Why Mental Illness Is a Metabolic Problem—and What That Means for Your Health | Dr. Chris Palmer

The Dr. Hyman Show

Dr. Mark Hyman

Health & Fitness, Medicine, Nutrition

4.6 • 8.7K Ratings

🗓️ 7 January 2026

⏱️ 66 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I’m rejoined by psychiatrist and Harvard professor Dr. Chris Palmer for a conversation that challenges how we’ve been taught to think about mental illness. For decades, psychiatry has focused on managing symptoms—often without asking what’s actually driving them. We discuss a different way of understanding mental health, one that looks beyond diagnostic labels and considers how whole-body biology influences brain function, resilience, and recovery. Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. In this conversation, we explore: • Why mental illness is rising alongside obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases • How whole-body biology influences mood, focus, and emotional resilience • The link between inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and conditions like depression and bipolar disorder • How nutrition, testing, and lifestyle changes can support real recovery If mental health has ever felt close to home for you or someone you care about, this conversation is meant to offer clarity, compassion, and a place to start. This episode was recorded live at the Eudēmonia Summit, a conference exploring the future of health, longevity, and well-being. Learn more at eudemonia.net. View Show Notes From This Episode Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hymanhttps://drhyman.com/pages/picks?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journal https://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast Join the 10-Day Detox to Reset Your Health https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Results https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive This episode is brought to you by Timeline, BON CHARGE, Qualia, Paleovalley, Pique and Korrus. Receive 35% off a subscription at timeline.com/drhyman. Upgrade your routine. Head to boncharge.com/hyman and use code DRMARK for 15% off. Go to qualialife.com/hyman and use code HYMAN at checkout for an extra 15% off. Head to paleovalley.com and use code HYMAN20 for 20% off your first order. Secure 20% off your order plus a free starter kit at piquelife.com/hyman.Upgrade your lighting. Enjoy 15% off at korrus.com/drhyman. (0:00) Introduction to mental health crisis and guest Dr. Christopher Palmer (1:31) Eudaimonia Summit and psychiatric revolution (3:06) Traditional and systemic views on psychiatric disorders (7:23) Misconceptions and stigma surrounding mental disorders (10:15) The impact of childhood experiences on mental health (13:28) Root causes of mental illness: Inflammation and brain dysfunction (21:23) Metabolic dysfunction in mental illness (24:15) Significance of metabolism in mental health (27:47) Metabolic nutritional psychiatry and premature mortality (32:34) The mental health revolution and metabolic treatments (34:16) Ketogenic diet as a potential treatment for mental disorders (37:18) Functional and network medicine in mental health (41:13) Biomarkers and potential treatments in metabolic mental health (49:07) Ketogenic therapy and its anti-inflammatory effects (50:12) Historical and emerging paradigms in psychiatry (54:38) Integrating functional medicine into mainstream psychiatry (56:20) Addressing chronic disease in national health discussions (58:22) Closing remarks and further resources (59:02) Podcast outro and call to action

Transcript

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0:00.0	In any given year, approximately 1 billion people are diagnosed with a mental illness.
0:04.8	That represents about 13% of the world's population.
0:07.5	In Western countries, the rates are higher.
0:09.6	One and two people will meet criteria for a mental illness at some point during their life.
0:14.3	Mental disorders are one of the leading causes of disease burden and disability worldwide.
0:19.5	At the same time that the rates of obesity and diabetes
0:23.5	are skyrocketing, chronic diseases are skyrocketing. The rates of mental disorders are also
0:29.3	skyrocketing. I point that out as it should not be considered a coincidence. And yet most people in
0:35.4	our field don't think about it that way. I think that at the same
0:38.5	time that people's physical health is getting worse, their brains are impacted too. Dr. Christopher
0:45.6	Palmer is a Harvard psychiatrist and a researcher working at the interface of metabolism and mental
0:51.1	health. He's the founder and director of the metabolic and mental health program at McLean Hospital and assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
0:58.1	The reason this is so important is because if you make the assumption that these disorders are genetic and permanent and fixed, it immediately instills hopelessness.
1:08.6	I'm saying it is time for the mental health field to have a
1:12.3	transformation. A revolution. You are a pioneer in this. I would love you to just close out by saying,
1:18.5	what do you think is next?
1:24.7	Over the years, I've worked with many trekkers, athletes, and even Olympians, people who consistently
1:30.4	push their bodies to the limit.
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