Why Mental Illness Is a Metabolic Problem—and What That Means for Your Health | Dr. Chris Palmer

The podcast explores the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry, challenging the traditional view of mental disorders as fixed, genetic brain disorders. It highlights the systemic nature of mental illness, linking it to metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Dr. Chris Palmer, a Harvard psychiatrist, argues that mental disorders should be viewed as treatable conditions stemming from biological, psychological, social, and environmental root causes. He advocates for a shift in mindset, emphasizing hope and the possibility of recovery through personalized interventions like ketogenic diets and addressing underlying metabolic imbalances. The discussion also covers the importance of recognizing and treating conditions such as insulin resistance, nutritional deficiencies, and autoimmune responses that can impact brain health.