Wise Traditions

It is now so common for children to be “picky eaters” that most consider it a normal childhood phase. There are special menus at restaurants and at social events shaping this whole “children’s food” culture—offering them primarily chicken nuggets, french fries, and mac and cheese. Despite parents’ best efforts, “picky kids” seem to choose carbs all day long and getting them to eat healthier foods can appear like an impossible task. But is it? Can picky eaters be “fixed”? On today’s podcast, Jennifer Scribner, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and author of “From Mac & Cheese to Veggies, Please”, helps us understand what makes a picky eater “picky” in the first place and she gives us strategies for helping them change their eating patterns. She tells us what to expect and how to plan ahead to make the transition smooth (or at least smoother) as we navigate from picky to healthy.  Check out our sponsors: Just Thrive Probiotics & Green Pasture.  To find our more about the Weston A. Price Foundation or to

Some say soy is heart-healthy. Others consider it a food that is a perfect protein, making it an ideal meat substitute. Dr. Anthony Jay has a different perspective. He suggests that soy is problematic. Anthony has a Ph.D. in biochemistry and works at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is also the author of “Estrogeneration.” He describes soy as an “estrogenic” food, meaning that it acts like estrogen in our bodies, which can lead to dysfunction and a number of ailments. In today’s episode, Anthony explains why there is so much conflicting information on soy and how to make sense of it all. He makes clear why we should care, guides us on how much—or rather, how little—we should consume, and describes in detail the cumulative effects of soy on our health. Check out our sponsors: Just Thrive probiotics and Kraut Pounder. For the full show notes or to make a donation to the Weston A. Price Foundation, visit our website: westonaprice.org.

We let our kids play with them, sleep with them next to our heads, and can’t seem to live without them. But cell phones just may be one of the most hazardous objects in our house. Our guest, Dr. George Carlo, a world-recognized medical scientist, tech expert, and the Chairman of the Science and Public Policy Institute, explains why. George is not an alarmist and yet today he does sound some alarm bells to wake us up to the dangers that radiation poses to our health--specifically the radiation emitted from our devices and wifi networks. George was featured in the recently released documentary “Generation Zapped.” In that movie, and on today’s show, George discusses how we got to where we are today, why the cell phone industry has chosen to ignore evidence that radiation damages us on a cellular level, and what we can do to protect ourselves from its effects. Check out our sponsors: The Frenching Your Food Summit and Defender Shield. To find out more about the Weston A. Price Foundation or to make a donation or

Most of us believe that our dental health is directly related to how much we brush and floss. But what if there is more to it than that? The traditional groups that Dr. Weston A. Price visited so many years ago did not have wonderful dental hygiene, yet their teeth were perfectly straight and surprisingly free of decay. Their secret? Their diet! These populations were eating a diet devoid of processed foods, and extremely rich in minerals and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and K. On this episode, Dr. Steven Lin, the author of The Dental Diet, explains how to maintain a healthy smile, naturally. He covers how we need to increase vitamin and mineral consumption from the foods we eat, what foods to avoid that are destructive to our health, and how to breathe and hold the mouth properly. He also busts many common dental myths and replaces them with truth that we can apply, to enable vibrant dental health. For more on Dr. Lin, visit his website: drstevenlin.com. And check out our sponsor: Just Thrive Probiotics. To fi

Farmer Paul Grieve, of Primal Pastures in Southern California peels back the curtain on how life on the farm affects our own lives. We all want to be healthy and eat real, nutrient-dense food. This becomes a reality when we begin cooperating with nature and regenerating the soil. When we help the land heal, we heal ourselves. On today's episode, Paul describes what regenerative agriculture looks like and why it's important. It's healthy farming at its best--restoring the soil, the air quality, ground water, and wildlife, while at the same time providing nutrient-dense food for people. He also talks about how challenging it is to come by. He describes how labels like "organic," "cage-free,""antibiotic-free," etc. don't tell the whole story. He explains why organic food costs producers and consumers more. In sum, he describes the how and why behind sustainable, regenerative agriculture and how it is worth the effort--since it benefits us, our children, and grandchildren. To find out more about Paul, visit Prima

"Cancer" is a word that should never be uttered in the same sentence with the word "child." But it is, and with increasing frequency. In 2018, it is estimated that 16,000 kids will be diagnosed with cancer. Today's episode is about how to best help these children through cancer treatment. Season Johnson's son, Kicker, was diagnosed with leukemia as a little boy, and Season supported him through his chemotherapy regimen with a combination of nutrient-dense foods and detoxification protocols. She observed the benefits he experienced and now she is on a mission to support and educate parents whose children have also been diagnosed with cancer. Season, a nutritional therapy practitioner, is the founder of KICK CancER, an organization with a science-based, holistic approach to healing. Its focus is to educate and empower parents to shore up their children's health with dietary advice--emphasizing real, whole foods--and methods to support the health and quality of life of their children. For more on KICK CancER, vi

