How Regular Marijuana Use, Ultra-Processed Food, and Lack of Sleep Are Poisoning Our Mitochondria and What We Can Do To Reclaim Our Energy and Brain Health With Dr. Chris Palmer

This episode is brought to you by Maui Nui, BON CHARGE, and Aqua Tru. 

Mental health disorders are on the rise at alarming rates. Although access to therapy and medications has increased, the rates continue to grow, leaving millions to suffer. There has to be another approach to treatment, and today’s guest is here to show us what traditional medicine often misses.

Today on The Dhru Purohit Show, Dhru sits down with Dr. Chris Palmer to discuss the rise in mental health disorders and how we need to change our approach to treatment. Dr. Palmer dives into the science behind his Brain Energy theory and shares the research surrounding mitochondrial and mental health. He also sounds the alarm about how alcohol and marijuana use can increase the risk of severe mental health disorders in vulnerable individuals. Dr. Palmer shares inspiring stories of his patients who have overcome mental illness and regained their independence by addressing functional imbalances at their roots.

Dr. Chris Palmer is a psychiatrist and researcher at the metabolism and mental health interface. He is the Director of the Department of Postgraduate and Continuing Education at McLean Hospital and an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. For over 25 years, Dr. Palmer has held leadership roles in psychiatric education, conducted research, and worked with people who have treatment-resistant mental illnesses. He has pioneered the use of the medical ketogenic diet in the treatment of psychiatric disorders through research, patient treatment, writing, and speaking around the world on this topic. More broadly, he is interested in the roles of metabolism and metabolic interventions on brain health.

In this episode, Dhru and Dr. Palmer dive into (audio version / Apple Subscriber version):

What's at stake if we don't rethink our approach to mental health? (00:00:51 / 00:00:51)

The impact of alcohol and marijuana on mental health (9:40 / 5:20)

How marijuana impacts brain and mitochondrial function (12:40 / 8:20) 

Using the Brain Energy theory to help individuals who are vulnerable to the effects of marijuana (22:00 / 17:30)

Lifestyle treatment options and the ketogenic diet (27:40 / 23:10)

Optimal exercise and how to start implementing it in your life (39:20 / 34:00)

Ozempic: the impact on mental health and studies on other addictions (48:00 / 42:50)

Ultra-processed foods and the impact on hormones and appetite signals (1:01:00 / 56:20)

The common sense truth behind what we eat affects the brain (1:11:20 / 1:06:10)

Euthanasia in Europe for younger individuals suffering from mental illness (1:21:40 / 1:15:10)

Hope in Dr. Palmer’s work, Brain Energy theory, and final thoughts (1:37:30 / 1:32:00)


Also mentioned in this episode:


Dr. Palmer’s Twitter

Jackson Fyfe, PhD X/Twitter post about weight training reducing all-cause mortality

Study on weight training reducing all-cause mortality


Magic Pill by Johann Hari 


Brain Energy 


For more on Dr. Palmer, follow him on Instagram and Twitter or via his websites, chrispalmermd.com and brainenergy.com. 

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