and what they don’t)If you've ever questioned the serotonin theory of depression, or sensed there’s more to the story than what mainstream medicine tells us, this conversation fills in some of the missing pieces.🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.👉 Subscribe to Metabolic Mind for more interviews, research, and updates in the field of metabolic psychiatry.Expert Featured:Dr. Chris Masterjohnhttps://www.chrismasterjohn-phd.com/https://substack.com/@chrismasterjohnphdhttps://x.com/ChrisMasterjohnhttps://www.facebook.com/chrismasterjohn/https://www.instagram.com/chrismasterjohn/Resources Mentioned:Substack: Prozac is a Performance Enhancing Drughttps://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/prozac-is-a-performance-enhancingMitome: Mitochondrial Analysishttps://www.mito.me/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-ytFollow 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 carb-cycling okay on a ketogenic diet? What about high histamine foods?In this episode of Metabolic Mailbag, Dr. Bret Scher and Dr. Georgia Ede answers questions on everything from the best sources of dietary fat to how to handle anxiety, perimenopause, and alcohol while maintaining ketosis.They unpack how to build a nutrient-dense, brain-supportive ketogenic diet using whole foods, why “keto-friendly” processed products can sometimes derail progress, and when supplements might be beneficial. You’ll also learn why histamine sensitivity, caffeine, or cycling in and out of ketosis can affect mood, and how to troubleshoot each.This conversation covers:Why a whole food ketogenic diet can be ideal for mental healthHow to identify the best fat sources and avoid “factory fats”Ketogenic dieting for women’s healthWhy anxiety can worsen mid-journey, and how to adaptThe truth about alcohol, carb cycling, and ketosisIf you’re exploring ketogenic therapy for mental or metabolic health, this episode offers practical, science-based guidance to help you refine and personalize your approach.🔎 Have questions about ketogenic diets or how to apply ketogenic therapy effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.👉Stay up to date with the latest, news, insights, and research on metabolic psychiatry by subscribing to Metabolic Mind: https://www.youtube.com/@metabolicmind#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #FoodAsMedicine #QuestionAndAnswerExpert Featured:Dr. Bret Scherhttps://x.com/bschermd/https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-scher-08baaa102/Dr. Georgia Edehttps://www.diagnosisdiet.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiaedemdhttps://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaEdeMd/https://www.instagram.com/georgiaedemd/?hl=enResources Mentioned:Dr. Bret Scher’s Carb Cycling Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5bUc7TbS6oDr Madison Kackley: Keto for Women https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ8aGNwGB9cFree 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-ytFollow 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.

New research links chronic stress, brain energy, and psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, depression, and bipolar disorder.Stress doesn’t just impact your mood; it affects how your brain allocates energy. In this interview, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Parker Kelly, a postdoctoral fellow at UCSF and the San Francisco VA, to unpack the Allostatic Triage Model of Psychopathology, a new framework proposing that psychiatric symptoms may emerge when the brain is forced to triage limited metabolic resources under chronic stress. Co-authored with mitochondrial researcher Dr. Martin Picard, this model could shift how we understand and treat mental illness.In this conversation, you’ll learn:How stress drives brain energy dysfunctionWhy mitochondria and metabolism may be central to mental illnessWhich brain networks are impacted by energy deficitsThe role of predictability and routine in stress resilienceHow metabolic therapies like nutrition, sleep, and even psychedelics, may support brain energy regulationThis conversation bridges neuroscience, metabolism, and mental health, offering a unique and unifying lens on complex psychiatric conditions.👉Subscribe to Metabolic Mind for more conversations about metabolic health, metabolic psychiatry, and mental health: https://www.youtube.com/@metabolicmind.#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #NeuroscienceExpert Featured:D. Parker KelleyX.com/sequencemyneurohttps://bsky.app/profile/sequencemyneuro.bsky.socialhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dparkerkelleyphd/Resources Mentioned:The allostatic triage model of psychopathology (ATP Model): How reallocation of brain energetic resources under stress elicits psychiatric symptomshttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106419Free 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-ytFollow 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.

Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company behind popular GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Ozempic, recently announced that its phase 3, two-year trial examining GLP-1 medications for Alzheimer's failed to produce a significant reduction in disease progression.While these results are discouraging, they may have revealed something vital about Alzheimer’s treatment.In this video, Dr. Bret Scher breaks down the recent failure of Novo Nordisk’s evoke and evoke+ trials and what it teaches us about the limitations of a drug-only approach to Alzheimer’s treatment.Key topics covered:Why GLP-1s may not be enough for Alzheimer’sThe link between glucose metabolism and brain energy failureHow ketones offer an alternative fuel for the brainEarly research on ketogenic therapy for cognitive impairmentWhy nutritional interventions deserve more scientific attentionWith Alzheimer’s affecting millions and costing billions, it’s time to shine a light on metabolic strategies that directly support brain energy, reduce inflammation, and improve cognitive function.🧠 Explore our full playlist on ketogenic therapy for Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzWI83-NWCL4f7uVRIWUHCC2nF6t_5DLw#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #AlzheimersExpert Featured:Dr. Bret ScherBaszucki Group Medical Directorhttps://x.com/bschermdResources Mentioned:Novo Nordisk A/S: Evoke phase 3 trials did not demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in Alzheimer's disease progressionhttps://www.novonordisk.com/content/nncorp/global/en/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=916462#Associations of semaglutide with first-time diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: Target trial emulation using nationwide real-world data in the UShttps://doi.org/10.1002/alz.14313Brain energy rescue with ketones improves cognitive outcomes in MCIhttps://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/alz.059627Randomized crossover trial of a modified ketogenic diet in Alzheimer's diseasehttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33622392/Ketogenic strategies for Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments: History, rationale, and 288 caregiver case reportshttps://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/5316Metabolic Mind Ketogenic Therapy for Dementia Playlisthttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzWI83-NWCL4f7uVRIWUHCC2nF6t_5DLwFree 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-ytFollow 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.

What if your diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or fatty liver wasn’t a permanent sentence, but a condition that could improve or even reverse through targeted intervention?In this episode of the Metabolic Mind podcast, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Adam Wolfberg, Chief Medical Officer at Virta Health, to explore groundbreaking data that challenges the conventional approach to managing chronic metabolic disease. They dive into Virta’s latest annual report, which highlights powerful clinical and economic outcomes that could reshape the future of medicine.In this interview, you'll learn:Why "reversal" is replacing "management" in the metabolic care conversationHow Virta’s data shows a 56% reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, or deathThe role of carbohydrate-restricted and ketogenic nutrition in improving metabolic healthHow patients across socioeconomic backgrounds, including those in food deserts, are seeing resultsWhere medications like GLP-1 fit into a lifestyle-first modelWhat this model means for healthcare costs, medication reduction, and long-term patient outcomesVirta’s annual report highlights how a shift toward value-based care and personalized, nutrition-driven approaches can drastically improve patient outcomes.Check it out here: https://www.virtahealth.com/reversal-report#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #MetabolicHealth #FoodAsMedicineExpert Featured:Dr. Adam WolfbergChief Medical Officer at Virta Healthwww.Vitrahealth.comLinkedIn.com/in/adamwolfbergResources Mentioned:Virta’s 2025 Annual Report on Metabolic Disease Reversalhttps://www.virtahealth.com/reversal-reportHealthcare utilization and cost impact of telehealth-delivered nutrition therapy for type 2 diabetes and obesity: a retrospective claims-based studyhttps://doi.org/10.1101/2025.11.09.25339829Real-World Cardiovascular Outcomes with a Carbohydrate-Reduced Telemedicine Interventionhttps://doi.org/10.1101/2025.10.27.25338916Reduced Onset of MASLD, MASH, and Advanced Liver Disease in patients who received Individualized Nutrition-Focused Remote Care for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes and Obesityhttps://doi.org/10.1101/2025.10.24.25338753Effectiveness of telehealth nutritional therapy in preventing chronic kidney disease among adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity: a real-world, retrospective, propensity score–matched cohort studyhttps://doi.org/10.1101/2025.10.17.25338238Free 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-ytFollow 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.