Wise Traditions

When the Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF) says that it's committed to "food, farming and the healing arts," they mean it. In today's episode, you'll hear directly from the office staff members about WAPF's mission. The bottom line? WAPF is a non-profit group dedicated to restoring nutrient-dense foods to the human diet through education, research and activism. It supports a number of movements that contribute to this objective including accurate nutrition instruction, organic and biodynamic farming, pasture-feeding of livestock, community-supported farms, honest and informative labeling, prepared parenting and nurturing therapies. Specific goals include establishment of universal access to clean, certified raw milk and a ban on the use of soy formula for infants. The backbone of WAPF is its members. They are the ones that know exactly what's going on in their own neighborhoods, and counties (and countries), and they are most able to mobilize when action is required to defend food freedom and to help disseminate important food resource information. In particular, there are 600 chapter leaders worldwide who puts hands and feet to the work that is needed to help restore and maintain the health of people all over the world. In today's episode, you will get a glimpse of the office work of the WAPF staff, which undergirds what is happening "in the field," so to speak. You'll also learn about WAPF's most current projects (such as their international outreach efforts). Find more resources on our website: westonaprice.org

Do you want the option of buying raw milk legally in your state? Would you like to have chickens in your backyard? The Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) works hard to defend your right to obtain the food of your choice from the source of your choice. Pete Kennedy, an attorney in Florida, is on the board of the FTCLDF and he has personally been involved in representing and counseling farmers who are simply trying to provide local, sustainable foods to their neighbors, schools, and grocery stores. Many of us know that good health begins at the dining room table. The healthiest diets are those made up of nutrient-dense, organic foods from small local farmers, not from the industrial food complex. Listen to Pete and learn about the influences at play on what is available to us as consumers, and how you can make a difference in the fight for food freedom. Visit this website: farmtoconsumer.org Find more resources on our website: westonaprice.org

There is lots of controversy and discussion on the topic of vaccination these days—some touting their benefits and others, their risks. Cilla Whatcott stays above the fray. She is not interested in being a part of any camp, but rather wants to empower parents and health care professionals about their choices, by educating them about homeopathy and homeoprophylaxis (HP). In today's episode, you will become familiar with this safe alternative to vaccination. Some call HP the "green vaccine" because it does not cause harm but rather provides natural protection against disease. The goal of homeopathy is to educate the immune system and to help the body rediscover how to heal itself. Homeopathy combats chronic health issues including recurring ear infections, asthma, coughs, and more. Cilla has a PhD in homeopathy, which she pursued after her one year-old daughter became ill with aseptic meningitis. She is the Director of Worldwide Choice and is a strong advocate for health care options. Visit her website: familyhomeopathycare.com Find more resources on our website: westonaprice.org

In her twenties, Razi Berry was suffering from fibromyalgia, fatigue, and pain. Her doctors told her that she should go on medication and disability for the rest of her life. Unwilling to accept their prognosis, Razi became her own "health detective." She began exploring alternatives and came upon naturopathic therapies that have helped restore her to full health today. She had fertility issues, hair loss, and more. Now, she enjoys good health and vitality. She is the host of a podcast, homeschools her two young daughters and oversees the award-winning journal, "The Naturopathic Doctor News & Review." Naturally, Razi is a proponent of organic, whole foods over fad diets. Her heart's desire is to empower people to take charge of their health and discover the vibrant health they were intended to enjoy. Visit Razi's website: loveismedicineproject.com Find more resources on our website: westonaprice.org

As a young environmentalist, Allan Savory was convinced that animals were overgrazing, and therefore, turning fertile land into deserts. Many scientists held that same opinion (and some still do). Now, Allan believes that livestock are "our only hope" for greening the world's deserts and reversing climate change. In today's episode, he explains in detail why many efforts to restore the earth (involving the use of technology, fire, rest, or planting trees or crops) are ineffective or temporary solutions, at best. He addresses directly some of the ideas presented in the movie "Cowspiracy," including his "tragic error" of culling elephant herds (which he and others thought would help heal the land---it did not). The health of the land is tied to our own. Together we can make a difference in the preservation of our world for the survival of what Allan calls "team humanity." Visit his website: savory.global Find more resources on our website: westonaprice.org

