Is carb-cycling okay on a ketogenic diet? What about high histamine foods?

In this episode of Metabolic Mailbag, Dr. Bret Scher and Dr. Georgia Ede answers questions on everything from the best sources of dietary fat to how to handle anxiety, perimenopause, and alcohol while maintaining ketosis.

They unpack how to build a nutrient-dense, brain-supportive ketogenic diet using whole foods, why “keto-friendly” processed products can sometimes derail progress, and when supplements might be beneficial. You’ll also learn why histamine sensitivity, caffeine, or cycling in and out of ketosis can affect mood, and how to troubleshoot each.

This conversation covers:

• Why a whole food ketogenic diet can be ideal for mental health
• How to identify the best fat sources and avoid “factory fats”
• Ketogenic dieting for women’s health
• Why anxiety can worsen mid-journey, and how to adapt
• The truth about alcohol, carb cycling, and ketosis

If you’re exploring ketogenic therapy for mental or metabolic health, this episode offers practical, science-based guidance to help you refine and personalize your approach.

🔎 Have questions about ketogenic diets or how to apply ketogenic therapy effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

👉Stay up to date with the latest, news, insights, and research on metabolic psychiatry by subscribing to Metabolic Mind: https://www.youtube.com/@metabolicmind

#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #FoodAsMedicine #QuestionAndAnswer

Expert Featured:

Dr. Bret Scher

• https://x.com/bschermd/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-scher-08baaa102/

Dr. Georgia Ede

• https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiaedemd
• https://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaEdeMd/
• https://www.instagram.com/georgiaedemd/?hl=en

Resources Mentioned:

• Dr. Bret Scher’s Carb Cycling Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5bUc7TbS6o
• Dr Madison Kackley: Keto for Women https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ8aGNwGB9c

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/

About us:

Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.