At Metabolic Mental Health Care, we specialize in helping people improve their mental well-being by healing the body first. Our approach is grounded in the science of metabolism—how food, movement, sleep, and lifestyle directly influence brain function.
We guide you in exploring metabolically supportive ways of eating—whether ketogenic, low-carb, Paleo, or carnivore—tailored to your unique needs. By restoring balance to blood sugar, reducing inflammation, and providing the brain with steady, efficient fuel, we help unlock greater clarity, energy, and emotional stability. With compassionate support and evidence-based strategies, our team empowers you to take control of your health so you can heal both body and mind.
About
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that often occur together and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. It is characterized by a combination of factors, including high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, excess body fat around the waist, abnormal cholesterol levels, and insulin resistance. This syndrome is commonly associated with sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy eating habits, and obesity. If left untreated, metabolic syndrome can lead to serious health complications.
Metabolically Healthy Diets
Metabolically healthy diets share a common foundation: reducing the burden of refined carbohydrates and processed foods so the body can return to its natural balance of fuel utilization.
The ketogenic diet does this most aggressively, lowering carbohydrates to the point where the body shifts into ketosis—burning fat and producing ketones, a cleaner, more efficient fuel for both brain and body. This state not only supports weight loss and insulin sensitivity but has also been linked to improved mental clarity and emotional stability.
The Paleo diet, while less restrictive, focuses on whole, unprocessed foods modeled after what our ancestors likely ate—meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. By eliminating grains, legumes, and dairy, it helps people naturally avoid many modern dietary pitfalls, and its flexibility often makes it easier to maintain long-term.
The Carnivore diet takes simplification a step further by emphasizing animal foods exclusively. While extreme at first glance, many people find it an effective elimination approach: by removing plant foods entirely, hidden triggers for inflammation, gut distress, or mood swings can be identified when reintroduced later.
Finally, low-carb diets serve as an accessible middle ground, lowering carbohydrate intake without necessarily entering ketosis, yet still stabilizing blood sugar, reducing cravings, and supporting metabolic health. Each of these approaches exists along a spectrum, and the right choice depends on individual biology, preferences, and goals. What unites them is a return to food patterns that align with our physiology—ways of eating that can heal the body and, in turn, heal the brain.
Improving Mental Health
For decades, mental health care has focused almost exclusively on medication and talk therapy. While these tools are valuable, they often overlook a powerful root cause: the way food and lifestyle shape brain chemistry. Every meal we eat influences blood sugar, insulin, inflammation, and the balance of neurotransmitters. Diets high in refined carbohydrates and processed foods drive metabolic dysfunction, which in turn fuels depression, anxiety, brain fog, and even dementia.
By contrast, metabolically supportive approaches—like low-carb, ketogenic, Paleo, or even carnivore diets—can stabilize energy supply to the brain, lower inflammation, and restore the body’s natural rhythms. These aren’t “quick fixes” but rather long-term foundations for healing. When we shift the body’s fuel from unstable sugar spikes to steady fats and ketones, the brain gets the stability it desperately needs to function at its best.
Equally important are lifestyle habits that complement nutrition. Regular movement, restorative sleep, stress management, time outdoors, and meaningful social connection all play critical roles in mental well-being. Each of these habits directly influences brain function—exercise enhances neuroplasticity, sleep resets mood chemistry, and social connection lowers stress hormones. Together with a metabolically healthy diet, these changes create a compounding effect: better energy, calmer mood, clearer thinking, and greater resilience to life’s challenges.
The science is now catching up to what many patients already experience—when we care for the body through food and lifestyle, the mind often begins to heal itself.
Programs
Psychiatric Care Program
This 12 week program is for those in need of mental health support from our psychiatrist Christin McIntyre M.D., Ph.D.
(Available in Florida, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.)