Are you concerned about our planet's degradation? Allan Savory, of the Savory Institute, has fresh ideas for how to reverse the situation and restore our deteriorating grasslands. As a young man studying zoology and botany in South Africa, he challenged the presuppositions regarding what was causing climate change. He, too, at one point, thought that perhaps too many animals was the problem, but he came to a different conclusion when he saw the ineffectiveness of that approach. Now he believes that the answer can be found in holistic management. The idea is to properly manage the tools at our disposal, including animals! Holistic management can also be applied to our own lives, whether we live in cities or farms. It's a concept that can improve the environment and health of "team humanity" all over the globe. Visit Allan's website: savory.global Find more resources on our website: westonaprice.org

Vegetarians and vegans are often motivated to avoid animal products out of concern for animal welfare and the environment. Lierre Keith is no exception. As a teenager, she became convinced that abstaining from meat was the best choice. However health concerns quickly ensued once she made that dietary choice. She began to suffer from fatigue, hypoglycemia, irregular menstrual cycles, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and more. These initial conditions were followed by longer-term problems including autoimmune and degenerative disc disease. Her own health concerns, and those of others, led her to reexamine vegetarianism. Today, Lierre is the author of "The Vegetarian Myth" and a passionate advocate for including meat products in the diet, both for our benefit and for the health of the planet. Visit Lierre's website: lierrekeith.com Find more resources on our website: westonaprice.org

Do you want to get the most out of your food? There are so many different approaches to eating healthily, how do you know what's best? Sally Fallon Morell explains, in clear, simple terms, how to maximize each bite. In today's episode, she emphasizes the most important (yet often overlooked) Wise Traditions dietary principle: nutrient density. Traditional diets were very nutrient-dense: high in vitamins and minerals and replete with the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and K. Processed, packaged foods tout "added vitamins and minerals" but real foods are naturally power-packed with what we need for building strong, healthy bodies! She goes into detail about why A, D, and K are so important and how they work together and should be in balance in our food (and in our bodies). She lists foods where these critical vitamins can be found. She tells stories of those whose lives have been changed through better nutrition. And she gives practical suggestions for what to include in your diet (or your children's diets) to eliminate fatigue and improve mood and optimism. Find more resources on our website: westonaprice.org

Dickson Ole Gisa, a leader in his Maasai village, contacted the Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF) in 2014, saying, "Please send someone over. We're all getting sick!" Dickson had found out about the principles of the foundation and the Wise Traditions diet, and they really resonated with him and his community's experience. WAPF did send leaders to his village in Matapato, Kenya, in 2015 and, in partnership with Dickson, began spreading the word about the link between good nutrition and overall health. In today's fascinating conversation, Dickson recounts his childhood dietary habits and where his people are today. He talks about the allure of "foreign foods" and the corresponding rise in the incidences of cancer, diabetes, and other diseases heretofore unknown by his village. Dickson's community in Oiti is taking steps to return to their traditional diet. This episode may inspire you to follow ancestral food ways, as well. Find more resources on our website: westonaprice.org

Confused by fat? One minute we're told to stay away from it; the next, we're told to embrace it. What's best? Chris Masterjohn demystifies the matter in today's discussion. Chris has a PhD in Nutritional Sciences and is an assistant professor at Brooklyn College in New York. He explains in detail fat's function in our bodies and how we should approach including it in our diet. He explains the need to take into account our genetics, our constitution, our ancestry, and even our careers, as we tweak our diets to find our "sweet spot." He touches on some heady stuff: cholesterol levels, the LDL/HDL ratio, and the difference between saturated, polyunsaturated, and monounsaturated fats. He also points out which foods contain what kind of fat. Along the way, he helps us move from fear of fat to a place of understanding and freedom. "Fear is disempowering," says Chris. Fat has an important role to play in our bodies and embracing it is a step in the right direction, a step toward good health. Visit Chris' website here: chrismasterjohnphd.com Find more resources on our website: westonaprice.org