Metabolic Mind

A red flag next to your LDL number can feel alarming, but LDL is only one part of a much larger cardiovascular risk picture. In this episode of Metabolic Mind, cardiologist and lipidologist Dr. Bret Scher explains how to read a cholesterol panel with more context and less fear.
Dr. Scher walks through LDL, triglycerides, HDL, non-HDL cholesterol, ApoB, Lp(a), and the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio. He also explains how the 2026 cholesterol guidelines use the PREVENT risk calculator, where LDL targets currently stand, and why individual risk factors, metabolic health, family history, and direct measures of vascular disease can change the conversation.
He covers:
Why LDL should not be read in isolation
What triglycerides and HDL can reveal about metabolic health
Why Dr. Scher pays attention to the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio
When LDL above 190 may raise concern for familial hypercholesterolemia
Why Lp(a) should be measured at least once in adulthood
How ApoB differs from LDL cholesterol
What the PREVENT risk calculator includes
How coronary calcium scans and CT angiograms act as tools that may help refine risk
Why LDL targets vary by risk category
Why metabolic health, insulin resistance, and individual preferences and priorities should be part of the discussion

A cholesterol panel can start a thoughtful conversation with your healthcare provider. One number rarely tells the whole story, and better decisions come from looking at the full cardiometabolic picture.
🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.
🎙️ Take the Metabolic Mind Podcast Listener Survey for a chance to win! We’d love your feedback on what you’re enjoying, what you’d like to hear more of, and how we can make the podcast even more helpful. Complete the quick survey by September 15 for a chance to win a Metabolic Mind giveaway bundle featuring a Keto-Mojo meter, books from Dr. Chris Palmer and Dr. Georgia Ede, Metabolic Mind swag, and more. Winners will be notified September 18. Take the survey here: https://metmind.co/survey-listeners
No purchase necessary. Open to U.S. residents and international participants 18+. Ends 9/15/26 at 11:59 PM PT. Void where prohibited.
#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #Cholesterol #HeartHealth

Expert Featured:
Bret Scher, MD - Baszucki Group Medical Director & Host of the Metabolic Mind Podcast
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-scher-08baaa102/
https://www.instagram.com/drscher858/?hl=en
https://x.com/bschermd

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, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, 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.

Can carnivore and vegan diets both be used as ketogenic therapies?
In this episode of Metabolic Mind, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with registered dietitian Denise Potter about two widely debated approaches to nutrition. They explore how each can be evaluated when someone is considering a ketogenic diet to support psychiatric, neurological, or metabolic health.
Denise brings more than 30 years of clinical experience, including approximately 20 years working with medical ketogenic therapies. She explains the importance of risk-benefit analysis, how clinicians can assess potential nutrient gaps, and how lab testing, supplementation when indicated, and individualized support may help identify and manage potential risks.
They cover:
The difference between a carnivore diet and a carnivore ketogenic diet
Why some people report mental and physical health improvements with carnivore ketogenic approaches
Common questions about vitamin C, iodine, electrolytes, fiber, calcium, omega-3s, and LDL
Why bowel habits and the microbiome require clinical context
How a vegan ketogenic diet can be formulated, including Denise’s recommendation to pay close attention to B12 supplementation
Protein quality, bioavailability, and amino acid considerations in vegan ketogenic diets
The role of tracking, lab work, and follow-up testing
How clinicians can evaluate restrictive dietary patterns through a medical risk-benefit lens

