The Primal Shift

With the advancement of technology and modern conveniences, many of us have drifted away from our inherent connection to nature. We are living in climate-controlled homes, spending most of our days indoors, and have significantly reduced our time interacting with the natural world. However, did you know that reconnecting with nature could be the ultimate health biohack for optimal physical and mental well-being?   Welcome to another episode of the Primal Shift podcast, where host Michael Kummer reveals how nature holds the power to enhance our health and wellness and 13 ways to tap into the restorative properties of nature. Whether it's grounding by walking barefoot, forest bathing, exposing ourselves to fresh air and sunshine, or connecting with animals, there's no denying the myriad health benefits that nature has to offer.   What we discuss: 00:07 - Reconnecting With Nature for Optimal Health 03:27 - Grounding or Earthing 05:23 - Forest Bathing 08:44 - Exposing Yourself to Soil and Fresh Air 10:45 - Sunshine for Mental and Physical Health 14:09 - The Benefits of Eating Outside 15:05 - Outdoor Activities for Well-being 17:30 - The Benefits of Growing Something 20:00 - Expose Yourself to Extreme Landscapes 21:55 - Connect with Animals   Resources: Grounding reduces inflammation, pain, and stress; improves blood flow, sleep, and vitality. (Study) Forest bathing demonstrated significant positive effects on mental health, especially in those with depressive tendencies. (Study)   Learn more from Michael Kummer: Use code “primalshift” to save 15% on your order at https://shop.michaelkummer.com/ Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ Instagram: @mkummer82  

There's an underappreciated and often overlooked aspect of maintaining optimal health that many of us miss in our busy, hustle-bustle lives. It's not a magic pill or an exotic superfood. It's something much more primal and deeply rooted in our evolutionary history – community.   The sense of belonging to a community and tribalism in achieving health transcends just the physical. Have you ever thought about how our modern emphasis on individuality could be contributing to the high rates of isolation, anxiety, and mental health problems that we see today? Could community be the path to achieving optimal health?    These are questions we answer in this episode of the Primal Shift podcast, where host Michael Kummer explores why it's essential to be part of a community, and why a sense of belonging is vital for our mental health and physical health. He shares 11 useful tips and tricks to help you transition into or find new communities, or perhaps even create your own. What we discuss 0:03:10 - How having a community or not having a community impacts our lives 0:08:15 - How to build relationships to create community 0:12:40 - Why finding common ground with others is important 0:16:00 - Online communities versus in person communities 0:18:45 - Focusing on solutions over problems when building community 0:20:13 - Starting your own community 0:22:22 - How community affect our lives   Learn more from Michael Kummer: Use code “primalshift” to save 15% on your order at https://shop.michaelkummer.com/ Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ Instagram: @mkummer82 Email: hello@primalshiftpodcast.com  

What if you could strengthen your body, improve your health, and boost your immunity with simple everyday activities? Today we explore how you can do that using the concept of hormesis or hormetic stressors. Get ready to discover how you can enhance your body's response to the environment and how vital stressors like exercise, sun exposure, and temperature variations can contribute to your overall health and well-being.   Welcome to another episode of the Primal Shift podcast, where host Michael Kummer explores the meaning of hormesis, the crucial role of hormetic stressors in our health, and how you can incorporate them into your daily life. He discusses how sun exposure, cold plunging, sauna bathing, and even exposing yourself to germs can build resilience against various environmental and health stressors. He also shares the common mistake everyone makes when it comes to hormetic stressors and how to avoid it.   Use code “primalshift” to save 15% on your order for:   MK's Grass-Fed Beef Liver Supplement: https://shop.michaelkummer.com/products/freeze-dried-beef-liver?selling_plan=688531800380   MK's Grass-Fed Beef Heart & Spleen Supplement: https://shop.michaelkummer.com/products/freeze-dried-heart-spleen?selling_plan=688531865916   What We Discuss: 0:04:45 - Why are Hormesis or Hormetic Stressors Important 0:07:30 - Benefits of Hormetic Stressors: Sun, Cold, Sauna, Germs 0:11:01 - Strengthening the Body Through Various Stressors 0:14:20 - Leveraging Food Stressors for Resilience 0:16:23 - The Importance of Managing Stressors 0:23:07 - Getting Creative with Exercise in Daily Life 0:25:00 - Maintaining a Good Diet Key Takeaways: The concept of hormesis, or hormetic stressors, can play a crucial role in combating the sedentary nature of modern life. By introducing moderate stress to our bodies, we can enhance our health, strength, and immunity, making us more resilient. A variety of hormetic stressors can be incorporated into our daily routines, including exercise, sun exposure, cold plunging, infrared sauna bathing, and exposing ourselves to germs. These activities can build resilience against environmental stressors and improve our immunity. It's important not to overdo the application of hormetic stressors. While they can have a positive effect on our bodies, they can also cause harm if not managed correctly. We need to listen to our bodies and determine what level of stress it can handle, allowing time for recovery to avoid overloading ourselves with stress.   Learn more from Michael Kummer: Use code “primalshift” to save 15% on your order at https://shop.michaelkummer.com/ Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ Instagram: @mkummer82  

