In a world dominated by processed foods and fleeting diet trends, the Wise Traditions diet offers a refreshing alternative. It encourages a return to the time-tested eating habits of our ancestors, emphasizing whole, nutrient-dense foods and traditional preparation methods. This approach, championed by the Weston A. Price Foundation, is rooted in the research of Dr. Weston A. Price, a dentist who studied the diets of healthy, isolated populations in the early 20th century.
The Weston A. Price Foundation: Preserving Nutritional Wisdom
The Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF), founded in 1999 by Sally Fallon (Morell) and nutritionist Mary G. Enig, PhD, stands as a beacon for those seeking to reclaim traditional foodways. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., this non-profit organization is primarily supported by its members' dues and contributions, ensuring its independence from government or agribusiness influence. The WAPF advocates for a nutrient-dense diet comprised of whole foods, including animal fats, and champions causes such as universal access to certified raw milk and the elimination of soy from infant formulas. Sally Fallon Morell, the foundation's president, holds a B.A. in English from Stanford University and an M.A.
The foundation's mission extends to supporting local food and farms. Established in July 2007 with the foundation's help, the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund protects farmers' rights to directly provide meat, eggs, raw dairy products, vegetables, and other foods to consumers, advocating for "freedom of choice to consume raw milk," according to the Fund's president, Pete Kennedy.
Dr. Weston A. Price: A Pioneer in Nutritional Research
Dr. Weston A. Price (1870-1948), a Cleveland dentist, embarked on a series of unique investigations in the early 1930s. For over a decade, he traveled to remote corners of the globe, studying the health of populations untouched by Western civilization. His objective was to identify the factors responsible for good dental health. The groups he studied encompassed remote Swiss villages, Gaelic communities in the Outer Hebrides, indigenous peoples of North and South America, Melanesian and Polynesian South Sea Islanders, African tribes, Australian Aborigines, and New Zealand Maori.
Wherever he went, Dr. Price meticulously documented the diets and health outcomes of these diverse populations. He observed that those consuming traditional diets, rich in whole, unprocessed foods, exhibited remarkable health, strong bones, and resistance to disease.
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The "Fat-Soluble Activators"
When Dr. Price analyzed the foods consumed by these isolated peoples, he discovered that their diets provided significantly more nutrients than the American diet of his time. Specifically, they consumed at least four times the water-soluble vitamins, calcium, and other minerals, and at least ten times the fat-soluble vitamins. These vitamins came from animal foods like butter, fish eggs, shellfish, organ meats, eggs, and animal fats.
These healthy traditional peoples instinctively understood the importance of fat-soluble vitamins, which scientists of Dr. Price’s day had recently discovered were vital to health because they acted as catalysts to mineral absorption and protein utilization. Without them, we cannot absorb minerals, no matter how abundant they may be in our food. Dr. Price discovered an additional fat-soluble nutrient, which he labeled Activator X, that is present in fish livers and shellfish, and organ meats and butter from cows eating rapidly growing green grass in the spring and fall.
Preconceptual Nutrition
The isolated groups Dr. Price investigated understood the importance of preconceptual nutrition for both parents. Many tribes required a period of special feeding before conception, in which nutrient-dense animal foods were given to young men and women. These same foods were considered important for pregnant and lactating women and growing children.
Dr. Price presented his discoveries and conclusions in his book, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, which showed the difference in facial structure between those on native diets and those whose parents had adopted the “civilized” diets of devitalized processed foods. The “primitive” Seminoles pictured on the left have wide, attractive faces with plenty of room for the dental arches. The “modernized” Seminole girl on the right, born to parents who had abandoned their traditional diets, has a narrowed face, crowded teeth and a reduced immunity to disease.
Core Principles of the Wise Traditions Diet
The Wise Traditions diet is built upon several core principles, all aimed at nourishing the body with the foods it was designed to thrive on.
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1. Emphasize Whole, Natural Foods
The foundation of the Wise Traditions diet is the consumption of whole, natural foods. This means prioritizing foods that are minimally processed and as close to their natural state as possible. Think of biting into a crisp apple freshly picked from the tree, bursting with flavor and nutrients only nature can provide. These are foods that our ancestors would recognize and celebrate-whole grains, seasonal vegetables, succulent fruits, and grass-fed meats, each bringing a symphony of taste and health benefits to our tables.
2. Embrace Traditional Fats and Cholesterol
Contrary to modern dietary dogma, the Wise Traditions diet embraces traditional fats, including saturated fats from animal sources. Saturated fats, such as butter, meat fats, coconut oil, and palm oil, tend to be solid at room temperature. According to conventional nutritional dogma, these traditional fats are to blame for most of our modern diseases-heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, malfunction of cell membranes, and even nervous disorders like multiple sclerosis.
Humans need saturated fats because we are warm blooded. Our bodies do not function at room temperature, but at a tropical temperature. Saturated fats provide the appropriate stiffness and structure to our cell membranes and tissues. Contrary to the accepted view, which is not scientifically based, saturated fats do not clog arteries or cause heart disease.
Saturated fats play many important roles in the body chemistry. They strengthen the immune system and are involved in inter-cellular communication, which means they protect us against cancer. They help the receptors on our cell membranes work properly, including receptors for insulin, thereby protecting us against diabetes. The lungs cannot function without saturated fats, which is why children given butter and full-fat milk suffer less often from asthma than children given reduced-fat milk and margarine. Saturated fats are required for the nervous system to function properly, and over half the fat in the brain is saturated. Saturated fats also help suppress inflammation.
