Can something as simple as coconut oil support brain health in dementia? In this video, Dr. Bret Scher explores an emerging area of research focused on brain energy metabolism and how ketones may play a role in supporting cognitive function in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. As the brain’s ability to use glucose declines in Alzheimer’s, researchers have begun investigating whether ketones can help fill that energy gap. In this video, you’ll learn: Why the brain...
Apr 29, 2026•6 min
Exogenous ketones have exploded in popularity, with claims ranging from better brain function to improved performance and weight loss. But what does the science actually say? In this in-depth conversation, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with leading ketone researcher Dr. Dominic D'Agostino to break down the reality behind exogenous ketones—what they are, how they work, and where they may (or may not) fit into your health strategy. They explore the key differences between: Endogenous ketones (produced ...
Apr 27, 2026•46 min
GLP-1 medications like semaglutide have been widely discussed as breakthrough treatments for weight loss and metabolic health. But a large new study published in The Lancet Psychiatry is shifting the conversation toward something deeper: the connection between metabolic health and mental health. In this video, Dr. Bret Scher breaks down what the research actually shows, and just as importantly, what it doesn’t. The study analyzed health records from over 95,000 individuals with type 2 diabetes a...
Apr 24, 2026•7 min
GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide are often described as “game changers” for weight loss and cardiovascular health, and in many ways, the data support that claim. Clinical trials suggest meaningful reductions in major cardiovascular events, offering hope for individuals struggling with metabolic disease. But there’s an important nuance that deserves more attention: what happens when these medications are stopped? In this conversation, Dr. Bret Scher explores emerging real-world data showi...
Apr 22, 2026•8 min
We’re seeing increasingly compelling results from ketogenic therapy in serious mental illness, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. But what happens when a potential concern emerges along the way? In this conversation, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Lori Calabrese to walk through a real patient case that highlights both the promise and the complexity of metabolic treatment. A young woman with longstanding schizophrenia experienced dramatic improvements...
Apr 20, 2026•26 min
What do you do when keto is genuinely changing your life, but your LDL goes up? That's exactly the question Dr. Bret Scher sits down to answer in this conversation with podcast producer Erica Gerard. Erica started ketogenic therapy for two reasons: to support her taper off long-term antidepressants, and to address symptoms of complex PTSD. Six months in, the results were remarkable. A smoother taper, less anxiety, fewer flashbacks, and a greater sense of calm than she'd ever experienced. Then sh...
Apr 17, 2026•17 min
How do the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommendations compare, and why do they differ? In this video, Dr. Bret Scher breaks down where these two major nutrition guidelines align, where they diverge, and what that means for your health. At the center of the conversation is a key question: should health be defined by a single lab marker, or by a broader view of metabolic function? In this video, you’ll learn: Why LDL cholesterol is only o...
Apr 15, 2026•11 min
People with treatment-resistant depression and anxiety are seeing real improvements through ketogenic therapy. Now there's real-world clinical data to back it up. In this interview, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Erin Bellamy to discuss her newly published findings from a clinical program bringing ketogenic therapy into everyday mental health care. While this was not a randomized controlled trial, the results offer an important look at how these interventions may work in everyday clinical pra...
Apr 13, 2026•28 min
Are we turning to ADHD and depression medications too quickly for kids? The Wall Street Journal and New York Times recently published powerful investigations into the overuse of psychiatric medications in children. In this video, Dr. Bret Scher unpacks the key takeaways, the risks of polypharmacy, and why a comprehensive, root-cause approach is more important than ever for kids facing mental health challenges. 🔍 In this episode, Dr. Scher covers: The risks of overmedicating: side effects, polyp...
Apr 10, 2026•8 min
If you carry the ApoE4 gene, you’ve likely been told your risk for Alzheimer’s disease is significantly higher. But what does that really mean, and how much control do you actually have? In this video, Dr. Bret Scher breaks down the science behind ApoE4, one of the strongest genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, and explains why increased risk does not mean a predetermined outcome. You’ll learn how ApoE4 may influence brain health through inflammation, lipid metabolism, and energy use, a...
Apr 08, 2026•7 min
How do we actually define “healthy food”? And how is it possible that processed, sugary cereals like Lucky Charms score higher than natural foods like eggs and meat in some food scoring systems? Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Ty Beal to explore a newly developed nutritional value scoring system designed to better reflect nutrient density, bioavailability, and chronic disease risk. Unlike many existing systems that can produce confusing or counterintuitive rankings, this approach aims to take ...
