Wise Traditions

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 elim

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 he

Vicki Braun has over 30 years of experience helping couples understand and enhance their mutual fertility. She has a background in the sciences--a B.S. in biology and chemistry and an M.S. in microbiology--so she is well-equipped to understand female hormonal physiology and is able to problem-solve issues related to fertility cycles. Vicki has seen many concerns over the years, ranging from irregular menstrual cycles to PCOS, endometriosis, and fertility issues. She has seen many women and men turn things around through dietary and lifestyle changes. A certified GAPS practitioner, she offers help in correcting hormonal and gut flora imbalances that can negatively affect fertility and overall health. She warns against the long-term use of birth control pills and she also points to toxicity as damaging to the reproductive system.  Plain spoken and direct, Vicki offers practical tools for those who wish to better understand their own bodies' cycles and improve their fertility. Visit her website: wisefertilitycho

Physical therapist Sandra Van Gilder dispels myths related to our sleep and exercise habits in this episode. She explains how our hormone function can be disrupted (or improved) by our patterns. She gets into the science behind the brain fog that makes it difficult to think clearly when we are sleep-deprived and she has suggestions about how to combat that issue. She also has ideas about how to move smarter/differently to avoid joint stress. She knows what she's talking about because she herself once struggled with vestibular migraines and she found that proper nutrition and adequate sleep were sufficient therapies to make them go away. And as a young woman in her twenties, Sandra had also endured back pain, sciatica, and joint pain that limited her ability to pursue her hobby of running. It became so serious that she could hardly run around the track one time. Now Sandra runs without pain, thanks to her "whole body" approach to movement. Today you will learn from her how to establish good sleep and movement

Biological dentist Felix Liao is building on the work of Dr. Weston A. Price. He is convinced that oral health is tied to our overall health, and he understands the pivotal role of nutrient-dense foods in the diet. In this informative and entertaining episode, Dr. Felix touches on common issues like snoring, sleep apnea, teeth grinding and clenching and explains how these can be addressed holistically. He is particularly concerned about the condition that he describes as “six-foot tiger/three-foot den.” This occurs when the tongue does not have enough room to be in its proper position in the mouth. When this is the case, the tongue blocks the airway compromising our oxygen intake, and negatively impacting our health and sleep. Visit his website: wholehealthdentalcenter.com Find more resources on our website: westonaprice.org

Dr. Ann Childers had a health crisis that made her examine the role of nutrition in physical and mental health. Soon she began applying her new-found information in her practice. She began emphasizing a nutrient-dense diet and sufficient sleep for the children and adolescents in her care. She soon noted that many experienced relief and healing from all types of conditions including: anxiety, ADD, trouble concentrating, poor behavior, digestive issues, Type II diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Even those suffering from emotional or mental issues like depression, suicidal thoughts and self-harm were improving with this simple, straightforward protocol. Children, adolescents, and adults alike will benefit from Ann's approach and advice in today's episode.  

As President and Founder of the Raw Milk Institute, Mark McAfee has lectured on the subject of raw milk all over the United States. A consummate educator, Mark elucidates its benefits, even as he addresses the risks associated with it. His mission is to stem the influence of what he calls the "fear campaign that is steering us over the sterilized food cliff." Raw milk is a living food with properties that help us avoid chronic illnesses such as Krohn's, and can build our immune system so as to avoid illnesses that necessitate prescription drugs and costly surgeries. Mark makes his case with facts and passion. Mark emphasizes the health-enhancing properties of raw milk, and advocates for it to be safely produced and distributed widely.  

Stress, autoimmune diseases, obesity. These modern epidemics were not a part of the paleolithic landscape, but they certainly plague us now. Chris Kresser, author of "The Paleo Cure" and functional medicine practitioner, recommends that we look back to the wisdom of our ancestors to experience vibrant health today. In this episode, he tells us his story: how a health crisis precipitated his interest in nutrition and medicine, and how the Weston A. Price Foundation played a part in his journey back to health. Chris emphasizes how geography and genetics play a role in determining our diet and he touches on the pivotal role of fats and the need to decrease or manage our stress. 

