The People's Pharmacy

Do you worry that your hair is thinning? You may wonder what treatments could make a real difference. After all, you wouldn’t want to spend money on something that has no chance of helping. Many people also have concerns about their nails. Perhaps they are ridged, or loose, or too thick. Could that be due to nail fungus, or might it have another cause? Most importantly, what could you do about it? In this episode, you’ll get a dermatologist’s guide to what actually works.

At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up‑to‑date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical care or treatment.

How You Can Listen

You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EST on Saturday, September 19, 2026, through your computer or smart phone (wunc.org).  Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the podcast later. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast provider, download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of the page, or listen to the stream on this post starting on Sept. 21, 2026.

What Actually Works for Hair and Nail Problems

Dr. Chris Adigun practices both general and cosmetic dermatology. We wanted to ask her about nail problems in particular because they are very common and she maintains a specialty in treating them.

We asked her about the most common nail problems she sees, and she named simple onycholysis (pronounced Oh-nick-oh-LYE-sis). In this condition, the nail begins to lift away from the nail bed. You can identify it because the white area at the fingertip becomes much more extensive than usual. Usually, this is due to exposure to acids such as citrus juices or cleaning solutions. Having your hands in and out of irritants or even water (with or without soap) could lead to onycholysis. An overactive thyroid gland could also lead to onycholysis. To prevent it, try to avoid putting your hands into that sort of liquid. If you must do so, use gloves. And of course, a good hand cream to bolster the skin barrier is a very good idea. If these approaches don’t do the trick, especially if there are other symptoms, the doctor may want to test for thyroid function.

Another common problem is allergic contact dermatitis. This could be caused by some of the same irritating substances responsible for onycholysis, but cosmetics are common culprits here. Nail polish and remover, especially nail polish remover, can cause nail problems for some people. If you are one of them, what actually works best might mean finding a less irritating product or, even better, leaving the nails unadorned.

White Spots on Nails

Many people have noticed white spots on their nails. We asked Dr. Adigun what causes these, and she replied that usually they are not worrisome. If you bang your fingertip, as you might if you slammed it in a door or a drawer, the trauma may show up several weeks later as a white spot. (More serious trauma could show up as a dark spot due to blood pooling under the nail; we discussed that with podiatrist Jane Anderson here,  but not with Dr. Adigun.)

What About Ridges on the Nails?

Nail ridges are very common, and the ones that run lengthwise along the same axis as the finger are due to aging. Just as our skin develops wrinkles, so do our nails. Consequently, there are no effective treatments.

Nail ridges in children are a different story. They might show up as nails having the texture of sandpaper, or they could be horizontal ridges. Such nails should be seen by a physician, as they could signal an inflammatory condition called lichen planus or even an early sign of psoriasis. While we don’t have cures for these conditions, there are effective medications to manage them.

Hangnails and Cuticle Problems

Are you surprised that dermatologists have a fancy term to describe cuticle problems and other trouble affecting the skin around the nail? They call it paronychia (PEAR-oh-nick-ee-ya). If it is caused by an infection, it might be treated with an antimicrobial compound. The best preventative is not to pull, bite or clip off hangnails or rough spots in the cuticles, the skin near the nails. Instead, moisturize and possibly cover the spot with a bandage to remove the temptation while it softens and heals. Instant glue is another simple remedy that really works for hangnails.

Treating Nail Fungus

When the nails are thick, ugly and hard to trim, often people blame nail fungus. But surprisingly, it isn’t always the culprit. Mechanical trauma can also create thick nails that are hard to cut. If the nail is thick because it is on a hammer toe so it bumps against the insole of the shoe, antifungal treatment won’t help. If a healthcare professional addresses it when it first appears, it may be treatable, but once the body has grown accustomed to producing that thick nail, there may be no effective treatment.

Some nail infections are bacterial as well as fungal. Both may show up together, or the infection may be one or the other. A dermatologist has techniques for diagnosing whether the problem is due to a fungus or to bacteria such as Corynebacterium. Different types of antimicrobial medicines are effective for these infections. Athlete’s foot also needs a real diagnosis, since it too might be bacterial rather than fungal in nature. OTC athlete’s foot medicines target fungal infections.

Handling Hair Loss

Both men and women experience hair thinning, and no one is pleased about it. The patterns differ, with men noticing a receding hairline and less hair on their temples. Women’s hair loss tends to form a Christmas-tree pattern, with the tip of the tree right behind the hairline and the base spreading out over the crown of the head. Women are also prone to hair loss after giving birth to a baby. However, while that may be alarming in the moment, it often corrects itself without treatment over the following months.

