Meet Your Mitochondria: Brain Metabolism Made Simple
A couple of months ago, I listened to a Huberman Lab interview with psychiatrist Dr. Chris Palmer that completely reframed how I think about mental health. The episode—Transform Your Mental Health With Diet & Lifestyle—centered on a bold premise:
Mental disorders are metabolic disorders of the brain, rooted in upstream stressors that derail mitochondrial energy production.
Conditions like depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism, and age-related neurodegeneration may all be linked to how well—or poorly—our brain cells produce energy.
Mitochondria 101: Your Cellular Batteries
Mitochondria are the “batteries” of our cells. They produce energy (ATP) through the electron transport chain, powered by inputs like food, oxygen, and micronutrients.
When those inputs are balanced, electrons flow smoothly and energy production is steady. But when:
Fuel is excessive (too much sugar, overeating, excess fats), nutrients are lacking, sleep is poor, or oxygen is impaired…things go awry. Free radicals spark, damaging mitochondria and reducing ATP output. Over time, your batteries dim.
A Simple Analogy: The Dimming Book Light
Every night I read with a rechargeable book light.
At full charge, the light is bright.
But as the battery runs down, even the highest setting looks dim.
That’s exactly what happens in our brains when mitochondria can’t produce enough ATP. We’re still functioning—but at a dimmed capacity. Many “mental health symptoms” may actually be signals of this cellular energy crisis.
Think of a poor night’s sleep: the next day your energy is low, your mood is off, and your thinking is fuzzy. Now imagine this happening week after week, month after month. That’s what chronically weakened mitochondria can feel like.
Move of the Week: Give Your Brain a Recharge
One simple way to support mitochondrial health?
Aim for at least a 12-hour overnight fast.
This pause from food allows your brain to activate autophagy—its built-in cleanup system that clears out metabolic debris.
Think of it as giving your cellular batteries a chance to recharge without interference.
Warmly,
Dr. Krista
Olive Says:
Humans obsess over charging their phones but don’t realize staying up until 2 AM on glowing rectangles while eating processed kibble tanks their own batteries.
I sleep 16 hours, eat the same three ingredients daily, and my brain works perfectly.
Coincidence? I think not. Now excuse me while I take a nap in the hat basket.