This conversation offers a practical look at how different ketogenic approaches may be designed, monitored, and adjusted with individualized guidance and appropriate clinical support.
💡 Whether you’re considering a carnivore ketogenic approach or a more plant-based one, the quality of the diet itself can make a significant difference in outcomes. Learn more about what a well-formulated ketogenic diet looks like on our blog: metabolicmind.org/resources/library/blog/perspectives-in-metabolic-psychiatry/well-formulated-ketogenic-diet/
🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.
🎙️ Take the Metabolic Mind Podcast Listener Survey for a chance to win! We’d love your feedback on what you’re enjoying, what you’d like to hear more of, and how we can make the podcast even more helpful. Complete the quick survey by September 15 for a chance to win a Metabolic Mind giveaway bundle featuring a Keto-Mojo meter, books from Dr. Chris Palmer and Dr. Georgia Ede, Metabolic Mind swag, and more. Winners will be notified September 18. Take the survey here: https://metmind.co/survey-listeners
No purchase necessary. Open to U.S. residents and international participants 18+. Ends 9/15/26 at 11:59 PM PT. Void where prohibited.
#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #VeganKeto #Carnivore

Expert Featured:
Denise Potter RDN, CDCES
https://advancedketogenictherapies.com/
https://www.facebook.com/PotterDietitianConsulting/
https://www.instagram.com/advancedketogenictherapies/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanced-ketogenic-therapies/

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, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, 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.

Animal-sourced foods are often framed as a problem for human health and environmental sustainability. In this episode of Metabolic Mind, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with forage agronomist and ruminant nutritionist Peter Ballerstedt, PhD (@GrassBased) about livestock, malnutrition, chronic disease, and why restoring metabolic health may require a broader conversation about nutrition and sustainability.
Peter shares his reaction to The Cholesterol Code documentary and explains why its message extends beyond cholesterol. He discusses how animal-sourced foods can fit into dietary patterns that may help restore metabolic health, why malnutrition can exist even when calories are abundant, and why the health impact of food deserves a place in the sustainability conversation.
They cover:
Why diet and metabolic health matter for rural communities
How animal-sourced foods may support health restoration
Why LDL can be one part of a broader health conversation
How obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction can reflect malnutrition
Why calories and nutrition are not the same thing
How protein quality and indispensable amino acids shape the food systems debate
Why livestock and ruminants may play an important role in sustainable agriculture
Why restoring metabolic health may require different strategies than maintaining it

This conversation offers a deeper look at animal-sourced foods, metabolic health, and sustainability in a world where chronic illness and metabolic dysfunction are increasingly common.
🎥 Watch The Cholesterol Code documentary and join the conversation shaping the future of metabolic health: amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0GS8ZFCYN/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r
🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.
🎙️ Take the Metabolic Mind Podcast Listener Survey for a chance to win! We’d love your feedback on what you’re enjoying, what you’d like to hear more of, and how we can make the podcast even more helpful. Complete the quick survey by September 15 for a chance to win a Metabolic Mind giveaway bundle featuring a Keto-Mojo meter, books from Dr. Chris Palmer and Dr. Georgia Ede, Metabolic Mind swag, and more. Winners will be notified September 18. Take the survey here: https://metmind.co/survey-listeners
No purchase necessary. Open to U.S. residents and international participants 18+. Ends 9/15/26 at 11:59 PM PT. Void where prohibited.
#MetabolicMind #TheCholesterolCode #HeartHealth

Expert Featured:
Peter Ballerstedt, PhD
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterballerstedt
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Peter-Ballerstedt
https://x.com/GrassBased
https://www.instagram.com/grassbased/?hl=en

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, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, 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.

The terms “low-carb” and “ketogenic” are often used interchangeably, but are they the same thing?
Not quite.
A low-carb diet can be a powerful tool for improving blood sugar, triglycerides, insulin levels, inflammation, and overall metabolic health. Ketogenic diets, on the other hand, involve a deeper level of carbohydrate reduction that shifts the body into nutritional ketosis, where ketones become a significant source of fuel for the brain and body.
That metabolic shift can be especially relevant when ketosis itself is part of the therapeutic goal.
In this video, Dr. Bret Scher walks through:
How low-carb and ketogenic diets are typically defined
The amount of carbohydrate that may support nutritional ketosis
What changes in the body once ketone production increases
How each approach may be used for different metabolic goals
Why ketosis is being studied for serious mental illness and other brain-based conditions
How clearer terminology can help people set more realistic expectations