Apr 06, 2026•49 min
Nurturing your relationship with yourself and your body can play a meaningful role in how you move forward from a mental health setback. Nicole Laurent shares a grounded, compassionate perspective on navigating setbacks. She explores how these moments can sometimes disrupt trust in ourselves, creating an internal tension that makes progress feel harder than it needs to be. She explores: Why setbacks can shake trust in your body, and how to rebuild it How to approach challenges with curiosity ins...
Apr 03, 2026•7 min
Is high LDL cholesterol always a red flag? For a growing group of people known as Lean Mass Hyper-Responders (LMHRs), the answer might not be so black and white. In this video, Dr. Bret Scher unpacks the science and questions behind LMHRs—metabolically healthy, lean individuals who see a dramatic rise in LDL cholesterol after starting a ketogenic diet. Unlike people with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), their elevated LDL occurs in a unique metabolic context: low insulin, high HDL, low trigly...
Apr 01, 2026•6 min
Are we destined for cognitive decline as we age, or do we have more control than we think? In this conversation, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with neuroscientist and researcher Dr. Tommy Wood to explore a powerful shift in how we think about brain health, aging, and dementia prevention. Dr. Wood challenges the common belief that cognitive decline is inevitable, highlighting how lifestyle, environment, and daily habits can meaningfully shape our brain’s trajectory over time. He introduces his “3S Fra...
Mar 30, 2026•45 min
In this second video of our Bounce Back Series , Dr. Georgia Ede shares practical, compassionate guidance for returning to ketosis using simple, effective strategies rooted in diet and lifestyle. Rather than approaching setbacks with frustration or perfectionism, Dr. Ede emphasizes a mindset of curiosity and learning. Falling out of ketosis will happen and it’s not a failure. With the right tools, you can use that information to refine what works best for your body. In this video, you’ll learn: ...
Mar 27, 2026•10 min
If you only read the headlines, it sounds simple: plants are protective, red meat is harmful. But when you examine the actual studies behind those claims, the conclusions aren’t nearly so clear. In this video, Dr. Bret Scher takes a closer look at two recently published papers, one linking red meat consumption to diabetes risk and another suggesting vegetarian diets reduce cancer risk. Both studies rely on observational nutrition data, which can reveal associations but cannot prove cause and eff...
Mar 25, 2026•10 min
In this special episode of Metabolic Mind, Dr. Julie Milder, Director of Neuroscience at Baszucki Group, speaks with Dr. Fabiano Gomes, psychiatrist and researcher at McMaster University, and the inaugural recipient of the Baszucki Group Metabolic Psychiatry Scholar Award. Dr. Gomes recently published a pilot feasibility trial of a ketogenic diet for depression in the Journal of Affective Disorders. In this conversation, he shares how the study came together, what the results revealed, and why m...
Mar 23, 2026•33 min
Setbacks are a natural part of any journey, and mental health recovery is no exception. In this video, Dr. Matt Bernstein shares a powerful perspective on why downturns aren’t failures, but opportunities to learn, adapt, and build resilience. Rather than viewing setbacks as something to fear or avoid, Dr. Bernstein explains how adopting a growth mindset can transform the way we respond to challenges. With the right preparation and support, moments of struggle can become key turning points in lon...
Mar 20, 2026•7 min
Can a ketogenic diet improve mental health? This week marks a significant moment for metabolic psychiatry and ketogenic therapy for serious mental illness. A New York Times piece highlighted early research from Stanford University, The Ohio State University, and the University of Edinburgh—alongside stories from individuals who have shared their lived experience here on Metabolic Mind. This kind of visibility matters. It reflects years of work by researchers and clinicians like Drs. Chris Palmer...
Mar 18, 2026•4 min
Can the ketogenic diet help improve symptoms for individuals living with treatment-resistant depression? In this conversation, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Megan Kirk Chang, a senior researcher in metabolic psychiatry at the University of Oxford and a co-author of the recently published DIME trial. This study represents the first randomized clinical trial to evaluate a ketogenic diet in adults with treatment-resistant depression. Participants were assigned to either a ketogenic diet or a pl...
