Metabolism, Mental Health, and the Ketogenic Diet-Presentation and Q&A

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this webinar, Dr. Terry Brister, Chief Program Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and Dr. Christopher Palmer, Director of the Department of Postgraduate and Continuing Education at McLean Hospital, discuss the topic of metabolism, mental health, and the ketogenic diet. They explain that the ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that has been used as a treatment for epilepsy since the 1920s. The diet works by putting the body into a state of ketosis, where it burns fat instead of carbohydrates for energy.<br /><br />Dr. Palmer explains that there is a bidirectional relationship between mental disorders and metabolic disorders, with mental illness increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, and vice versa. He suggests that metabolism could be the missing piece in our understanding and treatment of mental illness.<br /><br />The presenters discuss the evidence for the ketogenic diet in various mental health conditions, including depression, alcohol use disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. While the evidence is still limited, there are promising studies showing improvements in symptoms and overall functioning.<br /><br />They emphasize the importance of working with a competent mental health professional and a ketogenic dietitian when considering the ketogenic diet as a treatment for mental health conditions. It is not recommended to try this diet alone, as it can have potential risks and side effects, especially during the initial adaptation phase.<br /><br />Overall, the webinar provides an informative overview of the relationship between metabolism and mental health and highlights the potential benefits of the ketogenic diet as a treatment option.

Keywords

webinar

metabolism

mental health

ketogenic diet

epilepsy treatment

bidirectional relationship

depression

schizophrenia

bipolar disorder

treatment option