Evolutionary Psychiatry & Brain Health | Emily Deans, MD

In this episode, board-certified psychiatrist and "Evolutionary Psychiatry" creator Dr. Emily Deans joins the show to explore the profound connection between what we eat and how we think and feel. We discuss the limitations of a purely pharmaceutical approach to mental health and examine how an evolutionary framework—looking at the mismatch between our hunter-gatherer biology and our modern industrial environment—can offer a more complete picture of brain health. Dr. Deans breaks down the science behind the gut-brain axis, explaining how the microbiome, vagus nerve, and hormonal signals constantly communicate between our digestive system and our brain to influence mood and cognition. We also dive into the nuances of nutritional psychiatry, moving beyond "single nutrient" studies to look at whole-diet interventions like the modified Mediterranean diet. The conversation challenges common dietary dogmas, highlighting the critical role of brain-essential nutrients often missing from plant-exclusive diets—such as creatine, B12, and iron—and why red meat may actually support mental well-being despite its controversial reputation. From the dangers of "savory frosting" (ultra-processed foods) to the link between metabolic syndrome and depression, this episode offers practical, evidence-based insights for anyone looking to support their mental health through diet. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:05 Limitations of psychiatric medications 03:00 Evolutionary mismatch & modern life 05:51 Paleo diet vs. standard advice 08:11 How diet affects mood & cognition 12:21 The gut-brain axis: Vagus nerve & microbiome 15:54 Single nutrients vs. whole diets 18:24 The SMILES trial & Modified Mediterranean Diet 20:00 Diet and hippocampus size 22:39 Red meat and creatine 23:32 Nutrients in vegan vs. omnivore diets 25:09 Understanding inflammation 28:41 Ultra-processed foods ("Savory Frosting") 29:34 Metabolic syndrome & depression 32:34 Brain metabolism & mitochondria Dr. Emily Deans X: https://x.com/evolutionarypsy Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/emily-deans-md Private Practice: https://www.emilydeansmd.com Connect with Ty Website: https://www.tybeal.com X: https://www.x.com/TyBealPhD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tybeal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tybealphd