Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind: Ketogenic Therapy for Mental Health w/ Dr. Georgia Ede
Join us for a live Q&A with Dr. Ede on March 6th! Register here: https://membership.metabolicinitiative.com/georgiaede
This week’s episode of The Metabolic Link features an illuminating sit-down interview with Dr. Georgia Ede, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist specializing in nutrition science and brain metabolism. With over 25 years of clinical experience, including 12 years as a college psychiatrist and nutrition consultant at Smith College and Harvard University Health Services, Dr. Ede was the first to offer students nutrition-based approaches as an alternative to psychiatric medications. She speaks internationally about using dietary therapies for psychiatric disorders, co-authored the first inpatient study of the ketogenic diet for treatment-resistant mental illness, and developed the first accredited course on ketogenic diets for mental health practitioners. Her new book Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind was published in January 2024.
In this wide-ranging interview, we cover:
-Implementing a therapeutic ketogenic diet in Dr. Ede’s clinical practice and the mental health benefits observed
-The critical role of ketones in alleviating cerebral glucose hypometabolism
-Why metabolic health forms the foundation for optimal mental health
-The lack of practical nutrition education in medical training and why it matters
-Alzheimer’s disease as a metabolic disorder
-The importance of insulin levels, not just glucose, for gauging metabolic health
Be sure to catch Dr. Ede on The Metabolic Psychiatry Panel featuring Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Iain Campbell, and Matt Baszucki. On-Demand access closes on Friday, February 16th so don’t wait! Get your virtual pass at https://metabolichealthsummit.com.
Also be sure to catch Dr. Ede on March 6th where she’ll be joining us for a live Q&A on The Metabolic Initiative. We’ll be exploring ketogenic therapy for mental health. Register to join us here.
In every episode of The Metabolic Link, we’ll uncover the very latest research on metabolic health and therapy. If you like this episode, please share it, subscribe, follow, and leave us a comment or review on whichever platform you use to tune in!
You can find us on all your major podcast player:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/change-your-diet-change-your-mind-ketogenic-therapy/id1666125722?i=1000645364589
Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8yMTAzMjY5LnJzcw/episode/QnV6enNwcm91dC0xNDUwNDMzMA?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwj4m-CZ2auEAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/00zWYEcAbUn8EOYD17buc0?si=WRhiyaryTueosJMoU9RPOA
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/78fa2414-2c36-4992-9bc2-05ef01239889/episodes/9a919309-f869-4018-ad8b-ef7e4607fe35/the-metabolic-link-change-your-diet-change-your-mind-ketogenic-therapy-for-mental-health-with-dr-georgia-ede-the-metabolic-link-ep-34
Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2103269/14504330
Thanks for listening! Follow us on social media @metabolichealthsummit for the latest science on metabolic health and therapy. Please keep in mind: The Metabolic Link does not provide medical or health advice, but rather general information that does not serve as a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional. Never delay in seeking medical advice from an appropriately licensed medical provider for any health condition that you may have.
41 Comments
Join us for a live Q&A with Dr. Ede on March 6th! Register here: https://membership.metabolicinitiative.com/georgiaede
Thank y'all. Blessings, julie
The brain uses GLUT1 that is insulin independent. It is wrong statement at 04:12 that due to lack of insulin sensitivity the brain is starving.
Keto hasn't been effective for me. I lost too much weight, and had IBS issues due to the fat in the diet.
Absolute nonsense. This diet makes people sick and old. She is 51 and I was shocked. Look at raw vegan athletes. They are vital, heathy and look young. Her suggested diet will cause aging and health issues.
Thank you Georgia, you do good work
10:04 but you said "dark chocolate" above 80% cacao there's basically no sugar!
This is what I am waiting for. I am ready to make this metabolic switch. Been three months and my body has still not switched over. I am not feeling the energy and brain benefits that I am looking for. Any advice? I’m really struggling 😢
Excellent. Thank you.
Changed my diet, changed my mind. The title says it. I need say no more.
Valuable information. Thank you. For the longest time I've been trying to connect the dots. I knew in myself something was wrong. Cutting out the carbs really does help.
We need to start talking about children with mental and mood disorders who are born to a new generation of insulin resistant women.
I don’t understand insulin at all!! Please just tell me the foods to eat and foods to stay away from
Her protocol described in her book 100% works. It was spot on with helping me discover my food sensitivities and needing the ketogenic diet to fix the brain energy problems I’ve had for a decade. Each change I’ve made after reading the book improved my symptoms further. I can’t believe I’m symptom free after a decade of suffering from brain symptoms/mental health issues. It was food all along and none of my doctors caught it.
Exercise is similar in that it creates amazing mental health benefits. Diet and exercise together are incredibly powerful
🙌🙌 🙌
"…. The high levels of insulin are choking off the brains energy supply" 😮 Wow
Epilepsy has a very strong correlation to the presence of aluminum in the brain. Try drinking mineral water high in silicic acid. Volvic, Fiji etc. It doesn't work for everyone but try this first. Source C. Exley
Excellent!