What if the biggest threat to your health is not the obvious culprits like junk food or lack of exercise, but rather, invisible enemies lurking in your everyday environment? Harmful substances such as xenoestrogens, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and PFAS (aka forever chemicals) are surprisingly found in your personal care products, your food, and even the clothes you wear. The health implications of these toxins can be severe, and their effects can stay dormant, leading to long-term health risks.   In this episode of the Primal Shift podcast, host Michael Kummer unveils the invisible toxins found in everyday life along with strategies for reducing toxin exposure and creating a healthier living environment. Learn about the importance of filtering tap water, the hazards in everyday items like cookware and synthetic clothing, and the benefits of using safer alternatives.   What we discuss: 0:05:55 - Toxins in Cookware and Personal Care 0:13:49 - Filter Tap Water, Avoid Plastic Bottles 0:14:05 - Tips for Avoiding Endocrine Disruptors 0:19:46 - Avoiding Chemicals in Food 0:25:53 - Birth Control and Health Awareness   Key Takeaways: Environmental toxins, such as xenoestrogens, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and PFAS (aka forever chemicals), can be found in everyday products, such as personal care products, cookware, and even food. These toxins can lead to severe health implications, often lying dormant and leading to long-term health risks. Xenoestrogens mimic the hormone estrogen, disrupting the body's natural hormone balance and potentially leading to health issues such as cancer, metabolic dysfunction, and fertility problems. Practical strategies to reduce exposure to xenoestrogens are discussed, including filtering tap water, avoiding plastic food containers, and choosing personal care products and clothing free from harmful chemicals. Hormonal birth control, by its very nature, disrupts the endocrine system and can have a variety of negative health impacts. It is suggested that alternative methods for controlling fertility should be explored, such as monitoring body temperature and tracking menstrual cycles.   Links:  Non-Toxic Products List (PDF): How Xenoestrogens Make You Infertile and Sick Radiant Life Whole House Water Filtration System Review HypoAir BiPolar Review: The Best Whole House Air Purifier   Learn more from Michael Kummer: Use code “primalshift” to save 15% on your order at https://shop.michaelkummer.com/ Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ Instagram: @mkummer82  

Have you ever wondered how much of an impact stress can have on your health? While chronic stress can have detrimental effects on our health, the benefits of “good” stress are often overlooked. Transforming your body's stress response into a powerful adaptation tool is essential for optimizing your overall health.    Welcome to another episode of the Primal Shift podcast, where host Michael Kummer dives into the impact stress has on our health, and covers how to protect yourself through resilience and stress management techniques. He sheds light on the insidious effects of chronic stress, from nutrient depletion to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and sleep disturbances. He also shares practical techniques for stress management, including breathing exercises, journaling, and reconnecting with nature.    What we discuss: (0:00:07) - Manage stress for optimal health (0:09:26) - Effective stress management techniques (0:17:33) - Improving stress resilience with diet (0:21:09) - Reducing stress through simplification   Key Takeaways: Acute stress is crucial for our survival. It helps us react quickly and make the right decisions in dangerous situations. For example, when we hear a car approaching while crossing a street, our initial stress response is important in helping us avoid harm. It's important not to suppress or disable this stress response, as it plays a vital role in keeping us safe.  Having an imbalance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in our bodies can affect our nervous system. However, we have the ability to control and change this balance through breathing exercises, which can directly impact and influence our nervous system. By practicing simple breathing techniques, we can shift out of the fight or flight response and induce a state of relaxation. Physical touch has a direct impact on our nervous system. It can help shift our body from the fight or flight response to the parasympathetic mode, which promotes relaxation. Physical touch signals our body that we are safe, and this reassurance can be enough to alleviate stress, calm down, and aid in recovery from a stressful situation.   Learn more:  One of the many benefits of ice baths is that submerging yourself in freezing cold water helps you learn to better manage stressful situations. I cold plunge multiple times per week. Apollo Nuero is a device that uses gentle vibrations to help balance your nervous sytem. Read my Apollo Neruo review for more details on why it works and how I integrate it into my routine. I also took a deep dive in the science behind Apollo. Check out my roundup of the best gadgets for stress relief to learn about other devices that can help calm your nervous system.    More from Michael Kummer: Use code “primalshift” to save 15% on your order at https://shop.michaelkummer.com/ Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ Instagram: @mkummer82  

