Instructor: Mariela Podolski, MD
We know sugar affects the body—but what is it doing to the brain? As rates of anxiety, depression, ADHD, cognitive challenges, and mood instability continue to rise, emerging research is shedding new light on the powerful connection between blood sugar, inflammation, metabolism, and mental health.
In this webinar, Dr. Mariela Podolski will explore the growing evidence behind sugar’s impact on brain function, mood regulation, focus, energy, and emotional resilience. Drawing from both research and clinical experience, she will examine how excessive sugar consumption and blood sugar dysregulation may contribute to symptoms commonly seen in psychiatric and primary care settings—including anxiety, depression, irritability, fatigue, brain fog, sleep disruption, and attention difficulties.
Designed for clinicians seeking practical, evidence-informed strategies, this webinar will help participants better understand the biological mechanisms linking nutrition and mental health, including inflammation, insulin resistance, neurotransmitter balance, the gut-brain connection, and metabolic health.
Participants will learn:
- How sugar and blood sugar instability can influence mood, cognition, anxiety, and behavior
- The relationship between inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and psychiatric symptoms
- Why some patients may be especially vulnerable to the mental health effects of sugar
- How to identify patterns of blood sugar dysregulation in clinical practice
- Practical nutrition and lifestyle strategies clinicians can incorporate into patient care
- Ways to discuss dietary change with patients without shame, restriction, or oversimplification
This webinar offers a practical and compassionate look at how nutrition—and specifically sugar consumption—may be affecting the very symptoms clinicians are trying to treat. Attendees will leave with actionable insights they can immediately apply to support more personalized, whole-person mental healthcare
All registrants will receive a link to watch the webinar recording post-event. Please note: Email reminders and replays are undeliverable to general emails (such as support@, info@ or admin@). This webinar recording will be available free for live attendees; attendees will be sent the recording link post-event. This webinar will remain free for the general public for two weeks post-webinar.
Mariela Podolski, MD
Mariela Podolski is a psychiatrist with board certifications from ABPN in both Adult Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She is originally from Costa Rica, where she completed medical school at the Universidad de Costa Rica. She completed her residency training at the Institute of Living in Hartford, CT, and a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Milwaukee, WI. Dr. Podolski has dedicated most of her career to working with eating disorder individuals. She currently works in private practice and provides consulting services to Walden Behavioral Care.
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