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Dr Deepa Mahananda graduated from Western Sydney University in 2012 and completed her junior medical officer training at Concord, Canterbury and Broken Hill hospitals. Her postgraduate qualifications include the Fellowship of the College of General Practitioners, Sexual Health & Family Planning Certificate and Diploma in Child Health (University of Sydney). She is passionate about teaching and is a Conjoint Lecturer with Western Sydney University.
Deepa currently works full time at Sydney Low Carb Specialists. She is passionate about using low carbohydrate nutrition for both optimal health and chronic disease management, especially in womens’ health and is leading an educational network for low carb practising GPs in Sydney. Dr. Mahananda is a Certified Ketogenic Nutrition Specialist, credentialed by the American Nutrition Association through its Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists.
generated summary
Australasian Metabolic Health Society
- AMHS was established in July 2023, has more than 200 members, and operates as an independent not-for-profit professional society across Australia, New Zealand, and the wider Australasian region.
- AMHS is led by a board chaired by Professor Karen Dwyer, with advisors James Muecke, Rod Taylor, Gary Fettke, and Peter Brukner, plus a geographically broad scientific committee of clinicians, researchers, and academics.
- The AMHS mission is to prevent and reverse disease by addressing root causes through the full spectrum of therapeutic carbohydrate reduction, alongside exercise, sleep, and emotional health.
- AMHS does not accept sponsorship from ultra-processed food, pharmaceutical, or supplement companies; independence is essential for evidence-based, non-industry-influenced education.
The education gap
- The core problem is a disconnect: low-carbohydrate and ketogenic therapies have a vast, established, high-quality evidence base, but translation into health-professional and university curricula is glacial.
- Misconceptions that carbohydrate reduction is too hard, unsafe, a fad, or unsuitable for older people contribute to fragmented care; some health professionals have even disowned patients for raising it.
- Conflicting advice from isolated multidisciplinary practitioners leaves patients caught in the middle and adds stress to their care.
RACGP CHECK
- A case-based RACGP CHECK publication, developed over almost a year by Dr Ronald Schweitzer, Dr Louise Phillips, and Dr Liz Fraser, places therapeutic carbohydrate reduction in its integrative-medicine category and includes it as a first-line therapeutic option. [1]
- The case centers on a patient with hyperinsulinemia, metabolic syndrome, fatty liver disease, and prior gestational diabetes; the unifying problem is carbohydrate intolerance, making carbohydrate reduction a crucial first-line option.
Education and advocacy
- Monthly private Grand Rounds create a safe space for experts to share cutting-edge research and practical education, clinicians to share case studies, and participants to engage in open Q&A and debate.
- Low Carb Foundations courses and a 10-module online course provide structured training, especially for dietitians, diabetes educators, nurses, and other health professionals.
- AMHS publicly challenged South Australia's LiveLighter "toxic fat" campaign because it used calorie-in/calorie-out and "eat less and exercise more" messaging; its overt focus on obesity was body-shaming and wrongly pointed to self-control rather than hormonal balance. [2][3]
- Persisting with 12-year-old nutrition advice while ignoring current science will not reduce chronic disease and risks making it worse. [3]
- AMHS is also working with medical schools and partner organizations on university curricula and fit-for-purpose dietary guidelines, while supporting a draft guidance statement coordinated by Dr Laureen Lawlor-Smith. [4]
- Diabetes Australia's article "What's better, butter or margarine?" prompted an AMHS open letter over saturated-fat portrayal, cardiovascular-risk links, nutrient density, and preference for ultra-processed foods over natural fat sources; the article was later amended. [5]
Member experiences
- Aman, a final-year medical student, joined after seeing a friend improve with ketogenic metabolic therapy and valued the combination of open-minded debate, scientific depth, and practical education.
- Counselor Vanessa Creedler used the Low Carb Foundations network in food-addiction work and found that collaboration with metabolically aligned practitioners transformed patient care.
- GP Dr Eugene Khoo has seen patients with type 2 diabetes come off medication and also credits low carb with changing his own health after being overweight, unwell, and following bad advice.
- Dietitian Cassidy Dotson moved from conventional guidelines and professional isolation into a collaborative network; her clients had better energy and reduced medication reliance.
- Health coach Carla Carter applied Dr Alex Petrushevski's Grand Rounds session on homocysteine to a carnivore client; testing found high homocysteine, followed by B vitamins and a food-based approach. [6]
- Clinical nurse consultant Philip L. has seen substantial improvements in wound, bowel, and bladder management among clients with neurological conditions, including people he had thought were untreatable.
- Organized collaboration across health professions can break down silos and create real change in communities.
References
- [05:17] Integrative medicine — :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
- [09:03] Hard-hitting ads launched to tackle a weighty issue — :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- [09:08] AMHS responds to South Australia's Live Lighter campaign — :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- [10:42] Cardiovascular disease and metabolic health — :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- [10:51] What's better, butter or margarine? — :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
- [14:17] Homocysteine and Methylation — :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}