Metabolic Mind

Metabolic Mind Metabolic Mind grew out of the first ever metabolic psychiatry conference hosted by Baszucki Group in May of 2022.

Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them. Fifty stakeholders ga

thered to share information and define this rapidly emerging new field. It became clear in the months following the conference that an advocacy effort was critically needed to amplify research, clinical experience and life stories. The Metabolic Mind team is dedicated to filling that gap, and is working toward a vision in which metabolism is understood as a primary driver of human health and well-being.

06/08/2026

Lower T3 levels on a ketogenic diet don’t automatically mean something is wrong with your thyroid.

This is one of the most misunderstood lab changes people see when transitioning into ketosis. For many, the body may simply become more metabolically efficient, so cells can do the same work with less thyroid hormone activity.

That’s why context matters.

If T3 drops but TSH remains normal and someone feels energized, mentally clear, and metabolically healthier, that paints a very different picture from true hypothyroidism.

Lab values should never be interpreted in isolation. Symptoms, metabolic markers, and overall clinical context matter too.

While thyroid health should always be monitored thoughtfully, current evidence does not suggest that well-formulated ketogenic diets inherently damage thyroid function in most people.

👉 Have you noticed changes in thyroid markers or other metabolic markers while following a ketogenic diet? What have your physical symptoms shown you? We’d love to hear your experience in the comments. ⤵️

06/07/2026

It’s time for a more holistic approach to treating mental health symptoms.

Across mental health conditions, we see shared mechanisms: oxidative stress, inflammation, insulin resistance, and impaired brain energy metabolism. The challenge is that we rarely know which is at the root of the symptoms.

That’s where metabolic psychiatry can be incredibly impactful. Instead of waiting to pinpoint a single root cause, we can target the common pathways we already know may be contributing to imbalances.

Ketogenic therapy is one of the few interventions shown to positively influence all of these systems at once, supporting both brain and metabolic health.

👉 Want to learn more about ketogenic therapy? Check out the first comment for a link to our blog.

06/06/2026

Setbacks in mental health recovery can be a powerful way to strengthen our alignment with what we truly need.

For some, that means returning to exercise or structure. For others, it means slowing down, resting, or leaning more on support from people they trust.

Mindfulness meditation offers a powerful example of this process. During meditation, the mind naturally wanders. The practice is simply noticing it and bringing your attention back, over and over.

That return is the practice.

Recovery can work the same way. Each time someone recognizes they’re struggling and reconnects with the habits, tools, and support systems that help them feel grounded, they’re strengthening resilience in real time.

👇 Check out the first comment for more on handling setbacks on the mental health journey, and let us know what has worked for you!

06/05/2026

Ketogenic therapy is about getting results and feeling better, not chasing ketone levels.

There’s a common belief that you need to hit a specific ketone number to “do keto right.” But the real question is: why are you doing it in the first place?

If your goal is metabolic health, your progress may show up in glucose, insulin, or body composition, not necessarily in your ketone reading. If you’re using ketogenic therapy for brain-based conditions, dialing in ketones may matter more.

Either way, the fundamentals still apply: real food, consistent habits, and a lifestyle that supports metabolic health.

💬 What’s been your experience with ketogenic therapy? Share your tips and tricks in the comments. ⤵️

06/05/2026

We may be looking at the beginning of a paradigm shift in how we understand and treat eating disorders.

Emerging research suggests that metabolic function, including brain energy metabolism, may play a key role in eating disorders like anorexia nervosa.

In a new study led by Dr. Guido Frank at the University of California San Diego, researchers tested a ketogenic diet in adults with anorexia over 14 weeks.

Here’s what stood out:

82% completed the study

72% of study completers no longer met the criteria for an anorexia nervosa diagnosis

All study completers saw improvements in depression scores, 72% reaching normal range.

No worsening of symptoms

Mild side effects in 40% of participants that resolved by the end of the study

No significant weight loss

One of the biggest fears around using ketogenic therapy in this population is that it could trigger relapse or lead to weight loss. This study highlights how under clinical supervision, ketogenic therapy can be structured to support weight maintenance.