Have you ever wondered why a desk job leaves you feeling drained, rather than invigorated? In today's modern world, many of our activities have deviated from our history and what our bodies were designed to do. Rather than walking long distances in search of food and shelter, we often find ourselves living a sedentary lifestyle. This is why compensating with an exercise routine is crucial for optimal health.   Welcome to another episode of the Primal Shift podcast, where host Michael Kummer dives into the importance of regular exercise for maintaining and strengthening our bodies. He covers why challenging the body through ancestral movements is essential, and why recovery time after a workout should never be overlooked.  What we discuss: 0:02:22 - The importance of exercise for health  0:06:31 - Challenging the body through ancestral movements  0:10:04 - Why resistance training is important 0:15:15 - The importance of recovery in training 0:19:35 - Consuming protein for optimal muscle protein synthesis   Key Takeaways: Regular exercise is essential for maintaining and strengthening our bodies. When we neglect exercise, our muscles, bones, and cardiovascular system can weaken over time. This decline in strength and fitness can become detrimental to our overall health because our heart may struggle to cope with the demands and stresses of daily life, as well as the environmental factors associated with modern living. Allowing your body to recover is crucial for maximizing the benefits of your workouts. Failing to do so can lead to counterproductive outcomes, such as an increased risk of injury and slower progress in building strength. It's possible to experience a recovery deficit, where both performance and overall fitness decline over time if adequate recovery is neglected. Walking is an incredibly powerful and often underappreciated type of exercise. Walking is a low impact exercise accessible to people of all fitness levels, especially those who deal with joint pain and knee issues. Walking can also serve as a form of active meditation or stress relief, allowing for clear thinking and relaxation. Learn more from Michael Kummer: Use code “primalshift” to save 15% on your order at https://shop.michaelkummer.com/ Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ Instagram: @mkummer82  

Here’s the truth: Without sleep, you’ll struggle to achieve optimal health. It doesn’t matter how well you eat or how often you workout, if you don’t sleep well, nothing else matters.    From boosting your energy levels to enhancing your cognitive abilities, sleep is the secret ingredient to your overall health and wellness. The problem is, most of us aren’t getting the sleep we need.   Welcome to another episode of the Primal Shift podcast, where host Michael Kummer discusses the impact of quality sleep on our overall health and wellbeing. He also shares how simple actions, such as maintaining a consistent sleep and wake time, exposing yourself to natural sunlight, and minimizing exposure to artificial blue and green light frequencies, can make a significant difference to your sleep quality.   Tune in now for a step-by-step guide for building a healthy and sustainable sleep routine.   What we discuss: [00:01:20] Without quality sleep it's impossible to obtain optimal health  [00:03:13] Why you should be sleeping through the night [00:06:46] Why your brain function could decline without high quality sleep  [00:10:11] Other things that happen based on your circadian rhythm  [00:13:21] How to prepare for quality sleep [00: 24:13] Michael’s favorite sleep aids                                                                                                                                                                               Key Takeaways: Sleep is not a waste of time or a period of inactivity. Instead, there are various important processes occurring within our bodies while we sleep. These include physical repair, cellular renewal, removal of damaged cells, and muscle tissue repair. Sleep also aids in memory consolidation and synaptic pruning.   Establishing a regular sleep schedule can greatly improve the quality of your sleep. By going to bed and waking up at approximately the same time every day, your body can regulate its internal clock, making it easier to fall asleep and wake up naturally. This simple practice can have a profound impact on your overall sleep health, and it doesn't cost any money to implement.   One common misconception about sleep is that some people can function effectively on minimal sleep, often claiming that five or six hours of sleep is sufficient for them. However, research suggests that most individuals require a minimum of seven hours of sleep to ensure optimal cognitive function and well-being. Learn more from Michael Kummer:   Use code “primalshift” to save 15% on your order at https://shop.michaelkummer.com/ Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ Instagram: @mkummer82  

