In an insightful interview conducted by LowCarbUSA® co-founder Pam Devine, Dr. Georgia Ede, MD, shared profound insights from her new book, "Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind," and highlighted the significance of metabolic psychiatry. Dr. Ede, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist with extensive experience in nutrition, brain metabolism, and mental health, will be a key presenter at the upcoming LowCarbUSA 9th Annual San Diego Symposium for Metabolic Health, taking place from August 15-18, 2024. Pam Devine expressed her excitement about her participation, recalling their first collaboration in 2017. Dr. Ede emphasized the unique atmosphere of the LowCarbUSA® conferences, describing them as "science for the people." She praised the efforts of Doug Reynolds and Pam Devine in creating a warm and welcoming environment. According to Dr. Ede, "Every conference has a different feel, and this particular conference has a really nice down-to-earth, people-focused feel. It's science for the people." Join Us at the Symposium in San Diego, August 15-18 This podcast episode is just a glimpse of the comprehensive, science-backed health insights Dr. Ede will share at the 9th Annual San Diego Symposium for Metabolic Health, August 15-18. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain invaluable knowledge and interact with leading experts in metabolic health. This year’s symposium will feature a full day, Thursday, August 15th, dedicated to exploring the connection between mental health and metabolic disease. Focus on Metabolic Psychiatry One standout feature of this year's conference is the dedication of an entire day to metabolic psychiatry on August 15th. Dr. Ede noted the explosion of research in the field and the quantum leap it represents for psychiatry. "The brain matters," she stated, highlighting developments in treating mental health conditions through metabolic interventions. Addressing the limitations of conventional psychiatry, she remarked, "We have not been thinking about root causes. Metabolic psychiatry looks at the metabolic root causes, the drivers, the underlying forces that are damaging and destabilizing the brain." She pointed out that the traditional approach of treating mental health conditions as lifelong chemical imbalances requiring medication is being challenged by new findings in metabolic psychiatry. Debunking Dietary Myths Dr. Ede debunked common dietary myths, such as the belief that oatmeal is a brain-healthy breakfast. She shared a case from her book where a physician's blood sugar spiked dangerously after consuming oatmeal, underscoring the need for a fundamental shift in dietary recommendations. "If you want real change to your mental health, you need to fundamentally restructure your diet from the ground up in ways that make biological sense," she stated. "Base your diet on science, not wishful thinking and wild guesses." Importance of Nutrient-Rich Foods She emphasized the importance of nutrient-rich foods that provide the essential building blocks for brain health. "The brain needs nutrients. All food is about parts and energy. We need the right parts to build cells, including brain cells, and we need to fuel those cells sustainably." Essential nutrients include amino acids, fats, vitamins, and minerals, which are often lacking in typical modern diets. "Most of what we're eating now is not nourishing or energizing our brain properly. In fact, it's damaging the brain," she added. One major culprit in this dietary crisis is the widespread consumption of vegetable oils. "Vegetable oils are extraordinarily high in Omega-6 fatty acid called linoleic acid," she noted. "Over the past 60 years, our intake of linoleic acid has increased significantly, and it's accumulating in our body fat and brain, causing oxidative stress and inflammation." This leads to brain damage over time. She highlighted the importance of choosing foods that support brain health by providing necessary nutrients without causing harmful s