waking the bear

Thank you for visiting my website. It is based around the works of Professor Richard Johnson and the proposal of a ‘metabolic switch’ as a potential cause of Western metabolic diseases and why looking after our gut microbiome appears to be so important. The purpose of this website is to provide valuable information and support for anyone who is interested in making dietary changes for the betterment of their health. As you explore the site, I encourage you to take a moment to read the ‘About’ section. It details my professional qualifications, personal motivations and experiences that led me to create this website, giving you insight into my journey and the passion behind my dedication to helping others achieve good health. By sharing my knowledge and experience, I hope to inspire and empower individuals on their own path towards better health and wellbeing.

What is metabolism?

Firstly, it may be helpful to explain the terms metabolic and metabolic disease. The term metabolic refers to chemical reactions which take place in living cells. A metabolic disorder or disease can occur when there is a disruption of normal metabolism, the process of converting food to energy on a cellular level. Many of the diseases we see today are considered metabolic diseases, for example, diabetes, obesity, cancer, auto-immune conditions, inflammatory disorders and Alzheimers. They are also referred to as ‘Western diseases’, as they are associated with countries who adopt a ‘Western’ diet.

What is the metabolic switch?

The metabolic switch is a survival mechanism in nature which allows animals to turn on and off their fat storage. This switch enables animals to prepare for hibernation, food and water shortage, low oxygen, migration and respond to stress. It is believed all animals have this switch but some do not need it or use it. Fructose, a unique nutrient, is believed to trigger the metabolic syndrome switch in animals, additionally animals can make fructose too. Activation of this switch leads to a cascade of events which cause a lowering of energy in the cells of the animal and a conversion of energy to fat storage. It also has a significant effect on the brain of the animal, which triggers a foraging effect. You can read more about this in the metabolic switch in the animal section. There is an abundance of evidence in animals and humans which points towards this mechanism and it could explain the proliferation of ill health and new emerging diseases in developed countries, including diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s. The concept of humans having a metabolic switch, like animals, is proposed by Richard Johnson, MD, an incredibly knowledgable and experienced physician, researcher and author. He has been a professor of medicine for 40 years in the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, Colorado University, Utah, USA. He has written over 800+ peer reviewed medical papers and he authored a book about this recently “Nature Wants Us to Be Fat.” which explains the theory (although he forgot to mention the minimally processed whole grains and pulses which we used to eat).

The Metabolic Switch in Animals

Learn how animals in the wild use the metabolic switch to aid survival and how research in animals suggests ‘Western diets’ high in sugar, refined carbohydrates and ultra processed foods are a major trigger for metabolic syndrome in animals.

The Gut Microbiome

Learn more about the gut microbiome. How it appears to be linked to more than 90% of metabolic diseases and why looking after your gut microbiome appears to be so important.

Nutrition & Metabolic Disease in Humans

Read about the nutrition and the history of ‘Western’ metabolic diseases and how the evidence in humans points to the same metabolic syndrome as seen in animals.