Episode #218 - Jan Ellison Baszucki

We spend a lot of time exploring the connection between nourishing foods and physical health, and in this episode, we are taking a look at the impact food has on mental health.

Jan Ellison Baszucki is a former Silicon Valley fintech marketing executive, writer, parent, and mental health advocate. When her son, Matt, was diagnosed at age 19 with bipolar disorder, Jan and her family tried every therapy and treatment available with little success. 

Through Jan’s tireless research, she came across anecdotal evidence of someone with bipolar using a ketogenic diet to manage his condition. So after finding more scientific results and with the support of a practitioner, Jan’s son started following the diet. The results were life-changing.

During this episode, Jan opens up about what it’s like to live with someone with a mental illness and what it’s taken to get her son on a path to health. Listen in to this very personal story as Jan, and I discuss:

• How mental illness affects the whole family

• What it took for Jan’s son to realize he was ill

• Discovering the keto diet and how they put it into practice

• How Matt is doing today

Throughout this entire journey, Jan has acknowledged the privileged position her family is in that allowed Matt to recover from his mental health. This is why Jan founded Baszucki Group, a nonprofit devoted to transforming mental health outcomes. Their newest initiative, Metabolic Mind, focuses on providing resources and building community in metabolic psychiatry.