Q&A: Carnivore Protein Levels, Key Nutrients, and Keto After Menopause

Does perimenopause make ketosis harder? Can a carnivore diet provide too much protein? And which nutrient deficiencies matter most for mental health?

In this episode of Metabolic Mailbag, Dr. Bret Scher and psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede answer listener questions about ketogenic therapy, menopause, carnivore diets, protein intake, and nutrition for mental health.

They discuss how hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can affect insulin sensitivity and ketone levels, and why some women may need to adjust their carbohydrate intake, exercise, or other aspects of their routine to maintain the same metabolic response.

They also cover:

• Why perimenopause and menopause can make ketosis more difficult
• How changing estrogen levels may affect insulin resistance and mental health
• Histamine intolerance and gut changes during perimenopause
• Whether carnivore diets can become too high in protein
• How to think about protein intake when therapeutic ketosis is the goal
• Why adding fat may help adjust the protein-to-fat ratio on carnivore
• Common nutrient deficiencies that can affect mental health
• The roles of B12, choline, folate, iron, iodine, and omega-3 fatty acids
• Why correcting a deficiency does not always resolve psychiatric symptoms
• The difference between folic acid and methylfolate

Dr. Ede also shares why appetite and satiety can feel very different on a well-formulated ketogenic or carnivore diet, and why individual needs often change over time.

🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

#MetabolicMind #QuestionAndAnswer #KetogenicTherapy

Expert Featured:

Dr. Georgia Ede, MD- Author, Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiaedemd/
• https://x.com/GeorgiaEdeMD
• https://www.instagram.com/georgiaedemd/

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.