Dr. Richard Johnson is an author, educator, researcher, and professor of medicine at the University of Colorado. He’s board certified in internal medicine, infectious diseases, and kidney disease and he’s the founding editor of Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology. 

Dr. Johnson has also spent the last 20+ years researching the causes of obesity and diabetes and the role that fructose plays in chronic diseases. He’s published hundreds of research papers based on the studies he’s conducted over the years and he’s a wealth of knowledge on the topic.

Dr. Johnson comes on the show to share his in-depth expertise on glucose and fructose. In this episode, you’ll discover what Dr. Johnson and his team uncovered in their research on obesity, fructose, and leptin resistance and the connection between Alzheimer’s and fructose.

Dr. Johnson also answers the questions, Is fructose bad? Is fruit bad?

You’ll also discover how fructose is made in the body, how salty french fries turn into fructose, and so much more.

Here’s a breakdown of the episode:

00:00 Introduction to the Keto Answers podcast

00:30 Introduction to this episode’s guest, Dr. Richard Johnson

02:26 Dr. Johnson’s background

06:29 What’s the main takeaway about obesity that you discovered in your research?

14:28 With leptin resistance, is that occurring from the weight gain or fructose?

15:58 How fructose affects willpower

22:44 Is fruit bad?

26:13 Should you worry about fructose in fruits?

31:47 How long does leptin resistance last in people who actively work to improve it?

40:38 How fructose is also made in the body

44:20 How french fries can also convert into fructose in the body

47:00 Is there any benefit to having fructose in the body?

53:32 The connection between Alzheimer’s and fructose

1:00:23 How being obese can be a predictor for Alzheimer’s

1:00:58 Dr. Johnson’s latest book

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Richard Johnson’s website

Dr. Richard Johnson’s Instagram

Dr. Johnson’s latest book, Nature Wants Us to Be Fat

Dr. Johnson’s first two books, The Sugar Fix and The Fat Switch