There are many eco chocolates that are very low in sugar. They are generally at the health food store. You just need to look.
There are many eco chocolates that are very low in sugar. They are generally at the health food store. You just need to look.
What about all the exogenous pollutants in the environment including pesticides, herbicides, fungicides in our food and water. Also flourides in our toothpaste , mouthwash and water; the phthalates in our bodycare. Our clothing, towels, bedding if not eco friendly challenge our health as well. There is so much to consider beyond a ketogenic diet.
Thank you, Dr. Ede for all your hard work. 👍👍🦖🦖🦖🦖🦖
I guess that you will get so much struggle with the pill industry on this, they will definetly try to convince us that this diet is wrong on so many levels… I mean what will they do loosing much of the mental health pill -income they have now? Make a new pill: «you don’t have to change your diet just take a keto pill»?
I really REALLY hope that Dr. Ede’s wish that new generations of therapists will see the treatment of today as outdated. And that they don’t want to be a part of the pill industry. I remember that we had pill industry consultants visiting during lunch at work, trying to convince us to use their brand on the patients…
And lastet I really hope that people could overcome the: I eat what I want to eat, no one is to tell me what’s good for me – mentality!!
Good information; I would prefer you look at me when you're talking, I don't like that you look 'over there.'
You say the science doesn't support basically a vegan diet but Dr. Michael Greger has all the science to support it as the healthiest diet
Would keto diet help in schizophrenia? Thank you.
That's all great but most people can't afford the quality food it takes.
So important to know how bad sugar harms the body, it’s also impacts Alzheimer’s and dementia the second diabetes. I’ve been on keto diet for three weeks and my mood and sleep is improving everyday.
Any suggestions for an MD, psychiatrist, nutritionist, endocrinologist, internist who are aware of your work/research in Houston, TX? None are listed on your website….. I'm 68 year old woman first diagnosed with depression in 1991. Life-long habit of under-eating; recent diagnosis includes ARFID and OCD with hoarding aspect. Focused now on simply eating. Diagnosed pre-diabetic in January 2024. Adopted as infant; learned last year that birth mother died of pancreatic cancer. Thank you, in advance, for any direction. I will be in Massachusetts late April/early May.
Some good insights there!
All i would add, anyone over 12 years old with weight issues compounded by mood swing, 'teenage blues", could benefit from parasite cleanse & binders.
Anyone who decide to opt for keto or carnivore diet should do several parasite cleanses thru the year . Herbal as well as vet meds .
anyone reading this message go find the book the hidden herbs by anette ray. that's the one book that really did it for me
Thank you for providing such an informative video; I truly appreciate it.
By no
