Nicole Laurent, LMHC Profile picture
I am a mental health counselor that helps people explore and adopt nutritional and metabolic therapies for brain health. Not medical advice.
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Apr 4 12 tweets 2 min read
Health professionals telling everyone that lowering carbs is bad for the thyroid really just need to knock it off. That assertion was always theoretical, and now data is coming in that really shows the opposite, with hard markers and everything. Prepare for a thread. ⬇️ (1/11) Huang, X. S., Dai, N., Xu, J. X., Xiang, J. Y., Zheng, X. Z., Ke, T. Y., ... & Fan, S. F. (2024). MRI quantitative assessment of the effects of low-carbohydrate therapy on Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Endocrine Connections, 1(aop). (2/11) doi.org/10.1530/EC-23-…
Mar 22 23 tweets 5 min read
There are no less than 10 active trials going on investigating the use of ketogenic diets as a treatment for mental illness with a line up of investigators and institutions involved are no joke. Don't be left behind. Keep reading. 📖 (1/23) Ketogenic and Nutritional Interventions for First Episode Bipolar Disorder: This trial, conducted by Drs. Virginie-Anne Chouinard and Dost Öngür at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts. (2/23) clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06221…
Feb 5 9 tweets 2 min read
We talk a lot about mitochondria, and we totally should. They are amazing! And we want to understand them for brain health. Why do they need vitamin A in sufficient amounts? Glad you asked! I am going to tell you. (1/8) Vitamin A is involved in the regulation of energy metabolism. Retinoic acid, a derivative of Vitamin A, has been shown to influence the activity of enzymes involved in the mitochondrial energy production process. (2/8)
Jan 17 22 tweets 3 min read
Let's look at an article that explores how ketogenic diets might help manage Alzheimer's Disease by countering the metabolic shift towards glycolysis in neurons and microglia. (1/22) Murai T, Matsuda S. Metabolic Reprogramming toward Aerobic Glycolysis and the Gut Microbiota Involved in the Brain Amyloid Pathology. Biology. 2023; 12(8):1081. (2/22)doi.org/10.3390/biolog…
Dec 26, 2023 15 tweets 2 min read
If you consider yourself a bit of a gut microbiome expert, but you are still talking smack about ketogenic diets, your self-proclaimed title is undeserved, and you are no longer providing evidence-based practice. (1/15) #realtalk A ketogenic diet is a valid approach for gut healing, contrary to the belief that it might be inherently unfavorable to the gut #microbiome. (2/15)
Dec 25, 2023 21 tweets 3 min read
I don't know who needs to hear this, but vitamins and minerals are required for your brain to function. Let's do a thread on the research done on prison populations. What do you think happens when they are given multivitamins and other essential nutrients? 🧵(1/21) This research study conducted on young adult prisoners tested the impact of supplementary vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids on antisocial behavior. (2/21)
Dec 23, 2023 11 tweets 2 min read
Cognitive symptoms in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), such as memory, concentration, and learning issues, are neurological rather than hormonal. (1/11) These symptoms, often referred to as brain fog, are not effectively treated with birth control pills. The underlying cause is an energy deficit in the brain, which can occur early in life for those with PCOS. #PCOS (2/11)
Dec 22, 2023 15 tweets 3 min read
Let's discuss the relationship between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and the use of MCT (Medium Chain Triglyceride) oil. 🧵(1/15) MCI can progress into dementia, but in some cases, it may not advance to severely impaired functioning. Studies have shown that approximately 10-15% of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (#MCI) progress to #dementia each year. (2/15)
Dec 18, 2023 9 tweets 1 min read
A ketogenic diet is a powerful intervention for Panic Disorder, directly impacting four key mechanisms seen in this disorder pathology: glucose hypometabolism, neurotransmitter imbalances, inflammation, and oxidative stress. (1/9) In Panic Disorder, hypometabolism in brain structures such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex can be improved with ketones as an alternative fuel source, enhancing brain metabolism and mitochondrial function. (2/9) #mitochondria #metabolism
Dec 15, 2023 9 tweets 1 min read