- Psychiatric Intake and Evaluation
- Three follow up visits with the psychiatrist
- Nutritional review and lifestyle interview with head health coach Jim McIntyre
- Followed by eleven twice weekly calls with Jim McIntyre
- Two complementary calls with a health coach if you are in need of support
- Daily review of diet and mood through journaling app
- Personalized approach to your diet to improve mental health
- Full laboratory blood test review and recommendations (Lab test not provided)
Metabolic Support Program
For those who have completed a Psychiatric or Metabolic Care Program listed above.
- One monthly session with a health coach
- Personalized approach to your diet to improve mental health
- Online food and mood tracking and journaling app
$100 per month or $1000 for a year
Anticipated additional costs
- Laboratory testing if indicated (such as a Basic Metabolic Panel)
- Glucose and ketone monitoring device
What to Expect
First, we will work together to examine not just your current diet, but also your relationship with food, your lifestyle and your habits. We will discuss options for your diet. Most clients start with the Paleo way of eating and reevaluate after several weeks. We will discuss supplements and other strategies that will help along the way.
We will review metabolic blood tests to provide valuable information and guide our treatment. These labs offer a snapshot of how your body is currently functioning—long before you may notice obvious symptoms. Markers such as fasting glucose, hemoglobin A1c, fasting insulin, triglycerides, Apo B, CMP, vitamin levels, and liver enzymes reveal whether your metabolism is running smoothly or struggling under the strain of processed foods, stress, or inactivity. Establishing this baseline allows you and your care team to track measurable improvements as you implement changes in nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management.
You will learn how to monitor your glucose and ketones (if doing a ketogenic diet), and to understand what those measurements mean for your health. Additionally, we will discuss other lifestyle changes, including exercise and sleep habits, that will help you reach your goals.
You will be provided with meal plans and recipes. You will relearn how to shop for groceries. Perhaps most importantly, you will have the support of a empathetic companion to help you along your journey. At MMHC, all of our coaches have been through Dr. Georgia Ede’s Ketogenic Diets for Mental Health Clinician Training Course and have gained this understanding. Along with numerous other certificates.
Benefits You Can Expect from a Healthy Metabolism
- Improved Blood Glucose and Insulin Sensitivity – More stable blood sugar, reduced risk of diabetes, fewer energy crashes.
- Weight Loss and Easier Weight Maintenance – Fat burning becomes more efficient, cravings decrease, and appetite stabilizes.
- Increased Energy and Endurance – More consistent fuel supply for both body and brain throughout the day.
- Better Mood and Mental Clarity – Reduced brain fog, improved focus, and relief from anxiety or depression symptoms.
- Improved Libido and Hormonal Balance – Support for reproductive and sex hormones, leading to stronger vitality.
- Improved Skin Health – Reduction in acne, rosacea, and premature aging driven by inflammation and insulin resistance.
- Improved Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Health – Lower risk of hypertension, heart disease, and stroke.
- Migraine Relief and Fewer Headaches – More stable brain energy supply reduces frequency and intensity.
- Better Sleep Quality – More restorative rest from stabilized hormones and reduced nighttime blood sugar swings.
- Reduced Inflammation and Joint Pain – Relief from arthritis and chronic pain as inflammatory drivers are lowered.
- Improved Gut Health – Calmer digestion, reduced bloating, and better absorption of nutrients.
- Enhanced Cognitive Function – Sharper memory, learning, and long-term protection against dementia.
- Greater Stress Resilience – Balanced cortisol levels make it easier to cope with daily challenges.
- Longevity and Healthy Aging – A metabolically flexible body resists disease and stays stronger longer.
Who We Are
Jim and Christin McIntyre are the founders of Metabolic Mental Health Care, an innovative practice dedicated to helping people heal through the intersection of medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle. Their shared mission is to provide compassionate, science-based care that honors both the biology and the humanity of every patient.
