Q: What is the core idea behind Metabolic Psychiatry?

A: The core idea is that many mental health disorders are not just "chemical imbalances" in the traditional sense, but can be symptoms of underlying metabolic dysfunction. We believe that by healing the body's metabolic systems—addressing issues like insulin resistance and chronic inflammation—we can directly improve brain function and mental well-being.

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Q: How can a change in diet help with something like depression or anxiety?

A: The brain is an incredibly metabolically active organ. When we consume high levels of sugar and processed foods, it can lead to inflammation and disrupt insulin signaling, not just in the body but also in the brain. This can impair energy production and neurotransmitter function, contributing to symptoms of depression and anxiety. By providing the brain with stable, high-quality fuel and reducing dietary triggers of inflammation, we can create a biochemical environment that is more conducive to mental stability and resilience.

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Q: What do you mean by "malnutrition in obesity"? How can someone be overweight and malnourished?

A: This is a critical paradox we address. It refers to a state of being over-fed in calories but under-nourished in essential micronutrients. A diet high in ultra-processed foods provides excessive energy (calories) but is devoid of the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants the body and brain need to function correctly. This leads to a form of starvation at a cellular level, which directly drives metabolic dysfunction and can worsen mental health outcomes.

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Q: What kind of metabolic therapies do we use?

A: Our primary focus is on evidence-based nutritional interventions. This isn't just about "eating healthy." It involves structured dietary approaches that are tailored to the individual, often focusing on stabilizing blood sugar, reducing inflammatory foods, and ensuring proper nutrient density. The goal is to use food as a targeted tool to correct the specific metabolic issues that are influencing a person's mental health.

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Q: Why is it important to treat metabolic and mental health together?

A: The two are inseparable. Poor metabolic health (e.g., pre-diabetes, obesity) increases the risk for mental illness, and poor mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety) makes it incredibly difficult to maintain healthy metabolic habits. It's a vicious cycle. By treating them together in an integrated model, we can break this cycle more effectively than by addressing each in isolation. Improving metabolic health can lift the biological burden on the brain, making other mental health treatments more effective.