Newsletter
PTSD and Mitochondria
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex mental health condition that can develop after exposure to a traumatic event. This disorder is characterized by symptoms such as flashbacks, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Recent research...
Gisele Bündchen’s Journey: Transforming Mental Health Through Diet
In a candid revelation that has resonated with many, Gisele Bündchen, the globally renowned supermodel, shared her intense struggle with severe panic attacks and depression during the early stages of her career. Her story is not just a narrative of personal...
Cat Ownership and Schizophrenia: A New Perspective
A new study published in the Schizophrenia Bulletin found an intriguing connection between cat ownership and the risk of developing schizophrenia-related disorders and psychotic-like experiences. This systematic review and meta-analysis offers a new understanding of a...
Exciting news from the UK: The Hub for Metabolic Psychiatry!
The launch of the Hub for Metabolic Psychiatry represents a groundbreaking stride in the integration of mental and physical health research, echoing the principles of the Brain Energy theory. Funded by UKRI as part of the Mental Health Platform, with additional...
McLean Hospital Launches the Metabolic and Mental Health Program
In a landmark initiative that promises to redefine the landscape of mental health treatment, McLean Hospital, the flagship psychiatric hospital of Harvard Medical School and a key component of Mass General Brigham, Boston's premier health care system, has announced...
Beyond ‘Eat Less, Move More’: The Myth of Inactivity
In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Metabolism, researchers led by John R. Speakman et al. have unveiled a critical, yet previously overlooked, factor in the obesity epidemic—a significant decline in basal energy expenditure (BEE) over the past three...
The Brain on Opioids: Metabolic Disruptions in Addiction
In recent years, the opioid epidemic has surged to alarming proportions, casting a shadow over communities worldwide. This crisis, fueled by an increase in the prescription of opioid medications and the illicit use of drugs like heroin, has led to a staggering rise...
Changing a Child’s Diet Might Help Prevent Mental Illness
We all know that diet plays an important role in health. It clearly plays a role in weight, diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes. Most people, however, aren’t too worried about these things in children. These are usually diseases of older people, so most parents don’t...
Depression in Parents May Influence Children’s Weight
In the intricate web of human biology, the relationship between mental health and physical well-being has always fascinated researchers and clinicians alike. It is a dynamic interplay where one's mental state can impact physical health and vice versa. A recent study,...
Craving Sweets? You Might Need More Sleep
It's a new year and many people are starting their annual diets. We all know that we are losing the battle to lose weight. Rates of obesity and diabetes continue to climb. Simple advice is abundant: Eat less, exercise more Practice mindful eating, savor each bite Cut...
Contraceptives and Mental Health
In recent years, our understanding of the intricate relationship between hormones and mental health has deepened significantly. From the rollercoaster of emotions during menstruation to the emotional challenges faced during pregnancy and menopause, it's clear that...
“It’s Not Magic, It’s Science:” Eric’s Story
When I was in my 40s and 50s, everything was going well. I had a happy life with my wife and son. My optometry business was successful. But I wanted to die. I would ask my psychiatrist again and again: if everything is great, why can’t I appreciate it? I never got a...
Physiology First: Revolutionizing the Way We Teach the Brain-Body Connection
Image credit: Physiology First I had the great honor of sitting down with David Bidler, the President of Physiology First. Physiology First is a nonprofit that focuses on educating and building a community that centers around educating others through various metabolic...
Harnessing Innovation at the Stanford Innovations in Mental Healthcare Summit 2023
The Stanford Innovations in Mental Healthcare Summit, held on November 29 and 30, 2023, brought together leading experts and innovators in the field of mental health research and practice. I was deeply honored to be among the esteemed speakers at this event, which...
The Link Between Depression, Metabolism, and Mortality
Depression is a common and often debilitating mental health condition. It has long been recognized for its profound impact on individuals' well-being. Rates of depression have been increasing for years and in 2023 reached new highs. Recent research has unveiled a...
Thanksgiving 2023: A Year of Gratitude, Progress, and Heartbreak
As we approach Thanksgiving, I find myself reflecting on a year filled with immense gratitude for the progress that we’ve made, but also a renewed determination to do even more. It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since the publication of Brain Energy, a...
The Importance of Sleep for Brain and Mental Health
After a long and stressful day, it's not uncommon in our hyper-stimulated society to forgo a long, restful sleep for scrolling through seemingly-rewarding social media or binge-watching our favorite TV shows. Although not nearly as appealing, sleep is exactly what we...
Taking Life Back, One Day at a Time: Frank’s Story
Frank Voce’s life as a New York City police officer involved long days, longer nights, drama, trauma, and almost constant adrenaline. For three years, he witnessed many of the things that no one can ever truly prepare for. He took them in, compartmentalized them, and...
Rising Mortality in the US: The Role of Chronic Disease and the National Conversation on Health
The United States is facing an alarming rise in mortality, and it’s not COVID-19 driving this trend. While the pandemic initially captured headlines, a deeper health crisis has been unfolding for decades—non-COVID deaths, especially from chronic diseases, are surging....
Is Our Food Safe?
In recent years, the safety of our food supply has become an increasingly complex and pressing concern. As new ingredients and additives enter our food system at an alarming rate, we must ask ourselves a fundamental question: Is our food safe? Two recent developments...
Ultra-Processed Foods: A Culprit in the Global Mental Health Crisis?
As we navigate the growing challenges of the global mental health crisis, one potential culprit has increasingly emerged from the shadows: ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Often maligned for their role in obesity and physical health issues, these foods may also be...
Addressing the Root Cause of Mental and Chronic Disease: A Paradigm Shift in Health Care
In my recent speech delivered before Senator Ron Johnson, Mr. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and distinguished guests, I explored the pressing need for a paradigm shift in how we view and treat chronic diseases, including mental health disorders. Drawing on years of research...
The Liver-Brain Connection: A Commonly Overlooked Cause of Dementia Symptoms
Dementia is a complex condition that significantly impacts both patients and their families, and finding effective treatments remains a challenge. However, a recent study highlights that not all cognitive impairments labeled as dementia are irreversible. In fact,...
Healthy Aging: The Crucial Role of Mental Health
Aging is a natural process, but how we age—physically, mentally, and emotionally—can be shaped by the choices we make. Much of the conversation surrounding healthy aging focuses on physical health, but there is increasing recognition that mental health plays a pivotal...
World Suicide Prevention Day: Addressing the Intersection of Mental and Metabolic Health
September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day, dedicated to raising awareness and taking action against the tragic reality of suicide. This observance provides a critical opportunity to reflect on how mental and metabolic health intersect and how addressing both can...
Optimizing Energy Levels for Peak Performance at Work: The Role of Metabolic Health
In today's fast-paced work environment, maintaining high energy levels, sharp focus, and consistent productivity can be challenging. Many professionals find themselves grappling with fatigue, brain fog, and declining performance. While various factors contribute to...
Carnitine and Mental Health: Exploring Its Role, Benefits, and Risks in Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Carnitine, a compound derived from amino acids, plays a critical role in energy production within the body. It acts as a key transporter of long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria, where these fats are oxidized to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell’s...
Light: A Metabolic Intervention with Broad Therapeutic Potential
In recent years, light therapy has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological treatment across a wide range of conditions, from chronic pain and dermatological disorders to vision problems, post-stroke depression, and cognitive decline in dementia. While light is most...
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