This short Heroic Plus One podcast (Brian Johnson) explains metabolism via a one-sentence definition quoted from Dr. Chris Palmer: "the process of turning food into energy or building blocks for growing and maintaining cells, as well as the appropriate and efficient management of waste products." Johnson frames Palmer's central claim that mental disorders are metabolic (brain energy) disorders tied to mitochondrial function. He summarizes Palmer's book structure: Part 1 critiques current mental-health approaches and searches for a common pathway; Part 2 presents the brain energy theory and mitochondria as drivers of metabolism and mental disorders; Part 3 lists nine contributing causes (genetics/epigenetics; neurotransmitters/medications; hormones/metabolic regulators; inflammation; sleep/light/circadian rhythms; food/fasting/gut; drugs/alcohol; physical activity/love; adversity/purpose) and proposes corresponding solutions. The episode ends with an action prompt: one thing the listener could do today to optimize metabolism and a share link to the notes/interview.
Hey hero, if you're enjoying these daily plus ones, make sure you head to heroic us to check out all of the other goodness we have to help you activate your best every day. And now, today's Plus One.
Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another Heroic Plus One. In our last few Plus Ones we've been talking about my all time number one recommended book and the most important interview I've ever done. All caps. If you missed those memos, check out our notes on brain energy and the interview I did with Harvard psychiatrist Chris Palmer. If you or a loved one has ever struggled with psychological issues, in my opinion, those notes in that book is what you want to read. Dr. Palmer's central thesis is simple mental disorders. All of them are metabolic disorders of the brain. Now, assuming that's true, and he makes a very compelling case for it in the book, that begs a couple of questions. First, what's metabolism? And second, how do we optimize it? We'll hit the metabolism question today and the how we optimize it question tomorrow. Dr. Palmer tells us, and I quote a one sentence definition of metabolism might be the metabolism is the process of turning food into energy or building blocks for growing and maintaining cells, as well as the appropriate and efficient management of waste products. Metabolism is how our cells work. Many biological authorities would say that metabolism defines life itself. Now, in part one of his book, Dr. Palmer focuses on connecting the dots as he establishes the fact that what we're doing isn't working in the mental health care field. And he looks at the causes of mental illnesses, searches for a common pathway and asks the question, could it all be related? In part two, he answers that question with a definitive yes as he lays out his brain energy theory, establishing the idea that again, mental disorders are metabolic disorders, while introducing us to how our metabolism works and the little organelles known as mitochondria that are the engines of our metabolism. Know this. I quote him again. The drivers of human cells and human metabolism are called mitochondria and they are the common pathway to mental and metabolic disorders. Now, with the theoretical framework established, Palmer moves on Part 3 on Causes and Solutions, in which he identifies nine contributing causes and their solutions, including genetics and epigenetics and chemical imbalances, neurotransmitters and medications, hormones and metabolic regulators, inflammation, sleep, light and circadian rhythms, food fasting in your gut, drugs and alcohol, physical activity and love, adversity and purpose in life. We'll explore three powerful ways to optimize our metabolism in the next few plus ones. For now, know this quoting Dr. Palmer again. As we embrace the idea that mental disorders are no longer syndromes but metabolic disorders of the brain, new solutions become obvious. We need to restore brain energy by normalizing metabolism and the function of mitochondria. Once we do this, the symptoms of mental illness will begin to resolve. Today's +1 what's one thing you know you could be doing to optimize your metabolism? Is today a good day to get on that day? One all in. Let's go. P.S. one more time. Who's one person you know could benefit from learning more about this wisdom? Here's the link to the PDF of the note again and the interview if you want to share it.
We hope you enjoyed today's heroic one. For more ancient wisdom, modern science and practical tools to help you flourish in energy, work and love, head to Heroic Us where you can get started on your heroic journey for free.