Participants in this study were weight restored, so these findings can’t be extrapolated to underweight individuals living with anorexia nervosa. The safety of ketogenic therapy in that group is an important open question being explored in additional trials.

This intervention was conducted under close supervision by a licensed eating disorder specialist. Anyone interested in exploring this approach should do so under close medical supervision and in partnership with their care team. If you or someone you care for is living with anorexia nervosa, please speak with your healthcare provider before making any changes.

💡 Want to learn more about the potential connection between eating disorders and metabolic health? Check the first comment for the link to the study page on our website.

Traditional anorexia nervosa treatment focuses largely on weight restoration But many people continue to struggle with a...
06/03/2026

Traditional anorexia nervosa treatment focuses largely on weight restoration

But many people continue to struggle with anxiety, depression, and persistent eating disorder symptoms long after weight is restored.

That’s part of what makes this first-of-its-kind trial so important.

Dr. Guido Frank and colleagues at UC San Diego explored a supervised ketogenic intervention in adults living with weight-normalized anorexia nervosa and found it was feasible, well-tolerated, and associated with meaningful improvements in eating disorder symptoms and depression scores.

Importantly, participants did not experience significant weight change during the study, helping address a major concern about ketogenic therapy in this population.

Individuals living with anorexia nervosa should not implement ketogenic therapy alone. This intervention requires careful medical supervision and a dedicated care team.

To learn more about this study, check the first comment for the link to our top content covering this study.

06/03/2026

For decades, we’ve treated the symptoms of mental illness without fully asking what’s driving it.

Emerging research in metabolic psychiatry suggests that conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia may share underlying biological features with metabolic disorders like diabetes.

Common pathways include insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation—all of which can influence brain function.

This is where metabolic interventions, such as therapeutic ketogenic diets, are being explored. By shifting the body’s fuel source to ketones, a ketogenic diet may help target some of these core pathways.

This is still an evolving area of science, but it’s reshaping how we think about the biology of mental health.

👉 Interested in learning more? Check the first comment for a link to our Science Page, which provides a timeline of studies supporting ketogenic therapy for mental health.

06/01/2026

🥃 Does alcohol fit into a ketogenic lifestyle?

Technically possible… but with a significant disclaimer.

While low-carb beers, dry wines, and sugar-free spirits may not knock you out of ketosis, they can still undermine your health goals.

👉 Your liver gives alcohol "oxidative priority," meaning it pauses fat burning to detoxify alcohol first.

👉 At the same time, oxidative stress can increase, which runs counter to the goals of ketogenic therapy, such as reducing inflammation and supporting brain health.

⚠️ For those using ketogenic therapy for mental health, this matters even more. Alcohol is a known disruptor of mood, sleep, and psychiatric stability, and can trigger or worsen symptoms in vulnerable individuals.

So if your goal is brain health, metabolic healing, or reducing inflammation, alcohol may be working against you.

💬 Have you experimented with alcohol on your ketogenic diet? Share what’s worked or what hasn’t in the comments. ⤵️

05/30/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about ketogenic therapy? That there’s a single “perfect” ketone number everyone must hit.

In reality, some people see profound improvements at ketone levels below 1.0, while others may need deeper ketosis to see therapeutic effects. The brain is highly individual, and metabolic psychiatry is still uncovering the nuances.

That’s why chasing the highest possible ketone reading isn’t always the goal. More isn’t automatically better.

What matters most is whether symptoms, function, mood, cognition, and quality of life are improving.

For some people, a simple whole-food, low-carb approach creates meaningful change. Others may benefit from more personalized fine-tuning of meal timing, macros, or ketone levels.

The true goal of ketogenic therapy is to find the metabolic approach that works best for your brain.

👉 Have you found an ideal ketone range for yourself? Was there a trial-and-error period? We’d love to hear your experience in the comments.

Messages like this remind us why these conversations matter.Thank you, Assia, for sharing your story with us. Stories li...
05/29/2026

Messages like this remind us why these conversations matter.

Thank you, Assia, for sharing your story with us. Stories like yours continue to inspire hope, spark curiosity, and help more people feel less alone in their search for answers.

💡 Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and the THINK+SMART program via the link in our bio.

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