A few weeks ago, on October 13, 2024, the Metabolic Revolution held the country’s first-ever rally for metabolic health at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. It was a historic gathering advocating for essential changes in healthcare priorities. Hundreds of advocates, healthcare professionals, and passionate citizens expressed their desire and urgency for improving metabolic and mental health in the United States and around the world.
As the Director of Marketing and Executive Operations at Brain Energy, I was proud to participate in the rally alongside Aaron MacDonald (left), Brain Energy volunteer and student visitor with the McLean Metabolic and Mental Health Program. We as a team were excited to support the rally as Dr. Palmer presented alongside Metabolic Revolution co-founders Jess Apple and Steven Fields and other renowned speakers, including Nina Teichholz, Ph.D., Dr. Robert Lustig, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Tony Hampton, Vinnie Tortorich, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Eric Westman, Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, Dr. Matt Bernstein, Dr. Tro Kalayjian, Ajalah Efem, Dr. Aseem Malhotra, and Dr. Martin Picard. Together, they called for robust, evidence-based guidelines that truly reflect the current health needs of Americans.
Many rally participants were driven by personal success stories of using food as medicine, whether to transform their health or to support loved ones. The crowd, buzzing with energy, held up signs like “eggs are not the enemy” and “real food = great mood” as Twisted Sister’s anthem, “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” blared from the speakers. With chants, sing-alongs, and spirited dancing on stage and in the lively crowd, the rally radiated energy on a warm, sunny fall day. The crowd’s thought-provoking signs and infectious enthusiasm drew passersby, who stopped to watch or ask questions about the event, inspired by the positive energy that filled the air.
The rally featured testimonies from individuals who shared their own transformative journeys with metabolic and mental health, underscoring the rally’s theme of healing through nutrition. Expert presenters, renowned in the fields of metabolic health and psychiatry, recounted clinical successes with patients and spoke about the scientific insights that challenge current dietary guidelines. Introducing Dr. Palmer, Nina Teichholz described our emerging field of metabolic psychiatry as “a beacon of hope to millions of Americans suffering,” adding that “intuitively, it just makes sense.” Her words resonated deeply, capturing the spirit of hope that energized the event.
Dr. Palmer spoke compellingly about the connection between physical and mental health, noting that the alarming rise in obesity and diabetes parallels our mental health crisis. “Millions of people are getting the best treatments available and not getting better; these people are desperate,” he shared, underscoring how mental health disorders are, at their core, metabolic disorders affecting the brain. Dr. Palmer recounted stories of people achieving remission from severe mental illness through dietary therapies, individuals from his own practice and countless others worldwide who have found new hope and recovery. The crowd responded with chants of “there is hope,” joined by calls for more research, funding, education, and awareness. Dr. Palmer reminded everyone of the momentum building in politics and the media: “We are making a difference.” His closing words echoed: “Nutrition science matters, and mental health matters.”
We also spoke with Jess Apple (center), the driving force behind the Metabolic Revolution. Reflecting on the journey that led to Washington, D.C., she shared, “From a spark ignited by a team of volunteers for Dr. Palmer’s Brain Energy movement, the Metabolic Revolution journeyed all the way to Washington, D.C., where we made our voices heard loud and clear in opposition to the harmful USDA dietary guidelines.” Standing on a grand stage near the Washington Monument, the rally was not only a protest but a celebration of metabolic health. Jess continued, “The Metabolic Revolution will not be silent because mental health is metabolic health, and the world needs to hear this crucial information.” Her words embodied the spirit of a movement poised to transform how society views health and nutrition—fueled by passion, science, and a commitment to bringing hope to millions.
Kristen Tidwell (right), a dedicated volunteer with Brain Energy for over a year, traveled across the country with her husband to attend the rally, feeling it was time to mobilize as one voice for change. “Instead of operating in silos, we need to show up and support all grassroots advocacy echoing this same call to action,” she shared. Emphasizing the power of unity, she added, “There is strength in numbers. As a united metabolic health movement, we’re more effective and stronger.” Kristen echoed Dr. Palmer’s message, calling for individuals and organizations to set aside differences, join forces, and work together to solve the chronic disease and mental health crises. Julie King (left), also added “I’m honored and humbled to be on this journey of advocacy with both of you and the entire metabolic health community. I love that we met as volunteers for Chris Palmer and, while we continue to support BrainEnergy, are finding ways to amplify the message that metabolic health, mitochondrial health, and mental health matter!”
It was a remarkable and pivotal day: the country’s first-ever rally for metabolic health in Washington, D.C. I felt hopeful and energized, believing this rally signified a new step forward in our journey toward essential health reform for all Americans. The path forward promises unity, perseverance, and commitment to a future where metabolic and mental health are prioritized nationwide.
Garrison Grant is the Director of Marketing and Executive Operations at Brain Energy. He received his Masters of Pubic Health from George Washington University and his Bachelors in Marketing from Siena College. Since 2017 Garrison has been sharing his personal story of how he turned “illness into wellness” to spread mental health and recovery communication. Garrison worked as a Behavioral Health Specialist at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital, is an anti-stigma grant recipient from the NYS Office of Mental Health, and has completed entrepreneurship programs with the NSF, NIH, and the Air Force Research Lab. As an advocate for mental health with a specialty in health communication, Garrisons' work aligns with the Brain Energy Movement.