Hormonal Treatments for Hair Loss

With men, scientists have identified testosterone metabolites as contributing factors. Drugs such as finasteride (Propecia) or dutasteride block those metabolites and help men regrow hair. Dr. Adigun has begun using these compounds in women who are beyond childbearing. (They are off limits for a person who might become pregnant because they could interfere with the normal development of genitals in a fetus.)

A different hormonal treatment for hair loss is spironolactone. Dermatologists have long used it to treat female pattern hair loss. A review found that spironolactone is an effective and safe treatment option for hair loss” (Cureus, Aug. 16, 2023). Besides boosting scalp hair growth, however, it can also cause itchy scalp, facial hair growth and menstrual problems.

Another approach that actually works for hair loss is minoxidil (Rogaine). Most people are familiar with this as a topical product to be applied twice daily. That might get old after a while. Also, some people react to the product with contact dermatitis, irritation or itching. Low-dose oral minoxidil seems to work as well as topical minoxidil without the irritation. Another possible option which is better than placebo but not as potent as full strength topical minoxidil is rosemary oil. It is less likely to cause itching, however.

This Week’s Guest

Chris G. Adigun, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the President and Medical Director of the Dermatology & Laser Center of Chapel Hill, which she founded in 2016. Dr. Adigun practices both general and cosmetic dermatology, with a strong emphasis on minimally invasive treatments that deliver natural, impactful results. She has devoted much of her career to increasing public awareness of skin cancer and the harmful effects of UV exposure—both medical and cosmetic—and maintains an academic specialty in nail disorders.

Chris G. Adigun, MD, FAAD, Dermatology & Laser Center of Chapel Hill

Listen to the Podcast

The podcast of this program will be available Monday, September 21, 2026, after broadcast on Sept. 19. You can stream the show from this site and download the podcast for free. This week’s episode contains additional information on hair loss due to chemotherapy and why it may grow back with a different color or texture. We also discuss red light therapy for hair growth, along with biotin supplements. Those call for caution, as they can interfere with the results on tests for thyroid function.

Download the mp3, or listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

For years, anyone who sprained an ankle or twisted a knee got some standard advice: ice it, rest it, wrap it with compression tape and keep it elevated. The acronym for Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate is RICE. New research shows that following this advice alleviates the pain from the injury in the short term, but it may actually slow healing. What can help you in healing faster from this type of problem? You can hear it directly from a scientist applying cutting-edge research with tendons and rats to getting NBA players back on the court sooner.

At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up to date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical care or treatment.

How You Can Listen

You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EST on Saturday, September 12, 2026, through your computer or smart phone (wunc.org).  Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the podcast later. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast provider, download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of the page, or listen to the audio stream on this post starting on Sept. 14, 2026. We will also be putting up a YouTube video podcast so you can watch our guest do some demonstrating.

Healing Faster from Injuries

Sports medicine expert Dr. Gabe Mirkin coined the acronym RICE in the 1970s. At the time, many physicians and physical therapists embraced this approach to treating injuries. It helped reduce the pain in the immediate term, and it doesn’t seem to do any harm over the longer term. It can take quite a while to heal damaged tendons and ligaments, however. Sometimes, that takes even longer than for broken bones to knit.

Eventually, Dr. Mirkin reversed his RICE recommendation. But very few professionals took note. Is there a happy medium between applying RICE and toughing it out by trying to walk a sprained ankle off? Our guest on this episode has been studying the topic of healing faster from injuries and has some concrete advice to offer.

Trying to Fool Mother Nature

Many of the precautions that amateur athletes take are designed to undermine the body’s inflammatory response. Yet acute inflammation is exactly how the body tries to heal itself from injury. Ice and ibuprofen are anti-inflammatory, so taking ibuprofen before exercise or icing a sore knee afterwards might be counterproductive.

What Is a Better Approach to Healing Faster?

According to Dr. Keith Baar, immobilizing a joint (“rest”) leads quickly to loss of muscle and force. When he put rats on bed rest (listen to learn how), they lost strength rapidly. On the other hand, moving a joint gently helps to reduce swelling by pumping fluid out. This, in turn, is an early step in healing faster. How do you move a joint gently? Dr. Baar has developed his own acronym: 3LD isometrics.

How Do You Practice 3LD Isometrics?

