Is Diet the Secret to Better Mental Health? - Dr. Georgia Ede: Ep. 118

In an insightful interview conducted by LowCarbUSA® co-founder Pam Devine, Dr. Georgia Ede, MD, shared profound insights from her new book, "Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind," and highlighted the significance of metabolic psychiatry. Dr. Ede, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist with extensive experience in nutrition, brain metabolism, and mental health, will be a key presenter at the upcoming LowCarbUSA 9th Annual San Diego Symposium for Metabolic Health, taking place from August 15-18, 2024.

Pam Devine expressed her excitement about her participation, recalling their first collaboration in 2017. Dr. Ede emphasized the unique atmosphere of the LowCarbUSA® conferences, describing them as "science for the people." She praised the efforts of Doug Reynolds and Pam Devine in creating a warm and welcoming environment. According to Dr. Ede, "Every conference has a different feel, and this particular conference has a really nice down-to-earth, people-focused feel. It's science for the people."

Join Us at the Symposium in San Diego, August 15-18

This podcast episode is just a glimpse of the comprehensive, science-backed health insights Dr. Ede will share at the 9th Annual San Diego Symposium for Metabolic Health, August 15-18 (https://www.lowcarbusa.org/smhp-sympo.... Don’t miss this opportunity to gain invaluable knowledge and interact with leading experts in metabolic health. This year’s symposium will feature a full day, Thursday, August 15th, dedicated to exploring the connection between mental health and metabolic disease.

Focus on Metabolic Psychiatry

One standout feature of this year's conference is the dedication of an entire day to metabolic psychiatry on August 15th. Dr. Ede noted the explosion of research in the field and the quantum leap it represents for psychiatry. "The brain matters," she stated, highlighting developments in treating mental health conditions through metabolic interventions.

Addressing the limitations of conventional psychiatry, she remarked, "We have not been thinking about root causes. Metabolic psychiatry looks at the metabolic root causes, the drivers, the underlying forces that are damaging and destabilizing the brain." She pointed out that the traditional approach of treating mental health conditions as lifelong chemical imbalances requiring medication is being challenged by new findings in metabolic psychiatry.

Balancing Brain Chemistry

She expanded on this, explaining how the brain processes glucose and the critical role of insulin. "The brain doesn't need insulin to let the glucose in; it needs insulin to process the glucose once it comes in," she explained. Without adequate insulin, the brain, despite being flooded with glucose, cannot utilize it effectively, leading to a paradoxical situation where the brain is both overwhelmed with glucose and starving for energy.

This disruption in brain chemistry can lead to severe mental health issues. "If you want to balance your brain chemistry, one of the most effective ways to do that is to unbalance your diet," she stated. Lowering carbohydrate intake, particularly to ketogenic levels, can significantly improve brain function by stabilizing glucose and insulin levels and providing ketones as an alternative energy source.

Dr. Ede also discussed the balance between glutamate and GABA, the brain's primary neurotransmitters. "Glutamate is the gas pedal, and GABA is the brake pedal," she explained. The balance between these neurotransmitters determines the brain's activity level, and eating refined carbohydrates and vegetable oils can profoundly disrupt this balance, leading to overstimulation and mental health issues. "If you're eating these refined carbohydrates and vegetable oils, you're getting all this inflammation and oxidative stress," she said. "The inflammation and oxidative stress throw this system profoundly out of balance."

The interview concluded with Pam Devine highlighting the importance of attending the LowCarbUSA Symposium in person. Dr. Ede echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the unique benefits of in-person conferences. "It's a completely different experience," she said. "You'll meet other people, make lasting connections, and leave feeling energized and more knowledgeable." She encouraged people to take advantage of this opportunity to learn from experts and immerse themselves in the latest research on metabolic health.