All traditional cultures consume some sort of animal food:fish and shellfish, land and water fowl, land and sea mammals, eggs, milk and milk products reptiles, and insects. Sally Fallon Morell, the head of the Weston A. Price Foundation, explains why this is principle #2 of the Wise Traditions diet. She goes into detail about what nutrients are bio-available in animal products and why many traditional cultures considered these foods to be "sacred." She also addresses what to do if you have trouble digesting meat or if you prefer not to eat meat altogether. If you want to regain or maintain your health, Sally has some very practical suggestions about how to incorporate this principle into your current diet.

For Richard Morris, walking to work was a struggle akin to hiking Mount Everest. Weighing over 400 pounds made most of life difficult and burdensome. His wife and daughters also had an unhealthy lifestyle. Hear about his turning point which led him to turn his back on processed food. Now, he cooks, takes regular walks with his wife, and even competes in obstacle races. Embracing whole, real foods has led Richard and his family to a much healthier and happier life. 

Of the twelve characteristics or markers of autism, Tressie’s young son had 11 of them. Behavioral therapy is recommended as the treatment of choice for autistic children. But Tressie wanted her son to be able to do more than simply sit still in school and communicate basic needs (the hoped-for outcome of the therapy). So she researched other options. She found a protocol that has moved her son from a diagnosis of low-functioning autism to where he is today: he has lost his diagnosis. Tressie is now an advocate of nutrient-dense food and a protocol to treat metal and mercury toxicity. She is not big on speculating about the causes of autism but she IS big on finding ways to beat the disorder. Tressie has studied holistic nutrition and environmental health, and is the author of “Fight autism and win.”

Joel Salatin is the renowned farmer of Polyface Farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Today's episode centers around the concept behind Joel's upcoming book "The marvelous pigness of pigs." You'll learn more about what sets Polyface apart from countless conventional farms. Joel's heart is central to his approach to the animals and the land. His ethics and faith imbue in him a desire to honor and celebrate the uniqueness of each animal he raises. He respects the pigness of pigs, the cowness of cows, and so on. He challenges us to look at our choices through that same ethical paradigm and to opt out of the industrial food complex: for our health, the good of the land, and the nurturing of the animals under our care.

Are you willing to take a closer look at the vaccine issue? Where does the truth lie? The media tells us that anyone who questions the efficacy of vaccines is anti-science. In fact, there are "hundreds and hundreds of peer-reviewed studies [which] document the problems with vaccines, and yet these are not being acknowledged," says our guest Leslie Manookian. In today's episode, she explores the reasons for the cover-up. She also delves into studies that show the link between vaccines and myriad illnesses such as autism, cancer, seizures, auto-immune disease, behavioral problems, speech delays, and much more. But there is no need to despair. Backed by promising studies, Leslie presents some sound alternatives to vaccinations. Leslie is the writer and producer of the award-winning documentary "The Greater Good." She encourages everyone to look into this issue carefully, as current vaccination schedules may be jeopardizing our health. Leslie says, “We have essentially swapped the short-term suppression of diseas

Don't vaccines keep us healthy and disease-free? Aren't they the greatest invention of mankind? Many of us, including Leslie Manookian, once held these beliefs. In this episode, Leslie brings to light facts found in scientific studies, books, and other resources that persuaded her to reconsider her thinking on the matter. This episode is dedicated to educating ourselves on this topic that is so very critical to our health and the health of our loved ones. Today, Leslie gives us a "peek behind the veil" of the vaccine industry. There, we discover more machinations than we may have ever imagined. She explores the purpose behind the the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Law of 1986, a law passed to protect vaccine manufacturers from liability from lawsuits. She clearly articulates the preponderance of evidence (much of it recognized by the government) that demonstrates a link between vaccinations and chronic illnesses ranging from asthma, allergies, and joint pain, to the more serious, like cognitive issues, aut

Jesse Straight is a local farmer and father of five young children. A few years back, he never would have imagined the life he leads today. As a student at the University of Virginia, Jesse was on a religious studies and pre-med track. Hear what changed the direction of his life and sparked his passion for farming--and not just any farming but sustainable farming. All of the animals at Whiffletree Farm are regularly moved to fresh pasture, receive no GMO feed, antibiotics, chemical wormers or hormones. No chemicals are used on the land, either. Jesse loves his work and wants all people to find joy and health in good food raised with integrity, on a small scale.