First of all, what does 3LD even mean? It stands for low-load, long-duration isometrics. During isometric exercise, instead of moving a muscle quickly, you hold it in position until it fatigues. Physical therapists recommend isometrics, such as planks or wall squats, to strengthen the muscles around joints.

In low-load long-duration exercises, you provide some support so you are not putting your entire body weight on the joint. In other words, you lessen the load. Rather than moving quickly through the motion, you find the point at which you can feel the tension in the muscle but it doesn’t actually hurt. Dr. Baar describes this as ooh instead of ouch. Then you hold that position (with the support, remember) for 30 seconds or so. This is a relatively long duration.

Healing Faster from Sports Injuries

Dr. Baar describes how he helped his nephew, a college-team football linebacker, heal an injured shoulder. Sports injuries are not the only joint problems that could benefit from healing faster with 3LD isometrics. Other common complaints are carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist or plantar fasciitis in the foot.

Changing the Culture of Treating Injury

Dr. Baar describes his work with a rugby player who injured his hamstring tendon and was able to resume playing much earlier than the surgeon initially anticipated. Baar’s team has also worked with a basketball player who ruptured an Achilles tendon last year. Healing faster with 3LD isometric work got him back on the court last year–the only NBA player with such an injury to manage that. As elite athletes learn the advantages of 3LD isometrics, physical therapists will begin offering it to ordinary people who simply want to resume their usual activities sooner.

This Week’s Guest

Keith Baar, PhD, is a professor of molecular exercise physiology at the University of California, Davis who leads the Functional Molecular Biology Laboratory. Dr. Baar is a leading expert in musculoskeletal health, studying how muscles, tendons, and ligaments respond to mechanical loading and nutrition. His websites are https://biology.ucdavis.edu/people/keith-baar and https://health.ucdavis.edu/basic-sciences/physiology/team/faculty/baar

Keith Baar Headshot

Listen to the Podcast

The podcast of this program will be available Monday, September 14, 2026, after broadcast on Sept. 12. You can stream the show from this site and download the podcast for free. And we are hoping to get the video podcast up on YouTube. Just search for People’s Pharmacy next time you go to YouTube.

Download the mp3, or listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This week, we get in-depth information on Lp(a), the heart risk no one talks about. You have heard of cholesterol, and you may even know what your cholesterol level is. The compound lipoprotein a may be equally dangerous when it is elevated, but you have probably heard very little about it.

At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up‑to‑date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical care or treatment.

How You Can Listen

You could listen through your local public radio station on Sept. 5, 2026, or get the live stream at 7 am EDT on your computer or smart phone (wunc.org). Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the podcast later. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast provider, download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of the page, or listen to the stream on this post starting on Sept. 7, 2026.

What Is Lp(a)?

Lipoprotein a, or L-P-little a for short, circulates in the bloodstream, where it picks up and carries cholesterol and oxidized phospholipids. Scientists believe that blood levels are determined mostly by genetics and change very little over the course of our lives. Roughly 20 percent of people have high levels of Lp(a), above 30 ng/dL or 75 nmol/L. The two different figures are because tests use different units to measure the blood concentration, either nanograms per deciliter or nanomols per liter.

While we don’t know if Lp(a) has or perhaps once had some important functions, we do know that elevated levels of this chemical is associated with heart disease. People with higher levels are more likely to suffer blood clots and inflammation. That puts them at risk for heart attacks or even strokes. So why hasn’t your doctor ordered a blood test to learn your level?

Is Lp(a) the Heart Risk Doctors Can’t Treat?

Perhaps doctors have been reluctant to measure or discuss lipoprotein a because they don’t have good interventions. That is beginning to change with the development of antisense oligonucleotides, a new category of prescription drugs that can cut levels sharply. The FDA has not yet approved any of these new medications, though. The first of these, pelacarsen, is still in Phase 3 trials needed before the agency can consider the evidence. However, it can bring down lipoprotein a by an estimated 80 percent.

Cardiologists’ favorite drugs, statins, do not help Lp(a) levels. In fact, Lp(a) the heart risk rises when people are taking statins to lower their cholesterol. Other cholesterol-lowering drugs such as evolocumab (Repatha) and alirocumab (Praluent) can bring Lp(a) levels down modestly. One really old cholesterol-lowering drug, high-dose niacin, also helps moderate Lp(a). Some people do not tolerate it, however, as it can cause very uncomfortable flushing. So far as we know, no scientists have run studies to see whether niacin reduces the risk of heart attacks and other complications because of its effects on Lp(a).