Dietary cholesterol is also considered vital, contributing to the strength of the intestinal wall and aiding in the development of a healthy brain and nervous system in babies and children.
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3. Prioritize Animal Products
All traditional cultures consume some sort of animal food, such as fish and shellfish; land and water fowl; land and sea mammals; eggs; milk and milk products; reptiles; and insects. Unlike many modern diets that shun animal products, Nourishing Traditions encourages the consumption of grass-fed meats, organ meats, and raw dairy. These foods are nutrient-dense and packed with vitamins and minerals that are often lacking in plant-based diets.
The crux of Dr. Price’s research has to do with what he called the “fat-soluble activators,” vitamins found in the fats and organ meats of grass-fed animals and in certain seafoods, such as fish eggs, shellfish, oily fish, and fish liver oil. The three fat-soluble activators are vitamin A, vitamin D and a nutrient he referred to as Activator X, now considered to be vitamin K2, the animal form of vitamin K. In traditional diets, levels of these key nutrients were about ten times higher than levels in diets based on the foods of modern commerce, containing sugar, white flour and vegetable oil. Dr. Price referred to these vitamins as activators because they serve as the catalysts for mineral absorption.
4. Employ Traditional Preparation Methods
Traditional preparation methods, like fermentation, soaking, and sprouting, may sound fancy, but they're just simple ways to bring out the best in our food. Fermentation, for example, not only makes food tastier but also fills it with good bacteria, known as probiotics, that can work wonders for our gut health. Soaking and sprouting grains and legumes can break down hard-to-digest parts and unlock their full nutritional potential.
5. Source Food Locally and Seasonally
Eating in season and supporting local farmers is another core principle. Not only does this approach ensure fresher, more nutritious food, but it also supports sustainable agriculture and reduces our carbon footprint.
6. Avoid Processed Foods and Modern Additives
Do not eat commercially processed foods such as cookies, cakes, crackers, TV dinners, soft drinks, packaged sauce mixes, etc. Avoid canned, sprayed, waxed and irradiated fruits and vegetables. Avoid artificial food additives, especially MSG, hydrolyzed vegetable protein and aspartame, which are neurotoxins, and aluminum-containing foods such as commercial salt, baking powder and antacids.
Practical Guidelines for Implementing the Wise Traditions Diet
Here are some dietary guidelines for getting started on a Weston Price diet. The list may seem overwhelming, but just pick one and get started.
- Eat whole, natural foods.
- Eat only foods that will spoil, but eat them before they do.
- Eat naturally-raised meat including fish, seafood, poultry, beef, lamb, game, organ meats and eggs.
- Eat whole, naturally-produced milk products from pasture-fed cows, preferably raw and/or fermented, such as whole yogurt, cultured butter, whole cheeses and fresh and sour cream.
- Use only traditional fats and oils including butter and other animal fats, extra virgin olive oil, expeller expressed sesame and flax oil and the tropical oils-coconut and palm.
- Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, preferably organic, in salads and soups, or lightly steamed.
- Use whole grains and nuts that have been prepared by soaking, sprouting or sour leavening to neutralize phytic acid and other anti-nutrients.
- Include enzyme-enhanced lacto-fermented vegetables, fruits, beverages and condiments in your diet on a regular basis.
- Prepare homemade meat stocks from the bones of chicken, beef, lamb or fish and use liberally in soups and sauces.
- Use herb teas and coffee substitutes in moderation.
- Use filtered water for cooking and drinking.
- Use unrefined Celtic sea salt and a variety of herbs and spices for food interest and appetite stimulation.
- Use natural sweeteners in moderation, such as raw honey, maple syrup, dehydrated cane sugar juice and green stevia powder.
- Cook only in stainless steel, cast iron, glass or good quality enamel.
- Use only natural supplements.
- Get plenty of sleep, exercise and natural light.
- Think positive thoughts and minimize stress.
Potential Benefits of the Wise Traditions Diet
Adopting the Wise Traditions diet can lead to a range of potential health benefits, stemming from its emphasis on nutrient-dense foods and traditional preparation methods.
Improved Digestion
Traditional preparation methods, such as soaking, sprouting, and fermenting, make foods easier to digest and nutrients more bioavailable. This can lead to better gut health, reduced bloating, and overall enhanced digestion.
Enhanced Nutrient Intake
By focusing on whole, nutrient-dense foods, you're more likely to meet your body's nutritional needs. This can result in increased energy levels, improved mental clarity, and better overall health.
Overall Health Benefits
The combination of nutrient-dense foods, improved digestion, and personalized nutrition can lead to significant health improvements. Many people report increased energy, better immunity, and even weight loss as a result of following the Nourishing Traditions philosophy.
Criticisms and Considerations
The Weston A. Price Foundation and the Wise Traditions diet have faced criticism. Some of the foundation's views, particularly those against vegetarianism and soy, have been labeled as "myths." Organizations like Quackwatch have described the foundation as promoting "questionable dietary strategies" and argue that Price's core assumptions contradict contemporary medical understanding.
The foundation's advocacy for raw milk consumption is another point of contention. While the WAPF believes in the benefits of raw milk, health organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration emphasize the severe health risks associated with its consumption, stating that pasteurization does not significantly alter milk's nutritional value.
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