Jim McIntyre B.A. is a certified health and wellness coach with a focus in Ketogenic Therapies in Mental Health. Drawing on his early work with traumatic brain injuries and a background in coaching, teaching, and patient advocacy, he specializes in guiding people through practical lifestyle changes that support both physical and mental health. His work emphasizes real-world strategies — from meal planning and stress management to building sustainable habits — that empower individuals to take control of their well-being.
Christin J. McIntyre, M.D., Ph.D. is a psychiatrist with a dual background in medicine and pharmacology. With over 20 years of clinical experience treating patients across a wide spectrum of mental health conditions, she has seen firsthand both the strengths and the limits of conventional psychiatric care. Her research and practice now include the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry — integrating nutrition, lifestyle, and neuroscience to improve mental health outcomes. She has become passionate about helping patients reduce their reliance on medication wherever possible, encouraging them to discover how food, sleep, exercise, and faith practices can transform the brain.
Our Book
What Clients Are Saying
When I began working with Jim, I was experiencing very low energy and tiredness. In beginning to change my diet and talking through the factors in my life, Jim suspected that I might have low T. Indeed, my testosterone levels were very low and since receiving a supplement, I’ve been much less tired and have more energy. I’ve been struggling with tiredness for many years and Jim is the first professional to recognize that low T might be the problem. He was right. Jim is personable and has also encouraged me to explore the benefits of a Paleo diet. I feel healthier in general and have more energy. I’m very grateful.
I am facing many health challenges, both physically and mentally. I knew that in order to radically change my diet and lifestyle I would need help. I am so glad I found Dr. McIntyre and Jim McIntyre. Working in tandem, they are both kind, knowledgeable, and encouraging. Jim especially has helped me implement change through his patient and gentle approach of being direct but also realistic about expectations. It is obvious he really does care about me and my health which enables me to keep pushing forward. I can reach out to him with questions or when I’m struggling and he is there to help. I am hopeful of what my future brings. A life of good health and clarity are now attainable. With this team, I feel unstoppable.
Questions
How many carbs can I have per day?
This varies from person to person; for example, my wife can maintain ketosis eating up to 50 grams of carbohydrate per day, while I myself need to stay closer to 20. Depending on your current metabolic condition you are likely going to find that 20 grams of net carbohydrate per day will have you comfortably in ketosis.
Tapering Medication
As metabolism improves, many people discover that their brain begins to function with greater stability and resilience. For some, this may open the door to reducing their reliance on psychiatric medications. Under the thoughtful guidance of Dr. McIntyre, medication adjustments are never rushed or taken lightly; instead, they are approached with a careful taper, step by step, to ensure safety and well-being. A healthier metabolism—through improved blood sugar control, reduced inflammation, and more stable brain energy—can create the conditions where lower doses are not only possible but sustainable. While medication remains essential for many, optimizing metabolism often shifts the balance, allowing some individuals to use the minimum effective dose or, in select cases, taper down further. The goal is not to reject medication but to empower patients with more options, guided by careful medical oversight.
Is this way of eating expensive?
Not at all. Whether you choose ketogenic, Paleo, carnivore, or general low-carb, these approaches can be very budget-friendly. Buying in bulk, choosing affordable staples like ground beef, chicken thighs, eggs, and seasonal produce, and preparing meals at home all help cut costs. In fact, ultra-processed foods are often the real financial drain—flashy packaging and empty calories with long-term health costs. By eating whole, nutrient-dense foods, you not only spend less over time but also save on medical bills, medications, and lost productivity. Investing in your metabolism pays off—in better health, more energy, and an even healthier wallet.
Resources
Where can I learn more about metabolic benefits for mental health?
I strongly recommend visiting the YouTube website: Metabolic Mind - YouTube and their website: Metabolic Mind as well as their benefactors: Baszucki Group - Toward the Greater Good
Two of the trail blazing psychiatrists in the field are:
Both have recently published groundbreaking books on the role of metabolism in mental health.
Research — Metabolic Psychiatry