Episode 289: Mitochondrial Function in Mental Health and the Future of Psychiatry with Dr. Chris Winfrey

Dr. Eric Weiss is a leader in advanced regenerative medicine and the co-author of Educating Marston. Founder of the North Florida Stem Cells Clinic, Dr. Weiss provides stem cell replacement therapy to treat various conditions such as Osteoarthritis (OA), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), with a special focus on the treatment of Autism. In this episode, Dr. Eric Weiss, a plastic surgeon and stem cell therapy expert, discussed his journey into stem cell research after his son was diagnosed with autism, explaining the connection between brain inflammation and autism, and the potential of stem cell therapy in treating various conditions. Key Topics: - The connection between inflammation and autism - The success of stem cell therapy for autism - Other benefits of stem cell treatment - The gut-brain connection and its role in inflammatory disorders - Umbilical cord stem cell uses - Behavioral changes in kids with stem cell treatments - Why stem cell research has been controversial and why it shouldn’t be Learn more about Dr. Weiss’ work at ericweissmd.com. Grab his book at educatingmarston.com Join Erin’s monthly mailing list to get health tips and fresh meal plans and recipes every month: https://mailchi.mp/adde1b3a4af3/monthlysparksignup Preorder Erin’s new book, Live Beyond Your Label, at erinbkerry.com/upcomingbook/

Meg Gaic is a Holistic Nutritionist and Acne Expert who suffered from over a decade long journey with hormonal acne. After trying everything under the sun and spending thousands on things that didn't work, she took control of her own health, went to nutrition school and healed herself. The Get Glow Method was born out of what she so desperately needed when she was going through it and takes every aspect of acne healing into account: internal (root cause), external (skincare) and mindset. She now has helped over 2,500 clients worldwide get clear, balanced and have acne freedom both physically and mentally. Key Topics: - Meg’s journey with hormonal acne and hormonal birth control - Getting to the root of the internal causes of acne - The importance of subconscious reprogramming of negative mindsets - How food and nutrition play a role in acne - The dangers of Accutane and why it doesn’t address the root cause - Foundations to support acne healing - Myths of skincare, supplements, and popular treatment - Meg’s Get Glow approach Follow Meg on Instagram at @getglowmethod Head to getglowmethod.com to work with Meg. Join Erin’s monthly mailing list to get health tips and fresh meal plans and recipes every month: https://mailchi.mp/adde1b3a4af3/monthlysparksignup Preorder Erin’s new book, Live Beyond Your Label, at erinbkerry.com/upcomingbook/

Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor and the bestselling author of Period Repair Manual, Hormone Repair Manual, and Metabolism Repair for Women. She currently has consulting rooms in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she treats women with PCOS, PMS, endometriosis, perimenopause, and many other hormone- and period-related health problems.  Key Topics: - Misconceptions about women’s metabolic health - The connection between metabolism and female reproductive hormones - How our relationships impact metabolic health - How the birth control pill negatively impacts overall health and suppresses hormone function - The PCOS epidemic and the connection to insulin resistance Head to larabriden.com for more. Join Erin’s monthly mailing list to get health tips and fresh meal plans and recipes every month: https://mailchi.mp/adde1b3a4af3/monthlysparksignup Preorder Erin’s new book, Live Beyond Your Label, at erinbkerry.com/upcomingbook/

Dr. Uma Naidoo founded and directs the first hospital-based Nutritional Psychiatry Service in the United States. She is the Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) & Director of Nutritional Psychiatry at MGH Academy while serving on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. She was considered Harvard’s Mood Food Expert and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal. Dr. Naidoo is also the national bestselling author of This Is Your Brain on Food and her newest book, Calm Your Mind with Food is available now.  In this fascinating rerun episode (first aired in 2020), Erin and Dr. Naidoo discuss her 2020 book, This Is Your Brain On Food. Key Topics: * Dr. Naidoo’s journey as a psychiatrist and professional chef * How what we eat affects our brain * The origin of the gut/brain connection * The rise of mental health concerns * Food to avoid for mental well-being * Inflammatory foods * Orthorexia and food obsession * How to add more diversity in your diet * The impact of caffeine and alcohol on mental health Join Erin’s monthly mailing list to get health tips and fresh meal plans and recipes every month: https://mailchi.mp/adde1b3a4af3/monthlysparksignup Preorder Erin’s new book, Live Beyond Your Label, at erinbkerry.com/upcomingbook/

Dr. Alejandro Junger is a renowned cardiologist, functional medicine doctor, and the founder of the Clean Program, as well as a New York Times best-selling author. With decades of experience in medicine, Dr. Junger has dedicated his career to uncovering the root causes of complex health issues that often seem unrelated. His journey began with a profound intuition that a deeper understanding was needed, leading him to explore the intricate connections between Eastern and Western medicine, as well as ancient wisdom and modern science. Key Topics: - Dr. Junger’s personal story of struggling with depression and how he found functional medicine - The heart-gut connection you should learn about - The interconnections of neurons in the gut, heart, and brain - Cholesterol myth busting: what we really should look for - The stress-gut connection - How trauma plays a role in gut health - Dr. Junger’s clean program and the purpose behind it Learn more about Dr. Junger and purchase his clean program at cleanprogram.com. Join Erin’s monthly mailing list to get health tips and fresh meal plans and recipes every month: https://mailchi.mp/adde1b3a4af3/monthlysparksignup Preorder Erin’s new book, Live Beyond Your Label, at erinbkerry.com/upcomingbook/