The right level of carbohydrate reduction depends on the person, the condition being addressed, and the intended outcome. Someone looking to improve general metabolic health may do very well with a low-carb approach. Someone using ketogenic therapy for a clinical purpose may need closer monitoring, greater precision, and support from an experienced healthcare team.
Understanding which approach you’re following gives you a clearer way to track progress, interpret results, and discuss next steps with your clinician.
👉 Learn more about ketogenic therapy and how it may support mental illness on our blog: What is Ketogenic Therapy? A Comprehensive Guide
🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.
🎙️ Take the Metabolic Mind Podcast Listener Survey for a chance to win! We’d love your feedback on what you’re enjoying, what you’d like to hear more of, and how we can make the podcast even more helpful. Complete the quick survey by September 15 for a chance to win a Metabolic Mind giveaway bundle featuring a Keto-Mojo meter, books from Dr. Chris Palmer and Dr. Georgia Ede, Metabolic Mind swag, and more. Winners will be notified September 18. Take the survey here: https://metmind.co/survey-listeners
No purchase necessary. Open to U.S. residents and international participants 18+. Ends 9/15/26 at 11:59 PM PT. Void where prohibited.
#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #LowCarb

Expert Featured:
Bret Scher, MD - Baszucki Group Medical Director & Host of the Metabolic Mind Podcast
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-scher-08baaa102/
https://www.instagram.com/drscher858/?hl=en
https://x.com/bschermd

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, Dr. Mariela Glandt, Dr. Deanna Kelly, Dr. Julie Milder, Dr. Zoltan Sarnyai, 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.

Starting college can change almost everything about your routine, including how, when, and what you eat. For students using ketogenic therapy as part of their mental health treatment, that transition can take some planning.
In this interview, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with licensed mental health counselor Nicole Laurent about how students using ketogenic therapy with clinical support can navigate a college setting, where dining halls, dorm rooms, busy schedules, social events, and limited budgets can all affect food choices.
Nicole shares practical ideas for:
Keeping simple foods that support nutritional ketosis in a dorm room
Making dining hall options work
Planning ahead for busy weeks
Using meal prep or delivery services strategically
Talking with roommates and friends about dietary choices
Asking for support when staying consistent gets difficult

They also talk about the importance of paying attention to food quality. For students who are not using ketogenic therapy, reducing ultra-processed foods and eating more whole foods may still be a meaningful place to start.
If ketogenic therapy is part of a student’s mental health care plan, the transition to college may require some adjustments. Planning ahead, building a support system, and working with an experienced care team can help students stay consistent as their routines and environment change.
If you’re using ketogenic therapy for a psychiatric condition, work closely with an experienced healthcare provider before making treatment changes.
👉 Looking for more back-to-school mental health resources for college students? Explore our Back to School blog for stories, science, and practical support for navigating campus life: https://www.metabolicmind.org/resources/library/blog/stories/back-to-school-metabolic-mental-health-guide/
🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

🎙️ Take the Metabolic Mind Podcast Listener Survey for a chance to win! We’d love your feedback on what you’re enjoying, what you’d like to hear more of, and how we can make the podcast even more helpful. Complete the quick survey by September 15 for a chance to win a Metabolic Mind giveaway bundle featuring a Keto-Mojo meter, books from Dr. Chris Palmer and Dr. Georgia Ede, Metabolic Mind swag, and more. Winners will be notified September 18. Take the survey here: https://metmind.co/survey-listeners
No purchase necessary. Open to U.S. residents and international participants 18+. Ends 9/15/26 at 11:59 PM PT. Void where prohibited.

Expert Featured:
Nicole Laurent, LMHC
https://x.com/KetoCounselor
https://www.instagram.com/mentalhealthketo/
https://mentalhealthketo.com/

Resources Mentioned:
Additional resources
https://mentalhealthketo.com/2025/04/17/dorm-room-keto-for-mental-health/

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.