On the 3oth April LBL hosted 2 not for profit talks on Eating to Improve Metabolic Health.
We were lucky to be hosted at a wonderful venue in Axminster – Axminster & Lyme Cancer Support – and through donations were able to raise just under £200 for the charity.
Metabolic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer and Alzheimers are all increasing in our society. Western diets, often high in added sugar, refined grains and ultra processed foods appear to be strongly connected. Research is increasingly focused on the role of the gut microbiome, whereby a chronically disrupted gut microbiome may be a key driver of metabolic diseases. Diet appears to be a major modifiable factor which has the potential to influence our gut microbiome and lessen our risk of metabolic diseases.
Lesley Harper is a qualified registered dietitian with over 15 years experience working in the NHS. Lesley is currently working with her local NHS colleagues in Somerset to drive change in the national nutritional messaging, seeking to improve peoples metabolic health.
Her 2 hr talk covered the following:
*An introduction to metabolic health and the gut microbiome
*How we can learn from history with regards nutrition and metabolic disease
*The proposal of a ‘survival switch’ as a potential driver of metabolic disease in humans (based on the work of leading fructose expert Professor Richard Johnson) and why excess weight appears to be a symptom of metabolic disease rather than the cause.
*Why the current dietary approach isn’t working and why restrictive diets are unsustainable in the long term
*How focusing on eating more gut friendly foods may help improve our gut microbiome and reduce our cravings for added sugar, refined grains and ultra processed foods
*Tools, tips and signposting to support gradual dietary change
*An introduction to metabolic health and the gut microbiome
*How we can learn from history with regards nutrition and metabolic disease
*The proposal of a ‘survival switch’ as a potential driver of metabolic disease in humans (based on the work of leading fructose expert Professor Richard Johnson) and why excess weight appears to be a symptom of metabolic disease rather than the cause.
*Why the current dietary approach isn’t working and why restrictive diets are unsustainable in the long term
*How focusing on eating more gut friendly foods may help improve our gut microbiome and reduce our cravings for added sugar, refined grains and ultra processed foods
*Tools, tips and signposting to support gradual dietary change
More information and resources can be found at Lesley’s website: www.wakingthebear.org
Lesley has also set up the Eat More Diet Support Group on Facebook
30th April 2024
A fascinating and informative talk.
