Maurice Benard Says Diet Will Not Replace His Lithium

General Hospital (GH) star Maurice Benard had an extremely interesting episode of State of Mind on Sunday when guest Ben Greenfield discussed anxiety, biohacking, and the boundaries of human optimization.

A Long Conversation

Their chat on YouTube covered topics like longevity, vagus-nerve tools, creatine, AI, fatherhood, and faith.

However, one interesting segment covered the relationship between bipolar disorder and nutrition, along with why Maurice won’t drop his lithium prescription for a diet change.

The Sonny Corinthos actor told Ben, “I’m bipolar. What is your feeling on mental illness and bipolar?”

Ben Can’t Speak As A Doctor

Ben admitted that he isn’t a “psychiatrist” or a medical “doctor.” He explained that his background is in biology, biochemistry, and microbiology.

When he looks at neurological health, he looks for underlying nutrient deficits or biochemical imbalances in the body.

Ben explained how the nervous system relies on nutrients to function properly. And he also explained how “neurons use myelin sheaths” to propagate electrical signals. These sheaths consist of two specific types of fat.

Explaining Fats And Health

The first fat is “docosahexaenoic acid,” commonly called DHA. Ben noted that “that’s what you find in fatty fish and fish oil.” He added that this might explain why a proper Mediterranean diet links to “better mental performance or staving off dementia.”

The second fat is oleic acid, which comes primarily from extra virgin olive oil. Ben asked, “are you eating enough essential fatty acids from omega-3 fatty acids like fish and fish oil that allow you to line those sheaths properly?”

Metabolic Psychiatry

He also talked about an emerging field known as “metabolic psychiatry.” Ben mentioned that “a diet that’s slightly richer in fats and lower in sugar and starches seems to allow for better mental stability based on the metabolic impact that that has.”

Beyond fats, Ben brought up neurotransmitters. These chemical messengers rely heavily on B vitamins and amino acids from protein.

So, he cautioned that plant-based or vegan diets can put someone “at risk of a low enough protein intake and low enough vitamin B intake to where it can contribute to neurotransmitter deficits.”

He said people who do not get enough B vitamins or amino acids through food could address possible deficiencies with supplements.

The Mediterranean Diet

Maurice agreed that the Mediterranean diet could be helpful. Ben said there is more to the Mediterranean diet than the food itself.

He linked it to Christian Orthodox traditions and he also mentioned regular fish, extra virgin olive oil, and “polyphenol-rich products such as wine.”

Maurice Will Stay On Lithium

Maurice was not about to exchange his medication for a diet.

“There’s no way. My wife would kill me if I went off lithium and just ate a Mediterranean diet,” he joked.

But he was willing to try both.

“I can stay on lithium and eat the diet because I think it would be good for me,” Maurice said. 

Diagnosed At 22

Maurice was 22 and in a psychiatric hospital when a doctor finally explained what was happening to him.

For two months, Maurice said, nobody had told him what was wrong. Then the psychiatrist called him into his office and said, “You’re manic depressive, and I’m going to put you on lithium.”

Maurice did not know what lithium was. The doctor told him not to worry and said he would be fine.

Thirty years later, the two met again when the psychiatrist surprised Maurice during a meet-and-greet for State of Mind. Their emotional reunion brought the conversation back to lithium and why the inexpensive drug is still used.

Maurice recalled, “And he said, ‘You know, big pharma doesn’t like lithium.’ Because it’s cheap and it works.”

Ben responded that lithium is “Much safer than, for example, an SSRI.”

A Healthy Diet Alongside Medication

Ben believes dietary changes and other biological approaches can support brain health. Maurice was equally clear that he would not stop taking lithium. For him, a healthier diet would complement his prescribed treatment, not replace it.

Your thoughts? Join the discussion and then come back for more General Hospital cast news and updates.