In this episode, Hilda Librada Gore of the Wise Traditions podcast interviews me about the work of Weston Price, dental researcher extraordinaire and pioneer of nutritional anthropology. In the second half, we talk about how to condense what we've learned since Price's time about nutrition into some practical rules of thumb that can help us achieve the best diet to meet our nutritional needs.
It originally appeared on the Wise Traditions podcast as episode 155 and 156.
If you can be in Baltimore, MD this weekend, November 16-November 19, come to the Wise Traditions Conference! I'll be giving an all-day seminar on Monday the 19th about measuring and managing nutritional status. You can register for the conference on site and select my seminar as an add-on.
Regardless of if you come to my seminar, you can get my "cheat sheet" for measuring and managing nutritional status at chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet and use the code MASTERINGNUTRITION to get $5 off your order.
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Here's what you can expect to find in the podcast.
PART 1
Dr. Weston A. Price, a Cleveland dentist and researcher from the late 1800s, has been called the "Isaac Newton of Nutrition." His research is just that pivotal to our understanding of the role diet plays in our health. Today, we take a deep dive into the research that Dr. Price conducted and how we can benefit from it. What foods did traditional peoples enjoy that helped them cultivate good health? What did they avoid? And what can we learn from their choices? On this podcast, Chris Masterjohn, a nutrition expert who has a PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Connecticut, explains the foundational work of Dr. Price.
In the 1930s, Dr. Price traveled the world in order to study isolated people groups, visiting sequestered villages in Switzerland, Polynesian South Sea Islanders, African tribal groups, Australian Aborigines, and more. He was interested in finding out how these groups resisted the tooth decay and deformations that he was seeing in his clinic in the United States. The world over, Dr. Price found that those on their traditional diets not only had beautiful straight teeth, free from decay, but they also enjoyed vibrant health and vitality. Chris discusses in detail how Dr. Price went about this work and how it can serve us in our pursuit of good health today.
Highlights from the conversation include:
- Chris' own recent trip to Greece and how he made discoveries for himself
- the purpose of Dr. Price's research
- the wisdom and and history of traditional cultures
- the role nutrition plays in tooth decay
- the "displacing foods of modern commerce"
- the developmental effects of refined vs traditional foods
- how the width of the face is determined by more than just genetics
- the shocking story of the skulls Dr. Price found in Peru
- why our oral health and overall health are intrinsically linked
- how reversing tooth decay and healing cavities with diet is possible
- the difference between fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins & which are so difficult to get
- Dr. Price's four main food categories for good health
PART 2
We understand the beauty and benefit of diversity. We switch up our exercise routines. We diversify our investment portfolio. But did you know that it's a good idea to diversify our diets, as well? Today, Chris Masterjohn makes a strong case for why it's critical to do so for optimal health. Chris is a health expert and educator, with a PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Connecticut. He explains in detail his rules of thumb for healthy eating. He give us practical ideas on how to translate the research of Dr. Weston A. Price from head knowledge to the dinner plate. Along the way, he tells stories about traditional people groups' dietary patterns; he warns us about the dangers of dietary extremes; and he gives us a window into the way he himself eats for optimal health.
Highlights from the conversation include:
- Chris' "rules of thumb" for good health
- why it's important to diversify our food sources
- how nutrients are different, even in the same food groups
- how to actually implement Dr. Price's research in your life
- practical tips and advice for diversifying your food
- the problem with categorizing certain foods as "good" or "bad"
- why plants are not as good a source of calcium compared to dairy products or bones
- the dangers of the carnivore diet
- how there are no people groups who eat animal foods exclusively; nor are there people living solely on plant foods
- the strange story of isolated peoples who had no access to animal foods
- the importance of eat eating the entire animal, nose to tail
- what to do if your body has specific needs
- what Dr. Price found when he searched for vegan people groups
- the important principle of how distinct our nutritional needs are (both compared to others' needs and how our own needs change over time)
- Learn about the true diversity of traditional cultures
Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here:
https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/052-weston-price-and-beyond
Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.
