Wise Traditions

Why is losing weight so difficult? This is the question Zoe Harcombe set out to answer while studying at Cambridge University. We are trained from an early age to seek solace in food. Sweet treats are a central part of nearly every holiday we celebrate. According to Zoe, food in the form of starchy carbohydrates has become the world's most accessible and acceptable drug. At the same time, the US Dietary guidelines reinforce these behaviors by recommending a diet high in carbohydrates and low in fat.

After years of following these dietary recommendations, most people find themselves with one or more of the following conditions, that in all likelihood is sabotaging their weight loss efforts: hypoglycemia, candida, and food intolerances.

Today Zoe helps us understand the symptoms and treatments of these conditions. Her suggestions for finding lasting change include addressing these issues with simple, practical advice including: eating real food, lowering your carbohydrate intake, and being careful from whom you get your nutritional advice!

Learn more at zoeharcombe.com.

For the full show notes for this episode, go to westonaprice.org.

As a society, we have become disconnected from our ancestral food traditions. In a similar way, many of us have also lost touch with our primal instincts when it comes to sexual intimacy. Dr. Marianne Brandon is an author, clinical psychologist, and diplomat in sex therapy and, in today's episode, she helps us rediscover these instincts and improve our most intimate relationships.

She touches on a variety of approaches to enhance our relationships including: the importance of being present, vulnerability, and communication. She also describes common problems experienced by couples in this area and how to overcome them. Throughout the conversation, she points to how men and women differ sexually, emphasizing that these differences are complementary and should be embraced rather than erased.

Finally, Marianne reveals that one of the major roadblocks to physical intimacy is that many of us are stuck in our heads. Marianne emphasizes the importance of being mindful and open and honest with our partners. Her advice, when heeded, can result in increased sexual satisfaction that will benefit our overall health and sense of well-being.

For resources from Dr. Brandon, visit drbrandon.net.

For the full show notes for today's episode, visit westonaprice.org.

Have you or has someone you know been diagnosed with Lyme Disease? Transmitted by ticks and often contracted due to weakened immunity, this condition seems to be on the rise. Unfortunately, many conventional doctors are unfamiliar with natural protocols that strengthen the body and promote long-term healing.

In today's episode, certified integrative nutrition health coach Robin Shirley discusses her road to recovery after struggling with Lyme Disease for over a decade. She has learned that nutrition is a key piece of the puzzle, as it lays the foundation for improved immune function. In addition to consuming nutrient-dense foods, she suggests a three-pronged approach to combat Lyme's: avoiding antibiotics, cleansing from parasites, and addressing heavy metal toxicity.

Listen to her story and recommendations to discover fresh ways to address this very serious condition.

Learn more about Robin and the resources she offers at clubtbyh.com.

For extensive show notes (including links to resources Robin mentions on today's show), visit westonaprice.org.

How can you tell if a dietary recommendation is right for you? Is there a diet that works for everyone? What is the best way to measure what works or doesn't work for you? How can you find your own health "sweet spot?"

Dr. Richard Maurer helps us understand what he considers the best, most objective way to measure your health and find your sweet spot: blood work. Richard is a licensed naturopathic doctor and the author of "The Blood Code: Unlock the secrets of your metabolism."

In today's episode, he explains in simple terms which tests are key to evaluate our metabolism and overall health. He also tells the story of how he found his own metabolic "sweet spot" after becoming pre-diabetic at forty years old.

He has specific tips that will help you avoid common dietary pitfalls and lead you to your own health sweet spot!

Learn more at thebloodcode.com.

Or visit the westonaprice.org website for full highlights and links from today's episode.

Chances are that you and many people you know take an omega-3 or fish oil supplement. These supplements are among the most popular on the market, yet they are highly misunderstood. For optimal health, we really need to strike a balance between omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. The right balance can protect our heart health, reduce inflammation in the body and improve neurological function. But how do we get there?

Is fish oil the same as cod liver oil? Are supplements the best way to get essential fatty acids? How can we get more omega-3 fatty acids in our diet? Is it possible to get too much omega-3? Is omega-6 all bad?

Sally Fallon Morell, the head of the Weston A. Price Foundation, dispels myths and misconceptions about essential fatty acids in this episode, as she explains principle #8 of the Wise Traditions diet: how traditional peoples ate just the right balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. (These fatty acids are called essential because we must get them from our diet. Our bodies can't make these on their own.)

You'll learn about the importance of arachidonic acid, the role of DHA and EPA, and the ideal ratios of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Most importantly, you'll learn which foods to include in your diet to strike the delicate balance that is critical for improved health and well-being.

Learn more at westonaprice.org.

