Book Review: Brain Energy

Brain Energy: A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health--and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More by Christopher M. Palmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book proposes that mental disorders are metabolic disorders of the brain and that successful treatments likely work by affecting metabolism.

The book has three parts: Part I: Connecting the Dots, Part II: Brain Energy, and Part III: Causes and Solutions. I recommend this book to someone eager to dive deep into understanding mental health treatments and how this theory of brain energy may be the key.

In chapter 15, Contributing Cause: Food, Fasting, and Your Gut, the author states that diet plays a significant role in metabolism and mitochondrial health. It is important to assess nutritional status, address deficiencies, remove allergens, avoid trans fatty acids, remove junk food, and fix insulin resistance. “There is also evidence that fasting, intermittent fasting, and fasting-mimicking diets [ketogenic] may play a role in treating mental disorders” (p. 248).

Brain Energy Theory: “Mental disorders are metabolic disorders of the brain. Although most people think of metabolism as burning calories, it’s much more than that. Metabolism affects the structure and function of all cells in the human body. Regulators of metabolism include many things, such as epigenetics, hormones, neurotransmitters, and inflammation. Mitochondria are the master regulators of metabolism, and they play a role in controlling the factors just listed. When mitochondria aren’t working properly, at least some of the cells in your body or brain won’t function properly” (pp. 162-163).

Although this proposed metabolism theory and its impact on mental health are complex, the author incorporates analogies, chapter summaries, and case studies to illustrate the concepts. If you are not well-versed in the field of mental health, you will learn a lot. The author’s tone and passion offer hope to those who have a mental illness.

The book is technical; the dense information may be too much for the average person. Some may expect more detailed recommendations and how-to steps.

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