What my psychiatry training never taught me about my kids' brain health | E91

podcast Nov 25, 2024

Dr. Matt Bernstein, MD, examines the crucial connection between metabolic health and mental wellness. Drawing on his personal experience with his boys' neuropsychiatric symptoms, he discusses the role of dietary changes, particularly ketogenic diets, in balancing neurotransmitters and lowering neuroinflammation.

Dr. Matt Bernstein introduces his comprehensive approach, which combines personalised nutrition, exercise, and metabolic tracking to empower individuals and create long-term mental health gains without relying primarily on pharmaceuticals.

Dr Matt Bernstein has been a clinical psychiatrist for over 20 years, and has a teaching appointment at Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital. He is the Chief Medical Officer at Ellenhorn and is also now the CEO and Chief Medical Officer at Accord, an innovative program that uses an immersion in metabolic therapies to improve mental and physical health.

 

Discussed in this episode:

  • 0:00:00 Introduction to the Show
  • 0:00:09 Introduction of Dr. Matt Bernstein
  • 0:00:42 Importance of Metabolic Health
  • 0:01:05 What are you passionate about in life right now?
  • 0:02:00 Could you explain the basics of metabolism and its importance for overall health.
  • 0:03:09 How metabolic health is often neglected in the context of psychiatry and mental health? 0:04:14 Limitations of Mainstream Psychiatry and Medicine
  • 0:05:03 He shares how his children’s sudden onset of mental health issues led him to explore alternative approaches.
  • 0:06:27 How autoimmune encephalitis (PANS/PANDAS) was misdiagnosed and ultimately discovered as the root cause.
  • 0:09:00 Understanding PANS/PANDAS in Psychiatry
  • 0:11:05 How his personal experience with his children led him to found Accord and explore metabolic therapies.
  • 0:13:50 The Science Behind Ketogenic Diet and Brain Health
  • 0:21:15 How the body shifts from glucose to ketones for energy and its effects on clarity and performance.
  • 0:23:00 Cognitive benefits of ketosis.
  • 0:24:45 How ketosis boosts neurotransmitter production, improving mood and potentially easing anxiety or depression.
  • 0:26:30 The ketogenic diet’s role in slowing brain aging, enhancing neuroplasticity, and protecting against cognitive decline.
  • 0:28:00 How ketones protect the brain against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. 0:29:30 The ketogenic diet’s role in reducing seizures in epilepsy, supported by scientific evidence. 0:31:00 How the ketogenic diet helps mental health by stabilizing blood sugar levels in depression, anxiety, and stress.
  • 0:32:30 Why healthy fats are crucial for brain function and cognitive longevity.
  • 0:33:00 How ketogenic diets may slow or prevent cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. 0:34:00 How ketogenic diets can benefit brain health in conditions like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and epilepsy.
  • 0:40:42 How do programs help individuals improve mental health through education, community, and lifestyle changes?
  • 0:41:04 What is Accord, and how does it improve metabolic health through diet, exercise, and education?
  • 0:41:11 How did the founder’s experience lead to creating Accord?
  • 0:42:03 What is the structure of Accord, focusing on metabolic health over 4-12 weeks?
  • 0:42:33 What are the key components of the Accord program?
  • 0:43:00 How does the program teach cooking whole foods from scratch?
  • 0:43:44 Why is exercise and stress reduction important for brain and metabolic health?
  • 0:44:21 How do circadian rhythms, light exposure, sleep, and protein intake improve health? 0:44:50 How does the program use technology to track progress, like glucose monitors and body composition analysis?
  • 0:45:32 What role does community support play in helping participants maintain progress?
  • 0:46:02 How does the program educate participants to maintain progress after returning home? 0:50:50 What is the future of metabolic psychiatry, and how will programs like Accord become more accessible?
  • 0:56:26 Finish of Show

Connect with Dr Matt Bernstein:

Connect with Dr Ruth Allan

Listen on

Subscribe to my channel to join the next party at the Academy

Related episodes, books, topics and events

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute, or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please always seek the advice of your general practitioner or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Disclosure: All items marked with a * are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. Dr Ruth Allan takes part in several affiliate programs, designed to provide a way for her to earn fees by linking to other company websites. You are not charged any extra by using these links.

We are here to support you

 

Connect with us so we can support you in answering any questions you have and help you find the best solution for you and those you care about!

Through our partnerships with professional service providers in the medical and wellbeing fields, we offer a wide range of services centred around optimising your brain health and wellbeing

Our goal is to support you and those you care about step into their best self