Jodi Ledley was fighting a life-long battle with migraines and chronic pain to no avail. These were not simple headaches but rather debilitating incidents of excruciating pain that sent her to the ER on many occasions and were simply putting her on the sidelines of life. She spent thousands of dollars with medical professionals but received no resolution until she discovered what was triggering her health concerns: monosodium glutamate (MSG). MSG, an excitotoxin, was causing serious neurological disruption for Jodi.

She found relief as she began to remove MSG from her diet, and her family's health improved, as well. Now, through her book and speaking engagements, Jodi has encouraged thousands to follow in her footsteps. Migraine-sufferers, those with ADD, ADHD, and anxiety can all benefit by eliminating foods from their diet that contain this additive.

In today's episode, you will learn how to detect MSG in your food--it goes by over 70 different names on food labels--and how to make changes to your diet that will improve your own health and the health of your loved ones.

Learn more about Jodi's journey at adventureswithjodi.com.

For the full show notes for this episode, visit westonaprice.org.

Many of us are stuck on a blood sugar rollercoaster and we don't even know it. We find ourselves reaching for a muffin at 10 a.m. and can't make it through the day without a mid-afternoon cup of coffee or energy drink. It's so common, we've come to regard it as normal.

Today, an expert in nutritional science and kinesiology, Lindsea Willon, joins us to explain how we can make different choices to avoid blood sugar spikes and dips. She offers practical tips like reminding us not to take sugar into our bodies "unopposed"--meaning vegetables and fruits should be eaten with some kind of fat to slow down their absorption into our blood stream.

By eating differently, we can avoid short-term issues, like headaches, sleeplessness, PMS, and getting "hangry." Proper nutrition can also help us avoid more serious health concerns like diabetes, PCOS, joint pain, and injuries.

Lindsea understands, both intellectually and from life experience, the importance of a healthy diet. An athlete in college, her poor diet led to injury and fatigue. Now, she fuels herself with nutrient-dense foods and encourages others to do the same. Her goal is for everyone to experience the energy and vitality that is their birthright. This episode will certainly give you the tools needed to get on the right track and to get off the blood sugar rollercoaster for good!

To find out more about Lindsea's practice, visit biodynamicwellness.com.

For the show notes for this episode, go to westonaprice.org.

In an age of information overload, it is easy to become overwhelmed and even paralyzed by the choices we have to make on a daily basis. Today, Hilary Boynton reminds us to slow down, take a deep breath, and cherish the moment. Hilary is an author, real food advocate, and a busy mother of five. Her husband has been battling cancer for some time. Her life is full and challenging. And, yet, in the middle of the chaos, she makes healthy eating a priority. She reminds us that it doesn't take much to make delicious and nutritious meals. And that eating mindfully and in good company is just as important as eating clean and organic. Pursuing good health is a lifestyle, and it is as much about relationships (with our farmers, our friends and family, and ourselves) as it is about nutrient-density and diet. At the end of the day, Hilary reminds us to trust our bodies that know what we need. And she calls us to live consciously and courageously. This interview was recorded LIVE in Topanga Canyon, California. Learn more from Hilary at liveyumyum.com.

Visit our website: westonaprice.org

Rather than providing a "one size fits all" approach to wellness, Oriental Medicine recognizes that each of us has a unique constitution.This Eastern practice dates back at least 3000 years, but its teachings are just as relevant and powerful today as ever.

Acupuncturist Cheryl Harris discusses the benefits of acupressure (and acupuncture) on some of her youngest patients. She discusses its efficacy as "preventative maintenance medicine," grounding the children emotionally and shoring them up physically. You will even get to hear from some of the children she works with on the show!

Cheryl knows what she's talking about! She has a Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and she is also certified in Five-Element Acupuncture. She speaks to how the five elements--wood, fire, earth, metal, and water--appear in nature and in our own temperaments.

You will find this to be a fascinating conversation that calls us all back to live in tune with nature and our own nature. Cheryl reminds us how beautiful and simple the journey to good health can be.

Visit westonaprice.org for the show notes for this episode.

Many conservation groups hold a piece of the puzzle when it comes to saving our planet. They focus on saving a particular species or on planting trees. Sarah Savory suggests that we must step back and look at the big picture for a more cohesive approach to regenerate the land. And the land is indeed key, because if it becomes infertile, there will be nothing for the animals to eat, and they will indeed become extinct, despite our best efforts.

Sarah Savory is a children's book author and conservation advocate (and, yes, the daughter of famed wildlife biologist Allan Savory) who knows how to explain in simple terms what is happening to our planet. She is a proponent of holistic management, an approach to greening the earth by properly managing livestock...and our own choices. Sarah invites us to examine how we are living and either contributing to, or alleviating, the issues that lead to desertification.

Sarah discusses the challenges she sees in Zimbabwe, her native country, and those that are common all over the world. She describes what led her to write children's books on the topic of conservation. You will be moved by her clarity, conviction, and call to action.

Learn more about Sarah and her books at sarahsavory.com.