There’s a common misconception that if you’re eating right and getting enough exercise, you’re living a healthy lifestyle. But the truth is, there’s more to optimizing your health than just diet and exercise, and understanding how to cover several different angles of your health is essential for living a primal lifestyle.   Welcome to another episode of the Primal Shift podcast, where host Michael Kummer shares an overview of the eight key primal shifts, or core principles, that make up a healthy lifestyle. He shares some of the misconceptions about optimizing your health, and why sometimes getting outside of your comfort zone is the key to thriving.  What we discuss: 00:01:42 Primal shift #1: Sleep 00:03:31 Primal shift #2: Nutrition 00:04:56 Primal shift #3: Exercise 00:06:01 Primal shift #4: Stress management 00:07:01 Primal shift #5: Environmental toxins 00:08:00 Primal shift #6: Hormesis 00:08:55 Primal shift #7: Belonging and tribalism 00:10:53 Primal shift #8: Reconnecting with nature                                                                                                                                                                             Key Takeaways: Prioritizing sleep is crucial for overall well-being and optimal health. Sleep allows our bodies to recover, restore, and consolidate memories, and without giving our bodies sufficient time to undergo these processes, we cannot expect to perform at our best physically or mentally the following day.  The purpose of exercise is to push your body beyond its comfort zone and subject it to a certain level of stress. By carefully selecting the right stressors through exercise, you can help your body develop resilience and become stronger. Reconnecting with nature is essential for overall health. For millions of years we walked barefoot, exposing ourselves to natural elements. Going outside barefoot for just a few moments a day can have a big impact on our well-being. Learn more from Michael Kummer: Use code “primalshift” to save 15% on your order at https://shop.michaelkummer.com/ Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ Instagram: @mkummer82  

In today’s modern world, it’s not uncommon to find yourself dealing with many types of health issues- everything from cardiovascular problems to trouble falling asleep. So what’s the underlying reason for experiencing these health problems? The truth is that our bodies are designed for an environment that no longer exists, which is why shifting away from the modern lifestyle towards a more primal lifestyle is now more important than ever.   Welcome to the Primal Shift podcast, where host Michael Kummer dives into the core pillars of living a healthy life, and discusses some of the ancestral principles that our bodies were designed to be exposed to. He shares his own experience with shifting to a primal lifestyle, and gives easily digestible nuggets of information that you can implement in your own routine to start shifting away from the modern lifestyle.   Michael Kummer is the founder of MK Supplements, a company with the goal of offering the highest-quality dietary supplements on the market, beginning with nature's ultimate multivitamin, grass-fed beef liver supplements. Beyond the world of supplements, Michael and his wife Kathy have made it their life's work to lead by example, adopting a lifestyle that includes an animal based diet.   What we discuss: [00:01:06] Why is the primal shift necessary? [00:02:34] One of the major milestones in Michael’s health journey  [00:04:11] The importance of changing your diet      [00:07:36] Improve your life while being financially responsible  [00:10:14] Michael’s brand, M.K. Supplements                                                                                                                                                                               Key Takeaways: Taking huge leaps towards improving your overall health isn’t always necessary. Making small, achievable changes every day is a great way to improve your overall health and well-being. Those small changes can add up to big results over time, so consistency and dedication are key when it comes to making lasting changes.  There are many myths and misconceptions about health and wellness, such as the belief that certain foods or diets are the best for health, or that certain exercises will guarantee results. It is important to remember that everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for another.  Making certain changes in your lifestyle and bringing back some of the ancestral principles that our bodies were designed to be exposed to can be beneficial for your health and well-being. Incorporating physical activity, proper nutrition, and other holistic practices can help create a healthier lifestyle.  Find more from Michael:   Use code “primalshift” to save 15% on your order at https://shop.michaelkummer.com/ Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ Instagram: @mkummer82  

Welcome to the Primal Shift podcast! I'm your host, Michael Kummer, and my goal is to help you achieve optimal health by bridging the gap between ancestral living and the demands of modern society. Get ready to unlock the transformative power of nature as the ultimate biohack, revolutionizing your health and reconnecting you with your primal self. Each episode is short and concise, providing you the info and tips you need to start living a more primal lifestyle today.