Dr. Michelle Jorgensen is an author, speaker, teacher, biologic/holistic dentist, and health and wellness provider. After practicing traditional dentistry for 10 years, Michelle became very sick. Through her own path to return to health, she discovered she had mercury poisoning from drilling out mercury fillings for her patients. This path led her to discover ways to improve her family’s and her own health in all facets of life. She found answers in the kitchen, in the garden, and at home. She has found what it takes to live well in today’s world, and now with her book, Living Well with Dr. Michelle, she wants to share those ways to Live Well with you. Key Topics: - Dr. Michelle’s journey with mercury toxicity and removal - How mercury toxicity impacts people] - How to find an optimal detoxification protocol - Dr. Michelle’s cell well model for helping the body heal - The four things every cell needs for health - Remineralization and why mineral loss from purified water is a problem - Choosing the right mouthwash - Airway issues and sleep apnea - How to know where to start with your health Work with Dr. Michelle at totalcaredental.com Grab her book at livingwellbook.com Learn more about her at livingwellwithdrmichelle.com Join Erin’s monthly mailing list to get health tips and fresh meal plans and recipes every month: https://mailchi.mp/adde1b3a4af3/monthlysparksignup Preorder Erin’s new book, Live Beyond Your Label, at erinbkerry.com/upcomingbook/

Brad Kearns is Mark Sisson’s longtime writing partner, including their New York Times bestseller The Keto Reset Diet. A former U.S. national champion and #3 world-ranked professional triathlete, Brad also holds a Guinness World Record in professional Speedgolf. Today, he continues to compete as an elite masters athlete in sprinting and high jumping, currently ranked #1 in the USA for his age group. He hosts the top-10 Apple podcast The B.rad Podcast, where he shares performance, health, and lifestyle strategies for living a long, strong, and happy life. Key Topics: - How fitness culture has created confusion for people - Why running may not lead to weight loss - Why chronic cardio creates chronic carb consumption - How to integrate proper training - Brad’s journey of being an elite athlete to a wellness rebel - What humans are missing in modern life - What we can learn from kindergarten-aged children - How to flexibly adapt to gradual movement throughout the day. Listen to Brad’s podcast, The B.rad Podcast, wherever you find podcasts. Grab the book at borntowalkbook.com For barefoot shoes to correct your posture and gait patterns, head to peluva. Join Erin’s monthly mailing list to get health tips and fresh meal plans and recipes every month: https://mailchi.mp/adde1b3a4af3/monthlysparksignup Preorder Erin’s new book, Live Beyond Your Label, at erinbkerry.com/upcomingbook/

By popular demand and in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode replay features host Erin Kerry sharing her mental health journey. It will inspire listeners to become their own mental health advocates and continue digging for root cause solutions. While she was diagnosed with three different mental health conditions by the age of 18, she now lives symptom-free. *The original episode aired in spring of 2022, so some date ranges may not be completely accurate. Key Topics: - The root causes to Erin's mental health issues and how she struggled to find treatment that supported her mental well-being - The medication weaning process and how she was able to get off medication she had been on for 18 years - The tools she used to support healing and how she prioritizes her mental health to prevent recurring issues Preorder Erin's new book, Live Beyond Your Label, available on 9/16/25, wherever you buy books. erinbkerry.com/upcomingbook/ Take the Mood Reset Assessment and learn what is draining your mood here: https://mailchi.mp/7ac6734f5a33/whats-draining-your-mood

Dr. Chris Winfrey practices neuropsychiatry in private practice at New Image Wellness, in Marlton, NJ. His practice is a blend of orthomolecular psychiatry, functional medicine, and psychoanalytic therapy. He uses this combination of medicine towards conditions such as Traumatic Brain Injuries, Cognitive Impairment, PANDAS, Mold Toxicity induced Encephalitis, refractory depression, complex PTSD and other conditions to rehabilitate the brain and restore mental functioning. Key Topics: - What conventional psychiatry is missing right now - How thyroid plays a role in energy and why simply taking your temp daily could make a difference - The connection between mitochondrial function and brain health - How your overall toxic load is hindering your mental wellness - PH balance: the nutrition puzzle piece we often miss - Mold toxicity and its impact on mental health - ADHD is more than just a dopamine issue - Lyme disease and the psychological impact of vector-borne disease Learn more about Dr. Winfrey at https://drchriswinfrey.com/ and newimagewellness.net Join Erin’s monthly mailing list to get health tips and fresh meal plans and recipes every month: https://mailchi.mp/adde1b3a4af3/monthlysparksignup Preorder Erin’s new book, Live Beyond Your Label, at erinbkerry.com/upcomingbook/

Chris Legg, LPC, married since 1993, is the owner and lead therapist for Alethia Family Counseling, a twenty-five-year marriage and family counselor, frequent speaker, and lead pastor at South Spring Baptist Church. He is passionate about teaching people the truth, how to live in freedom, and building identity in Christ. This episode covers his book Sex and Marriage: Unlocking and Restoring the Power of Sex Through Biblical and Psychological Insight, which he co-wrote with his son Mark. Key Topics: - Why Chris decided to write a marriage book with his son - Reasons a healthy marriage can improve mental health - What men really want from their wives—and it may not be what you’re told - What to do about mismatched sexual desire in a marriage - How to avoid getting your marriage identity wrapped up in your sexuality - How Christian culture created suspicion between men and women over their views of sex - Understanding your partner’s point of view and their sexual desire - The danger of transactional sexual relationships You can grab Chris’ book on Amazon, at this link here: https://a.co/d/3vooxGl Learn more about Chris or work with his team of therapists at https://www.alethiacounseling.com/ Join Erin’s monthly mailing list to get health tips and fresh meal plans and recipes every month: https://mailchi.mp/adde1b3a4af3/monthlysparksignup Preorder Erin’s new book, Live Beyond Your Label, at erinbkerry.com/upcomingbook/