Mar 16, 2026•37 min
A new meta-analysis just dropped, and once again, saturated fat takes center stage. But does the data actually support the decades-long warnings we've heard about saturated fat and heart disease? Not exactly. In this video, Dr. Bret Scher dives deep into a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine that reviewed randomized controlled trials on saturated fat intake and health outcomes. Despite the headlines and abstract language hinting at risk, a closer look at the data reveals no...
Mar 13, 2026•8 min
You may have seen headlines or social media posts claiming that ketones increase the risk of heart attacks and that this proves ketogenic diets are dangerous for heart health. But when you actually examine the study behind those claims, the data tell a very different story. In this video, Dr. Bret Scher takes a closer look at a recent paper published in the Journal of the American Heart Association that analyzed circulating ketone levels in participants from the UK Biobank. The study has been wi...
Mar 11, 2026•5 min
Can you reverse fatty liver disease with a ketogenic diet? Fatty liver disease is now one of the fastest-growing liver conditions in the world, affecting roughly 30% of adults and an increasing number of children. And in many cases, it’s driven by metabolic dysfunction and insulin resistance. In this conversation, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with Dr. Amy Goss (University of Alabama at Birmingham) and Dr. Karen Jerome-Zapadka (Trajectory Health Partners) about the growing epidemic of metabolic dysfunct...
Mar 09, 2026•35 min
A new meta-analysis of 174 randomized controlled trials on “carbohydrate-restricted diets” found consistent benefits for body composition, blood pressure, inflammation, and more. But instead of highlighting the metabolic benefits, most of the headlines focused almost entirely on a small bump in LDL. In this video, Dr. Bret Scher breaks down why that reaction misses the point and how biases in nutrition reporting are holding back real progress in improving metabolic health. 📌In this video, you’l...
Mar 06, 2026•5 min
Are there real contraindications to a ketogenic diet? Yes, but they’re far rarer than many people think. So who shouldn’t do keto? In this video, Dr. Bret Scher breaks down the difference between absolute and relative contraindications to ketogenic therapy. While rare inborn metabolic disorders and certain acute illnesses are true absolute contraindications, most commonly cited concerns, including type 1 or type 2 diabetes, heart disease, serious mental illness, high cholesterol, and even pregna...
Mar 04, 2026•8 min
Ketogenic therapy for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression is gaining attention, but how can it be safely implemented into clinical practice? A newly published expert consensus provides practical recommendations to help clinicians thoughtfully apply ketogenic metabolic therapy (KMT) for serious mental illnesses. In this in-depth conversation, Dr. Matt Bernstein and Dr. Georgia Ede, both members of the expert committee, discuss how this Delphi consensus was developed, what it includes,...
Mar 02, 2026•30 min
How can doctors, psychiatrists, and other health practitioners implement keto for serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression? In this short interview, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Georgia Ede to discuss a newly published Delphi consensus paper in Frontiers in Nutrition , authored by eight experienced clinicians and researchers to establish best practices for the use of ketogenic metabolic therapy (KMT) in serious mental illnesses. Using a structured expert...
Feb 25, 2026•4 min
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the leading cause of infertility in women, but what if the real issue isn’t the ovaries? In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with Dr. Steven Palter, reproductive endocrinologist and founder of Gold Coast IVF, about the powerful connection between PCOS, metabolic health, mental health, and fertility. For decades, PCOS has been treated symptom-by-symptom: birth control for irregular cycles, fertility drugs for ovulation, IVF for infertility. ...
Feb 23, 2026•35 min
February is Heart Health Month, making it the perfect time to challenge common misconceptions about diet and cardiovascular health. One claim that always resurfaces? That ketogenic diets are bad for your heart. But when you take a closer look at the science, that assumption simply doesn’t hold up. In this video, Dr. Bret Scher breaks down the real evidence behind ketogenic diets and cardiovascular risk, addressing: ✅ How many “keto” studies don’t actually study true ketogenic diets ✅ The truth a...
Feb 20, 2026•6 min
Is there evidence that the ketogenic diet can cure schizophrenia? Recent comments from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparked headlines…and controversy. While “cure” isn’t the right word, the conversation has brought much-needed attention to an emerging field: metabolic psychiatry. In this video, Dr. Bret Scher breaks down what the science actually shows about ketogenic metabolic therapy as a potential adjunctive treatment for serious mental illness, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorde...
Feb 19, 2026•5 min