Let's talk about Social Anxiety Disorder! Did you know that functional MRI (fMRI) studies have identified hypometabolism in the left anterior cingulate gyrus in individuals with Social Anxiety Disorder? (1/9) This area is associated with attention control. In individuals with SAD, hypometabolism in this area can lead to difficulties in focusing attention appropriately during social interactions. (2/9)
Dec 1, 2023 13 tweets 2 min read
People who say ketogenic diets are not good for the gut don't understand epigenetics or the role of the BHB ketone body as an epigenetic modifier. Let's do a thread! 🧵(1/13) BHB, produced during a Ketogenic Diet (KD) reinforces the Notch signaling pathway in intestinal stem cells (ISC) through inhibition of class I histone deacetylases (HDACs), influencing intestinal homeostasis. (2/13)
Oct 12, 2023 15 tweets 2 min read
How about we look at an article providing evidence that supports the notion that the brain, through specific neural pathways and neurotransmitter systems, has a direct influence on systemic energy regulatory systems 🧵(1/15) Here it is if you want to follow along! Let's begin! (2/15)
doi.org/10.1016/j.meta…
Sep 1, 2023 17 tweets 3 min read
We are going to talk about this study. Researchers wanted to see if there's a connection between the Triglyceride-glucose index (a way to measure how well our body uses insulin) and the chances of someone having a cardiac arrest (when the heart suddenly stops). (1/17) I have done a thread on the TGI in the past, and you can check that out here if would find that helpful. (2/17)
Aug 26, 2023 21 tweets 3 min read
Research in metabolic psychiatry is blowing up! What's on the horizon? I will tell you just a few! (1/21) Ketogenic Diet (KD) in Alcoholism
What's the objective? To assess the impact of a ketogenic diet on alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Who sponsors it? Just the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (2/21)
Aug 24, 2023 26 tweets 4 min read
Can somebody please retweet this thread and maybe share it with some doctors? Because I am getting really tired of hearing people being warned off of ketogenic diets by medical professionals when it could save their life or quality of life! (1/26) Luckily, someone did a review. What does it say? Basically that there is lot of evidence to support the idea that ketogenic diets are actually super heart-healthy as opposed to a medical risk factor. #CVD #cardiovascular (2/26) doi.org/10.3390/nu1515…
Aug 14, 2023 29 tweets 4 min read
High-dose vitamin C is another supplement to be wary of. It serves as an antioxidant, and back in the day we thought all oxidants were harmful and must be combated. But we have since learned some stuff. (1/29) Our current understanding about the use of antioxidants is that there must be a balance between oxidants and antioxidants. (2/29)
Jul 20, 2023 20 tweets 3 min read
You may not know it, but in functional blood chemistry analysis, monocytes are used as a marker to assess cardiovascular disease risk. Here is a promised thread. 🧵(1/20) Cardiometabolic dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality are conditions linked to low-grade inflammation, which can be indicated by elevated monocyte levels. (2/20)
Jul 18, 2023 24 tweets 4 min read
So this study found that using a multivitamin helped cognition in older adults. I am going to drop some thoughts and opinions. (1/24) First, who funded it. That's always important to know when we can. The study was supported by an investigator-initiated grant from Mars Edge, a segment of Mars Inc dedicated to nutrition research. (2/24)
Jun 26, 2023 21 tweets 3 min read
Today we are going to talk about this cool review about Neutrophils, mitochondria and how it all bears influence on brain health! Settle in for a long thread. ☕🧵🧠 (1/20) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.11… Neutrophils, the most populous type of white blood cells in our body, are the first line of defense against infections. They are part of our innate immune system, which is our body's immediate response to invaders. (2/20)
Jun 24, 2023 9 tweets 2 min read
Guess what happened when @GeorgiaEdeMD, @ShebaniMD, and @IainCampbellPhD presented their data at the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Conference 2023? Stick around for a thread, and I will tell you. 🧵(1/9) My understanding is the whole thing got to happen because @ProfDanielSmith chaired the symposium. I got to sit in the front, so we made faces at each other from time to time. @bschermd from @Metabolic_Mind appeared out of nowhere and started asking great questions! (2/9)
Jun 23, 2023 4 tweets 1 min read