In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Laura Buchanan — a double board-certified physician in Family and Obesity Medicine, Certified Metabolic Health Practitioner, and founding board member of the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners.

Dr. Buchanan is at the forefront of a growing movement in medicine—one that prioritizes metabolic health, prevention, and lifestyle as the foundation for healing.

Through her telemedicine practice TOWARD Health, she’s helping patients reverse chronic disease, reduce food addiction symptoms, and rebuild a healthy relationship with food.

Her team’s recent 2025 study found that 61% of participants improved binge eating symptoms and 46% reduced food addiction symptoms—results that show how targeted nutrition, coaching, and real-time biofeedback can transform health from the inside out.

Here’s what we cover in the episode:

• How Dr. Buchanan’s frustration with traditional medical training led her to focus on metabolic and lifestyle medicine

• The 6 components of the TOWARD Health model—and why it’s changing how doctors treat food addiction and obesity

• Why traditional “eat less, move more” advice doesn’t work for most people

• The power of low-carb, whole-food nutrition in restoring metabolic balance and curbing cravings

• The role of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in understanding your body’s real-time response to food

• The difference between harm reduction vs. abstinence in food addiction recovery—and how to know which approach fits you best

• The emerging field of metabolic psychiatry, and how nutrition may soon become a key treatment for anxiety, depression, and binge eating

If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t “just stop eating” certain foods or why cravings return even after diets, this episode will help you understand the metabolic roots of food addiction—and show you a science-backed path to lasting recovery.

Disclaimer: The information on this channel is for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or therapy.

In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Laurent, LMHC—a licensed mental health counselor and leading voice in metabolic psychiatry—to explore how ketogenic therapy is helping people heal from mental illness, food addiction, and emotional dysregulation by addressing the brain’s underlying metabolic health.

Here’s what we cover in the episode:

• Nicole’s journey from traditional talk therapy, CBT, and EMDR, to becoming a pioneer in metabolic psychiatry

• How impaired glucose metabolism affects brain function, mood, and emotional regulation

• Why ketones can provide the brain with a cleaner, more stable energy source for healing

• The emerging science behind ketogenic therapy for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and binge eating disorder

• Why common fears around saturated fat and cholesterol are outdated and often harmful to recovery

• How ketogenic therapy can support long-term remission in mental health conditions once considered “treatment-resistant”

• The future of mental health care—and why nutrition and metabolism must become part of the conversation

Nicole blends deep clinical experience with cutting-edge neuroscience to reveal how nutrition can literally change the brain. This conversation is a must-watch for anyone curious about the connection between diet and mental health, or those searching for new hope beyond medication and symptom management.

00:00 – intro

01:22 – Nicole’s journey into metabolic psychiatry

01:59 – Transition from traditional therapy to brain-based nutritional approaches

03:05 – How impaired glucose metabolism affects brain function and mood

05:12 – Why psychiatric medications often worsen metabolic health

07:02 – The science of ketogenic therapy for depression, bipolar, and schizophrenia

09:26 – Why ketones offer the brain a cleaner, more stable energy source

11:41 – Case studies: when metabolic therapy leads to psychiatric remission

16:00 – Ketogenic metabolic therapies as transdiagnostic

18:12 – Ketogenic therapy for binge eating disorder and food addiction

21:36 – How diet can stabilize mood and emotional regulation

27:30 – Does Keto make eating issues worse?

29:54 – How clinicians can integrate metabolic psychiatry in practice

32:18 – The future of mental health: nutrition, metabolism

34:47 – Final insights and where to learn more about Nicole’s work

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Contact and learn more about Nicole: www.mentalhealthketo.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/nlaurent/

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Follow Beyond Binge Eating Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/BeyondBingeEating/ Website: https://www.BeyondBingeEating.com Newsletter: https://beyondbingeeating.com/Newsletter/

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Grab your FREE Eat-With-Awareness Bundle to slow down, stay present, and reclaim peace with food: https://beyondbingeeating.com/opt-in/

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Disclaimer: The information on this channel is for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or therapy. The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Kristina Dobyns or Beyond Binge Eating.

Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder, yet it’s often misunderstood. It’s not just about eating large amounts of food—it can also be about the loss of control, secrecy, and emotional aftermath that come with it.

In today’s video, I’ll walk you through 5 signs of BED so you can better understand whether what you’re going through fits the pattern—and what steps you might consider next.

What You’ll Learn in This Video:

• The difference between overeating and binge eating disorder

• Why eating when not hungry can be driven by emotions, not physical need

• How urgency and speed around food can be a red flag

• Why secrecy and eating alone often point to shame, not just habit

• The emotional aftermath of binges—guilt, distress, and hopelessness—and how this fuels the cycle

If you’ve ever felt trapped in a cycle of eating, regret, and shame, this video is for you. The good news is that binge eating disorder is treatable—and recovery is possible.

Please like, subscribe, and share this video with anyone who might benefit from it. Also, don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter for more insights and support on your recovery journey!

0:00 – Intro

0:47 – Sign #1

1:21 – Sign #2

1:48 – Sign #3

2:13 – Sign #4

2:41 – Sign #5

3:13 – The Good news

3:27 – Watch next: “Why binge when not hungry?”

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Follow Beyond Binge Eating

Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/BeyondBingeEating/

Website: https://www.BeyondBingeEating.com

Newsletter: https://beyondbingeeating.com/Newsletter/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grab your FREE Eat-With-Awareness Bundle to slow down, stay present, and reclaim peace with food: https://beyondbingeeating.com/opt-in/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer: The information on this channel is for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or therapy. The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Kristina Dobyns or Beyond Binge Eating.