Other Complications of Lp(a):

Our guest, Dr. Sam Tsimikas, is among the country’s leading experts on lipoprotein a. We asked him whether Lp(a) the heart risk factor causes other problems as well. Dr. Tsimikas described heart failure, potentially resulting from a heart attack, as well as peripheral artery disease (PAD), which can make it painful to walk. Lp(a) seems to cause plaque in arteries throughout the body. As a result, it can increase the chance of a stroke. In addition, it contributes to calcification of the heart valves. This condition interferes with their ability to function properly.

What Can We Do If Lp(a) Is Too High?

Dr. Tsimikas runs a unique clinic for cardiology patients with high levels of Lp(a). We asked him how he helps them. One approach is to collect additional information about their level of risk. A coronary calcium score can be a useful indicator. If it is high, he and his patients work to control all the potential risk factors that they can. He discusses the potential benefit of aspirin with them. Because Lp(a) the heart risk factor increases the chance of dangerous blood clots, the anti-clotting activity of aspirin can sometimes be helpful.

Offering dietary advice can be tricky if a patient has high cholesterol as well as elevated Lp(a), since the ideal diets for each are nearly opposite each other. A ketogenic diet tends to raise LDL cholesterol, for example, while it may modestly lower Lp(a). We think by the end of this episode, you’ll join us in hoping that scientists can learn a lot more about Lp(a) in the next few years.

This Week’s Guest:

Sotirios (Sam) Tsimikas, MD, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI, is Professor of Medicine/Cardiology and Director of Vascular Medicine at the Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center. That is part of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. His website is https://profiles.ucsd.edu/sotirios.tsimikas

Sotirios (Sam) Tsimikas, MD, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI, UCSD

Listen to the Podcast:

The podcast of this program will be available Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, after rebroadcast on Sept. 5. You can stream the show from this site and download the podcast for free. In addition to what you heard in the broadcast, the podcast includes additional information on calcium scores and the benefits and risks of statins to lower cholesterol.

Download the mp3, or listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

A new school year is about to start in many parts of the country. Going back to school can be exciting, but some students may dread it. Perhaps they are struggling with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, abbreviated ADHD. How can you recognize the symptoms of this problem? What are the most common misconceptions? In short, what are we still getting wrong about ADHD?

When we talk about distractibility, trouble missing deadlines, forgetting where you left your keys, it is easy to relate. Likewise, when we look at kids with wiggles and short attention spans, do we see a child with ADHD or just a normal youngster? What constitutes ADHD? Does everyone have it, or is it an all-or-nothing condition? Expert John Mitchell explains that many people have some symptoms from time to time, but once a person is suffering from enough that it is affecting their ability to function, that is when a yes-or-no ADHD diagnosis is made.

At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up‑to‑date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical care or treatment.

How You Can Listen

You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EST on Saturday, August 29, 2026, through your computer or smart phone (wunc.org). Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the podcast later. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast provider, download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of the page, or listen to the stream on this post starting on August 31, 2026.

What We Get Wrong About ADHD

One of the most common misconceptions about ADHD is that it primarily affects little boys who can’t sit still. While hyperactivity can certainly make a parent or a teacher uncomfortable, the inattention aspect of ADHD could be more disabling in many instances. Moreover, girls too may suffer with ADHD. Though they are less likely to be hyperactive, they can often have difficulty focusing.

Another popular myth about ADHD is that it is a pediatric condition. People think kids grow out of it. What we are beginning to see with more research into ADHD is that some people learn effective coping skills they can use as adults. Nonetheless, many older people who were not recognized as having ADHD when they were children may discover that their impulsivity and lack of follow-through, accompanied by anxiety, depression or migraines perhaps, could be a manifestation of this disorder. Failing to recognize the suffering of neurodivergent adults is another thing we get wrong about ADHD.

How Do You Treat ADHD?

A third misunderstanding about ADHD is that prescribing a stimulant medication is the only treatment necessary. While drugs such as methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin) or mixed amphetamines (Adderall) can be really helpful, there is a saying in the ADHD community: the pills don’t teach skills. They do allow a person to focus well enough to learn some new skills they will need. Nonpharmacological approaches are important in conjunction with prescription medicine. However, adolescents with ADHD are much less likely to turn to drugs of abuse if they are taking properly prescribed stimulant medicines in the context of a thoughtful treatment plan.

What Is the Role of Emotional Regulation in ADHD?