Thank you Dr very appealing and interesting information especially the recent advances in mental health
I'm ADHD and have intolerance (blood tests done) of dairy, egg and yeast, fodmap and histamines. PLUS coeliac disease. Have no idea how to do a keto diet with what I have available..
Commenting for the algorithm
What is the best way to contact Dr. Ede? My wife and I would like to try this ketogenic diet with our son. We want to monitor him closely for at least 30 days. We don’t want to eliminate his medications without his doctor’s recommendation. We would like Dr. Ede’s recommendation.
一、講座核心內容總結
1. 飲食與腦部代謝的關係
Dr. Ede 強調現代飲食（高糖、高精製碳水、超加工食品）會引發慢性發炎、氧化壓力與胰島素抗性，這些都是導致抑鬱、焦慮、多型鬱躁症等精神狀態的幕後因素
2. 低碳酮體作為腦部穩定燃料
在飲食導致胰島素升高、細胞阻抗時，腦部能量供應障礙，導致思維不清晰、情緒波動。採用酮體為主燃料的飲食（即生酮飲食）能提供更穩定、清潔的能量來源，有助於提高腦部穩定性與情緒控制
3. 精神疾病與癲癇之間的相關性
她提到生酮飲食長久以來用於控制癲癇（尤其難治型），同時許多心理健康疾病（如躁鬱症）也涉及神經穩定性失衡。這些類似性使生酮飲食成為一種腦部穩定飲食治療策略
4. 個人化飲食策略的重要性
並非每個人都適用同一種飲食方式。Dr. Ede 建議從「Quiet Paleo」開始（低敏、低碳、不加調味），若無效再進階至「Quiet Keto」，最後可能演變為「Quiet Carnivore」。透過逐步 reintroduce 食物，找到最適個人化飲食模
5. 飲食對成癮與暴食的潛在幫助
許多案例指出，採生酮或類肉食飲食後，暴食、酒精渴望或賭博衝動等行為顯著改善。這類飲食可協助穩定血糖與情緒，有助於減少衝動性
二、書中重點概念
來自《Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind》一書與講座一致的核心概念包括：
項目 要點說明
胰島素抗性與所謂「腦部第3型糖尿病」 胰島素阻抗時，腦無法有效利用葡萄糖，導致能量短缺與情緒失調
厭惡植物食物理論 部分植物含抗營養物質（如草酸、苯甲酸、植酸等），可能加重腦部／腸道敏感者的症狀
Dr. Ronald Hoffman |
營養完整性與動物性食物 建議攝取高品質動物蛋白質、脂肪與適量低碳蔬菜以確保長期腦部營養健康
三、臨床與實踐建議
若正在考慮飲食介入常見精神症狀（如焦慮、情緒不穩、躁鬱傾向等），建議先諮詢熟悉代謝精神醫學或生酮療法的臨床醫師。
檢測胰島素、空腹血糖、裡脂比、炎症指標等代謝指標，有助於評估生酮飲食是否適合個人情況。
生酮並非一勞永逸，亦需搭配飲食多樣性管理、電解質補充、個人化追蹤。
四、總結
Dr. Ede 的講座與著作共同強調：
飲食是影響腦部能量、神經傳導與情緒穩定的關鍵。
生酮飲食可作為精神疾病的輔助治療策略，特別對於難以控制的情緒或衝動症狀有潛在益處。
強調從簡到嚴漸進個人化飲食調整，並非所有人都適合走到最嚴格的Carnivore。
資料來源
你說：
Quiet Keto 飲食、實際餐單範例
好的！我整理一下 Dr. Georgia Ede 所提到的 Quiet Keto 飲食概念，並附上幾份實際餐單範例，讓你能更清楚了解。
一、Quiet Keto 飲食核心概念
Quiet Keto 是 Ede 博士提出的低刺激、低敏感版本的生酮飲食，目標是：
維持酮症，提供腦部穩定能量
減少潛在發炎與食物過敏原
降低消化與精神負擔
基本原則
極低碳水
碳水攝取量通常低於每日 20 克淨碳水
移除高糖、精製澱粉、水果（少量莓果可後期視情況加回）
中高脂肪
來自天然動物脂肪（牛油、豬油、雞油、鴨油、魚油）、初榨橄欖油、牛油果油等
中等蛋白質
以肉類、魚類、蛋類為主
限制或暫停高敏蔬菜
暫時減少茄科（番茄、茄子、辣椒）、高草酸蔬菜（菠菜、甜菜葉）
常選用低刺激蔬菜（西葫蘆、花椰菜、白菜等）
不使用加工調味料
降低食品添加物與潛在過敏源
逐步重新引入食材
當症狀改善後，可慢慢測試蔬菜、香料、乳製品等耐受度
二、Quiet Keto 實際餐單範例
以下餐單以每日 2～3 餐為範例，可視個人作息調整。
範例 1（初期適應期）
早餐
雞蛋 2 顆，用草飼牛油煎
牛油果半顆
黑咖啡（可加 MCT 油或鮮奶油，若耐受乳製品）
午餐
鹽煎牛小排（油脂不去掉）
清燙四季豆（少量橄欖油拌）
鹽、胡椒簡單調味
晚餐
烤鮭魚（附魚皮）
花椰菜泥（用奶油與鹽調味）
西葫蘆絲拌橄欖油
範例 2（穩定期，可增加食材變化）
早餐
培根 2 片 + 半熟蛋 2 顆
牛油果 1/4 顆
黑咖啡或草本茶
午餐
烤雞腿（保留雞皮）
白花椰菜＋奶油
橄欖油淋少許檸檬汁
晚餐
烤鯖魚或沙丁魚罐頭（橄欖油浸）
青江菜或白菜
少量牛油提香
範例 3（進入長期維持）
早餐（可省略，進行間歇性斷食）
黑咖啡 / 草本茶
MCT 油或牛油咖啡（若適合）
午餐
羊排 200g
烤蘆筍（橄欖油拌）
奶油花椰菜泥
晚餐
烤牛肋條
西葫蘆與香菇（橄欖油炒）
鹽、胡椒調味
三、Quiet Keto 的補充注意事項
電解質補充：生酮初期容易流失鈉、鉀、鎂，可透過鹽水、骨湯或補充劑補足
水分攝取：每日足夠水分，避免脫水與酮流感
追蹤反應：觀察情緒、睡眠、腸胃及能量變化
逐步調整：如症狀穩定，可慢慢測試加入香料、不同蔬菜甚至乳製品
Keto with the addition of intermittent fasting does wonders. I personally do a 24 hr fast once a week then eat very low carbs at 12 noon and 5 pm and fast throughout until noon again. Helps to reset insulin sensitivity, heal broken cells, reduce cancer risk, lower blood pressure etc. In another video also mentioned to treat alzheimers , dementia better to perform a 3 day water fast.
Well, long story short, keto + fasting= incredible healing.
I’m 4 weeks into keto and I’m hoping it helps to alleviate my OCD symptoms.