Chris Palmer, MD Profile picture
Feb 8 5 tweets 2 min read Read on X
@SecKennedy said that ultra-processed foods may be contributing to the mental health epidemic.

Is there any evidence for this?

Yes! And a lot more than you probably know. 🧵1/
🧵2/
Increasingly, epidemiological studies are demonstrating an association between ultra-processed food consumption and poor health, including mental health.

This umbrella review of meta-analyses reviewed the evidence, and found that the association with common mental disorders was MORE convincing than the association with obesity, heart disease, and all-cause mortality.
bmj.com/content/384/bm…Image
This study of nearly 300,000 people from around the globe found that those who consume UPF several times a day are THREE TIMES more likely to have serious mental health struggles than those who never or rarely consume them.
sapienlabs.org/consumption-of…
Can a change in diet actually treat a mental disorder?

Although the research is less robust than that for medications or psychotherapies, the answer increasingly suggests yes.

Ketogenic, Mediterranean, anti-inflammatory, and elimination diets all have evidence supporting their use as treatments for mental disorders.
How many mental health professionals are asking patients about diet?

How many are recommending changes in diet?

The science is finally coming together: mental health and physical health are inseparable.

Instead of treating different diseases and disorders with different pills, let's treat the whole person.

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More from @ChrisPalmerMD

Dec 5, 2024
Is glyphosate truly safe?

This new research in mice suggests that glyphosate exposure increases risk for neuroinflammation, anxiety-like behaviors, biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease, and premature death.

🧵1/
2/
Glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, is present in many agricultural settings. Despite its common use, its effects on the brain are not well understood. This new study sheds light on its potential role in neurodegeneration.
The study used genetically engineered mice predisposed to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and healthy controls. Mice were exposed to glyphosate for 13 weeks. Even after a 6-month recovery period, toxic glyphosate byproducts were found in brain tissue.
Read 10 tweets
Nov 22, 2024
The Ketogenic Diet as a Transdiagnostic Treatment for Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Mechanisms and Clinical Outcomes

I'm delighted to share this new systematic review from our team including 53 publications representing 1,906 individuals!
🧵
2/
Mental Health Crisis at a Glance:

Neuropsychiatric disorders cause 19% of global disability and cost ~$1.7 trillion annually.

Shared metabolic dysfunction (like mitochondrial issues, inflammation, & glucose hypometabolism) could hold the key to improving mental health.

Enter the ketogenic diet.
3/
What is the Ketogenic Diet?

It's not just for epilepsy or weight loss!

High-fat, low-carb diet

Shifts the body into ketosis (burning fat for energy, producing ketones)

Ketones are not just fuel—they reduce inflammation, improve brain metabolism, & protect neurons! 🧠🔥
Read 10 tweets
Sep 1, 2024
Debunking Misinformation About Low-Carb Diets 🧵

The debate around low-carb diets has sparked plenty of myths, especially concerning their efficacy and safety. Let’s set the record straight with some evidence-based facts.
Myth 1: Low-carb diets don’t work for weight loss.

Reality: Multiple studies, including this meta-analysis of 25 RCTs, show that low-carb diets result in greater short-term weight loss compared to comparison diets. The results are clear—low-carb diets do work, especially in the first 6-8 months.
…ubs.pericles-prod.literatumonline.com/doi/10.1111/do…
Myth 2: You’ll regain all the weight on a low-carb diet.

Reality: While weight loss tends to plateau after 6-8 months, low-carb diets are no different from other diets in this regard. Long-term weight maintenance is challenging, regardless of the diet. But that doesn’t mean the initial loss isn’t real or beneficial.
Read 8 tweets
Aug 27, 2024
🧵 1/9 It's going to be extremely difficult to solve the mental health crisis when misconceptions about the causes of mental illness persist. Some believe the rates of mental illness can't be increasing—despite the data showing otherwise. #MentalHealthCrisis
2/9 On the other hand, there are those who argue that mental illness is only a result of trauma or social adversity. These perspectives, while important, overlook a crucial reality: mental illness can occur even in the absence of trauma and social adversity.
3/9 The truth is, mental illness is not just about what happens in our minds or in our social environments. Hormones, infections, inflammation, and other physical factors can play significant roles. But it doesn’t stop there.
Read 10 tweets
Jul 28, 2024
New! 🧵 1/11

Researchers at UC San Diego are developing a novel anti-inflammatory diet for first-episode psychosis (FEP) to address inflammation and metabolic issues.

Let’s dive into the details and see how this ties into ketogenic diet research for psychosis.
3/11
Inflammation is known to play a role in the pathophysiology of psychosis, even early in the illness. This study aims to create a diet that can reduce inflammation and improve metabolic health in young people experiencing their first episode of psychosis.
Read 11 tweets
Jul 20, 2024
How can you get your body to burn more calories?

Here are 9 strategies to consider...
🧵1/10
2/10
Build Muscle Mass: Engage in resistance training to increase muscle mass, as muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue, even at rest.
3/10
Stay Active: Incorporate regular physical activity into your daily routine. Even small movements and activities (like fidgeting) throughout the day can add up.
Read 10 tweets

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