Pediatric ADHD expert Paul Rosen describes another assumption that we can get wrong about ADHD. A child may appear to be doing fine, bringing home As, getting along well in school. But he describes “duck syndrome,” in which you see a duck gliding along the surface of the water. The motion looks effortless, but the duck is paddling like crazy. If it gets into an eddy or a current that’s too strong, it can’t keep up. These students are working much harder than is apparent and at some point, they encounter demands they can’t meet.

How will they respond to that frustration? Trouble with emotional regulation is not always part of the ADHD picture, but it isn’t unusual, either. Some kids with ADHD respond pretty much as other youngsters do, but some seem like a super bouncy ball. Their emotions go very high and very low quickly, but they bounce back quickly as well. Still other children may be more like volcanoes. When faced with frustration, they explode, and it may take them many hours to return to baseline.

Focusing on Warm and Fuzzies

Parents sometimes assume that impulsive or explosive behavior is willful, but that is another thing we often get wrong about ADHD. Most of the time, such behavior is emotional. The child wants to be a “good kid” but may not know how to deal with these extreme emotions. Dr. Rosen recommends unconditional positive attention. He suggests that when parents tuck their ADHD children into bed at night, they appreciate one thing the child has done that day and one aspect of the child, separate from the behavior, that is wonderful. This kind of affirmation can help a youngster keep striving for the skills they will need. (In fact, it sounds like a helpful idea for any parent and child, regardless of whether either of them has ADHD.)

This Week’s Guests

John T. Mitchell, PhD

Dr. John Mitchell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University. His research and clinical work are focused on ADHD across the lifespan. He has published peer-reviewed articles and chapters on longitudinal outcomes and the treatment of ADHD, as well as recently co-authoring Mindfulness for Adult ADHD: A Clinician’s Guide.

The People’s Pharmacy is reader supported. When you buy through links in this post, we may earn a small affiliate commission (at no cost to you).

Dr. Paul Rosen

Dr. Paul Rosen is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, affiliated with Norton Children’s Medical Group. He currently serves as the Director of the ADHD Evaluation Services in the Division of Behavioral and Mental Health with Norton Children’s Medical Group.

Listen to the Podcast

The podcast of this program will be available Monday, August 31, 2026, after broadcast on Aug. 29. In this week’s podcast, Dr. Mitchell explains why people without ADHD react so differently to stimulant medication. He also describes the multimodal treatment ADHD study for which he served as investigator. What kind of career counseling could help young people find a good fit with the way their brains work? We also discuss the benefits and the challenges of mindfulness as a complementary approach to ADHD treatment.  You can stream the show from this site and download the podcast for free.

Download the mp3, or listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Do you suffer with anxiety, depression, or another mental illness? Millions of people do. The usual treatment is a prescription medication. If that doesn’t work, the healthcare provider may offer a different one. Diet is certainly not the first topic on the provider’s mind. But what if, in addition to appropriate pharmacological treatment, you were able to nourish, protect and energize your brain with your diet? Our guest offers evidence that you can heal your mind with a ketogenic approach to eating.

We need to acknowledge that this approach is quite different from the plant-rich eating pattern advocated by last week’s guest, Dr. Will Bulsiewicz. Humans around the world have adopted a wide range of dietary regimens that support health. Listen to Dr. Georgia Ede explain why she thinks a paleo or ketogenic diet is helpful for bolstering brain health.

At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up to date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical care or treatment.

How You Can Listen

You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EST on Saturday, August 22, 2026, through your computer or smart phone (wunc.org). Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the podcast later. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast provider, download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of the page, or listen to the stream on this post starting on August 24, 2026.

Can You Heal Your Brain with Food?

We live in stressful times. More than 50 million Americans take prescription antidepressants, and millions more are on anti-anxiety medication. Unfortunately, while these drugs can be life savers, they don’t always work as well as we would like. In some cases, antidepressants are only about 10 percent more effective than a placebo.

Dr. Georgia Ede is a psychiatrist who began her investigation into how food affects mental health serendipitously. She was experimenting with her own diet to address some physical health issues. She used a food and symptom journal to discover the best dietary choices for her own health. To her surprise, the “upside-down” diet that helped her feel better physically also improved her sleep and her ability to focus. She started looking into evidence that a paleo or ketogenic diet could benefit people with mental health challenges.

What Is Metabolic Psychiatry?

There is evidence that people consuming unhealthy diets full of fast food or ultra-processed products are more susceptible to symptoms of anxiety (Nutrition Neuroscience, May 19, 2026). On the other hand, people participating in a supervised weight-loss program using either a low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet or a low-fat diet reported improvements in mood (Obesity, Jan. 2007). Those on the ketogenic (Atkins) diet reported less hunger and fewer unpleasant symptoms.

