The #1 Food You Need to STOP EATING To Heal The Brain & FIGHT DISEASE | Dr. Chris Palmer

We are in the midst of a global mental health crisis, and mental illnesses are on the rise. But what causes mental illness? And why are mental health problems so hard to treat?

Today on The Dhru Purohit Podcast, Dhru sits down with Dr. Chris Palmer to discuss a revolutionary new way of understanding and treating mental illness, specifically with a ketogenic diet and mitochondrial repair. Dr. Palmer shares some truly amazing stories about patients struggling with severe psychiatric illnesses who have been able to regain their health and independence along with a greater quality of life.

Dr. Palmer is a psychiatrist and researcher working at the interface of metabolism and mental health. He is the Director of the Department of Postgraduate and Continuing Education at McLean Hospital and an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

For over 25 years, he has held leadership roles in psychiatric education, conducted research, and worked with people who have treatment-resistant mental illnesses. He has been pioneering the use of the medical ketogenic diet in the treatment of psychiatric disorders through conducting research, treating patients, writing, and speaking around the world on this topic. More broadly, he is interested in the roles of metabolism and metabolic interventions on brain health.

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Dr. Chris Palmer

[DhruPurohit]

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[twillbdone]

What lead me to the Keto Diet, besides the success my daughter was having, was when I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes. My PA pleaded with me to get on metformin. I very calmly said I will turn this around on my own. This was based on the failure of medication to treat osteoporosis. I took myself off the osteo meds and brought up the -3 osteoporosis on my own to now very slight osteopenia. So, now my trust in 'medications' was greatly diminished. I started following Keto and did exactly what I set out to do. I lost 52 pounds but not after a long period of healing. My numbers are now perfect at 72 yrs old. However, my sincere skeptisism of pharmacy and the role of medical practitioners have changed dramatically. Such a noble profession reduced to legal drug pushers.

[marthacolvin]

This was a wonderful interview! I suffered depression for years…from teen years to into my sixty’s. I changed my diet in an effort to loose weight. It wasn’t Keto but it was very close. I removed all grains, sugar and all processed food. To my surprise my depression went away. We all need to get off the standard American Diet. This would heal so many health issues and save people and our country millions of dollars in health care costs.

[rosezettecupido]

This make me think of a guy who was depressed and told himself he will not eat, just be in bed and hope to die. After 3days of not eating he realized that his mood feels so much good. Now completely asuicidal, zero depressed mood and following a keto diet 👌

[louisecharles]

My son diagnosed ADHD psychiatrist pushed drugs age 7 I gave it for 8 months didn’t see a difference they wanted to increase meds I took him off completely he’s a healthy adult now

[jenniferschneider]

Where did this guy come from? I never heard of him before. Thank you for bringing him to our attention. I believe so strongly in what he says. Dr Palmer is a genius. As a nurse for over 40 years, I have seen a major decline in the health of patients, mental and physical, especially young patients. My feeling it seems from alcohol consumption, marijuana use and eating processed, garbage foods. I am sending this video to all my medical family and friends.

[patriceackerman]

My son quit his major of psychiatry in disgust because drugs were the only presented cure for mental illness. New hope.

[thesilentgeneration]

I started drinking extra virgin olive oil, eating low fat foods and garlic Turmeric and Apple Cider Vinegar. Furthermore, I cut back my carbs drastically and started eating ginger and cinnamon. I sleep well and all night too.

[eckankar]

I wish Dr Atkins could hear this now. He was hounded by medicine till the day he died that his diet plan was killing people. He should finally be given the credit he deserved promoting low carb dieting as he did.

[Glory]

Wish I heard this back in 2009 when I lost my daughter to mental illness at 19. Thank you for your you tube channel . This is priceless information .

[earthmamma]

I was eating a high carb… lower fat diet…full of grains, potatoes, legumes, beans, fruits, etc. and homemade bread/baked goods. I didn’t eat prepackaged foods. I was eating healthy by plant based standards… I got so sick physically and more importantly to me, mentally. I couldn’t function properly on a daily basis. I started having emotional breakdowns weekly. I had no control over myself. I became so anxious and stressed and depression followed. Meds helped but it wasn’t until I cut carbs that I actually felt normal. A few months into very low carbs I decided to see if I could stop meds. I wanted to test my hypothesis. Carbs were killing my overall wellness. So I did with the supervision of my doctor, and I haven’t looked back. The only time I have issues now is when I eat higher carb. As long as I stay low to no carb, I’m amazing.

[TianaMaher]

This is a life-changing serendipity to have found your podcast today. I thank both you and Dr Palmer.
I was on disability for social anxiety and the spectrum. My health and mind are now remarkably good after following the ketogenic diet for over a year.
My husband has been schizophrenic since his late teens and is now 43, listened to your podcast and has finally consented to go on my keto diet with me. I'll let you know how it goes. Thank you so very much.

[sherylclancy-maenza]

I love Dhru's interviews! Unlike most podcasters, he doesn't constantly interrupt his guests and interject with personal conjecture. He effectively directs the conversation, while letting his guests provide information and insights on the topic. Love it!!

[ebradley]

I had depression and an unreasonable addiction to sugar/carbs from my earliest memories as in before I went to school. I was born 2 months premature in the early sixties and I was fed basically sugar water. This I believe set me up for failure. At the age of 29, after the birth of my second child, I decided to seek medical help. For the next 21 years I went through a pharmacy list of medications for a myriad of psychiatric diagnoses but nothing seemed to improve and I never got off medications. At one point I was taking lithium and lost my ability to find words to speak. After being diagnosed prediabetic I decided to give up carbs, especially wheat and sugar. Within a couple months all my psychiatric symptoms were gone and I was off all drugs including metformin. Now if I eat wheat within a few hours I feel my mood deteriorate. If I eat sugar I become obsessed, over consume and ruminate on where and when I can get my next fix. Will take me 2 weeks to get back off it. I totally believe some foods cause psychiatric problems it did for me. Happily I am in a better place now but at times I mourn the loss of years I spent in depressive funk. Totally interfered with the direction of my life. Being in a keto diet has been the best eating plan for me. I will say I always ate butter, and fatty meat and eggs. I never went low fat. Think that may have saved me from a worse fate.

[velvetbees]

I was rapidly on ny way to dying from a bad heart until I went off sugar and gluten. I lost 26 lbs. Then after years of being bettter I found keto and lost 35 more pounds. It helped too. People can do it, but it takes giving up some tasty foods. The benefits are high. It helps ro have your own small 3 qt Instant Pot. You can cook your own food separate from others in the house.

[clindsay]

4 years into Keto, this ketogenic approach is everything and more that Dr Palmer says. What a wonderful doctor, and what great compassion, you never forget meeting someone like him, even if it is only online. 💜

[megret]

During the early lockdowns I went full on Keto with intermittent fasting. I lost 45lbs, baseline blood pressure dropped below 120 and, of course, my pre diabetes disappeared

[khall]

I was brought to tears at what Dr.Palmers words were regarding his mission- as he shared at the end of this podcast. He is a beautiful, loving and caring human being and I’m soooo grateful for him; what he is doing and will continue to do. I believe God is working thru him to get help to those who are suffering. Thank you so much for this amazing and life changing information.

[azurec]

Brave physician has my full respect and support. We need more people like him!!!

[franboutwell]

I now vote for Dr Chris Palmer to be awarded this years "peace prize"