Your Brain on Ketones: The New Science Linking Metabolic Health, Mental Health and the Power of Ketosis
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Your Brain on Ketones: The New Science Linking Metabolic Health, Mental Health and the Power of Ketosis

  • Writer: Dr. Mindy Pelz
    Dr. Mindy Pelz
  • 2 hours ago
  • 3 min read

EP334 with Dr. Georgia Ede



What if your mental health is really a metabolic problem?


That’s the question that stopped me in this conversation with Dr. Georgia Ede.


She came in with data that changes how you’ll look at the brain. People with pre-diabetes are 2.7 times more likely to develop depression and those with bipolar disorder are 3.5 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome.


This shows us just how deeply connected the brain and metabolism really are.


Dr. Ede explains the brain as a hybrid system. It runs both on glucose and ketones. When you rely on glucose alone, energy becomes unstable. Over time, the brain starts to struggle. Ketones change this completely.


Even mild ketosis, especially overnight, shifts the brain into repair mode. It begins to recycle damaged cells, reduce inflammation, and restore function. One key player here is BNDF, a protein that supports learning and memory. This matters even more for women in midlife.


As estrogen declines, the brain becomes less efficient at using glucose. That’s when symptoms like brain fog, low mood, and memory lapses start to show up. The brain needs a different fuel source: ketones.


If you're running on glucose all the time, it's like you've got your foot on the gas pedal and you're really damaging the engine."

-Dr. Georgia Ede


Here's what you'll learn in this episode:


  • The new expert consensus on ketogenic diets for mental health

  • Why fasting glucose is a late warning sign

  • How insulin resistance develops long before diagnosis

  • The role of GLP-1 medications and what an exit strategy looks like

  • How tools like fasting, MCT oil, and exogenous ketones support brain health


You cannot fix brain health without addressing metabolic health. The good news is your body already knows how to heal. When you give it the right fuel and remove what is interfering, it responds.


This episode gives you the science and strategy to start. Let me know what you think below once you’ve tuned in.



Resources Mentioned



Meet the Guest

Dr. Georgia Ede


Dr. Georgia Ede is a globally recognized expert in nutritional and metabolic psychiatry. Her 25+ years of clinical experience include 7 years at Harvard University, where she was the first psychiatrist to offer nutrition-based approaches to mental health conditions. Dr. Ede co-authored the first inpatient study of the ketogenic diet for serious mental illness, developed the first medically accredited course in ketogenic diets for mental health, and is a recipient of the Baszucki Metabolic Mind Award.


Current research collaborations include pilot studies in pediatric bipolar disorder, adult ADHD, PTSD, and schizophrenia. Her internationally bestselling book Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind is being translated into 11 languages and is recommended by the New York Times Book Review.



More on Dr. Georgia Ede



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