Researchers have also tested a ketogenic diet in people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (Psychiatry Research, May 2024).  These volunteers also had metabolic disorders, including obesity, which is often an unwanted effect of the ant-psychotic drugs they take to treat their condition. This four-month pilot study saw participants lose weight, reduce insulin resistance and lower their triglycerides. Even more impressive, they had a 32 percent reduction in the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. They also reported better sleep and improved life satisfaction.

You may find this recent article from National Geographic of interest: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/health/article/metabolic-psychiatry-keto-diet-brain-science. Unfortunately, it might be behind a paywall.

How Does Food Affect Our Brains?

Most of our body tissues are accustomed to getting energy from glucose, with the help of insulin. However, years of exposure to high levels of these compounds often makes the tissues less sensitive to the effects of insulin. The consequence is that the body–and therefore also the brain–is flooded with high levels of glucose. This exposure can result in the formation of advanced glycation end products in the brain, which can be harmful.

The brain evolved to use either glucose or a flexible mix of glucose and ketones. These are the result of burning fat rather than sugar. A paleo diet will naturally provide more ketones and less glucose. Dr. Ede and colleagues have found that a ketogenic diet can be very helpful even for people with relatively serious mental problems. In one study (which was not placebo-controlled), patients hospitalized with severe persistent mental illness were given a ketogenic diet. Most did well and had significant improvements in their depression and psychosis symptoms (Frontiers in Psychiatry, July 6, 2022).

Is Ketosis Dangerous?

Ketosis itself simply means that you are burning fat as fuel rather than sugar. This can be achieved by following a diet that is high in animal fat, with moderate amounts of animal protein and low amounts of carbohydrate derived from plant foods. Ketosis is not inherently dangerous. However, Dr. Ede urges anyone who wants to heal their brain with diet to ask a healthcare provider to monitor and supervise the process. Prescription drug doses may require adjustment, and people may need support as they adopt a paleo or ketogenic diet. That is why this is not a do-it-yourself approach.

Is Coconut Oil Helpful to Heal Your Brain?

Dr. Ede described the benefits of medium-chain fatty acids produced in digesting fat. You may recall a video from a few years back in which a doctor described helping her husband recover from Alzheimer disease, at least partially, by giving him coconut oil. Some researchers consider Alzheimer disease to be a form of diabetes because the AD brain does not metabolize sugar effectively. Dr. Ede suggested that the benefits may be real, but getting medium-chain fatty acids from the diet rather than be taking coconut oil might be preferable. After Dr. Ede told us about Fran, who overcame significant memory problems by changing to a ketogenic diet, we hope there will be trials on this.

Future Trials on Diet to Heal Your Brain

Dietary trials are notoriously difficult to conduct. People often don’t stick to the prescribed diet, and it can be difficult to find an appropriate placebo for comparison. Nonetheless, Dr. Ede is looking forward to results from a large trial of the keto diet for people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. This study is being conducted in Australia.

This Week’s Guest

Dr. Georgia Ede is a globally recognized expert in nutritional and metabolic psychiatry. Her 25+ years of clinical experience include 7 years at Harvard University, where she was the first psychiatrist to offer nutrition-based approaches to mental health conditions. Dr. Ede co-authored the first inpatient study of the ketogenic diet for serious mental illness, developed the first medically accredited course in ketogenic diets for mental health, and is a recipient of the Baszucki Metabolic Mind Award. Current research collaborations include pilot studies in pediatric bipolar disorder, adult ADHD, and PTSD. Her internationally bestselling book Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind: A Powerful Plan to Improve Mood, Overcome Anxiety, and Protect Memory for a Lifetime of Optimal Mental Health is being translated into 11 languages and is recommended by the New York Times Book Review.

The People’s Pharmacy is reader supported. When you buy through links in this post, we may earn a small affiliate commission (at no cost to you).

Dr. Georgia Ede, author of Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind

Listen to the Podcast

The podcast of this program will be available Monday, August 24, 2026, after broadcast on Aug. 22. In this week’s podcast, we’ll learn how vegetarians can follow a ketogenic diet. How does the evidence Dr. Ede has collected accord with the chemical imbalance theory of mental illness? We also discuss why the standard American diet is not good for mental wellbeing, and we find out what might be in Dr. Ede’s own shopping cart. You can stream the show from this site and download the podcast for free.

Download the mp3, or listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.