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to nourish ourselves and our families is to use animal bones! Across the ages, traditional cultures around the world have included them in their diet in various forms: from fermented bones, to ground up bones in soups and stews, to bone broth. Bones are rich in calcium, glycine, amino acids, and collagen which our bodies desperately need. Collagen, for example, is good for detoxing our bodies and decreasing anxiety! In today's episode, Sally Fallon Morell, the head of the Weston A. Price Foundation, makes a strong case for including bones in the diet, as she explains Principle #10 of the Wise Traditions diet. She discusses how we can benefit from their nutrients to preserve and protect our health.  So, don't throw away those bones! Instead, make a warm cup of broth and enjoy today's enlightening discussion on the use of bones for a healthier diet! To learn more about bones and bone broth, or to become a member, visit our website: westonaprice.org.  And check out our sponso

Hormones are chemical messengers that manage many major functions of our bodies. How do we support our hormone health so that our bodies can run optimally? Sally Fallon Morell, the head of the Weston A. Price Foundation, explains how to best do so in this bonus episode, that reviews the latest Wise Traditions journal. She discusses the results of recent studies that show the benefits of fats for proper health, the importance of the hormone axis, and why we should get vitamins from real food, as opposed to supplements. She discusses how soy damages hormone function and how to best nurture our children. This is fascinating conversation that covers a plethora of topics! For highlights from today's episode, see the show notes on our website: westonaprice.org.  For information on becoming a member of the Weston A. Price Foundation, click here.

What if we approached mental illness differently? What if we treated it holistically, as a symptom of a problem with the entire body? How can nutrition support the body’s natural healing capacity? Dr. Kelly Brogan, holistic psychiatrist and author of “A mind of your own,” touches on these topics, and more, on this important episode on mental health. This is a follow-up conversation to last week’s discussion (on Wise Traditions podcast episode #122) about depression—how it is frequently misdiagnosed and inadequately addressed. Kelly dives deeper this week into healing therapies that she recommends to address the root cause of mental health issues, rather than simply suppressing symptoms with medications. Today, she touches on what she considers the “four pillars” of health, her elimination diet, and detoxification strategies. Her recommendations address mental health concerns in new and effective ways and they offer more hope than conventional treatments. For more on Kelly, her book, and courses, visit kellyb

Depression is escalating, world-wide, as is the use of psychotropic drugs to treat it. What is happening? Why is mental illness increasing at alarming rates? Are drugs the best way to treat it or are there alternative approaches to consider? In today's episode, Dr. Kelly Brogan, a holistic psychiatrist and the author of "A mind of your own," challenges our preconceived notions about the causes and treatment of depression and other mental illnesses. Kelly suggests a holistic approach to treating mental illness--that the best way to heal the mind is to heal the body first. She suggests looking at gut health as a factor in mental health; she explores how psychological issues can be approached without the use of drugs; and she discusses the risks and benefits of decreasing medication. Finally, she offers action steps to help heal the body and the mind. For more on Dr. Kelly Brogan, her book, and courses, visit her website: kellybroganmd.com. For the full show notes for this episode, click here.  To become a membe

Low-carb, high-fat (LCHF) diets are trending, but how healthy are they really? Are they for everyone? What does the science say? Professor Tim Noakes, co-author of "The Real Meal Revolution," is a renowned scientist and researcher from South Africa who is convinced that most people can improve their health by restricting their carbohydrate intake and upping their fats. He had to defend this dietary position in recent years before the Health Professions Council of South Africa. He came before the council as a result of a tweet where he replied to a breastfeeding mother, suggesting that she wean her baby to a LCHF diet. The trial was focused, in part, on whether he was offering "unconventional and unscientific" advice to the mother.  In today's episode, you'll learn about the outcome of the trial, why the LCHF (a/k/a Banting) diet is scorned by some, what health benefits can result from adopting it, what it looks like to eat this way in the day-to-day, and more.   For more on Professor Noakes and his foundation

As time passes and humanity develops new technologies, we would expect new generations to be healthier and live longer. Sadly, the opposite is true for children in the United States: our children are overweight, sick, and getting sicker. Developmental issues are common. As a matter of fact, this is the first time in history when children are expected to have shorter life spans than their parents. What an alarming situation! How did this happen? And what can we do to reverse this trend of sickness and disability? On today's episode, author and speaker Dr. Tim O’Shea discusses the impact of today's technologies, like vaccines and genetically modified foods, that are damaging our immune systems, impairing neurological function, disrupting our DNA, and negatively impacting our health. He gives suggestions for helping your children not just survive, but thrive, despite these challenges. He offers concrete ideas for protecting young immune systems through diet and other natural therapies, in addition to exercising

Homeopathy has been around for over 200 years, so it is clearly a wise tradition that we need to rediscover! It is a natural, holistic way to stimulate the body's own healing ability, and it has been used in ancient cultures worldwide! In today's episode, Paola Brown, the President of Americans for Homeopathy Choice, explains homeopathy in detail and elaborates on why it is a powerful healing tool. She also discusses what the FDA is doing that is jeopardizing the future of homeopathy in the U.S. The FDA regulates homeopathy and things have gone smoothly for the past 30 years. Now, it wants to withdraw its Compliance Policy Guide which could upend the industry and cause mistakes that could throw into question homeopathy's efficacy and reputation. This episode will help you gain a better understanding of homeopathy, and will make clear the importance of defending our right to it today, as a vanguard of our health rights in the future. For more info: go to Americans for Homeopathy Choice. And check out our spons

A lot of people think being healthy means having a meat-free diet. Dietician Diana Rodgers goes to bat for why meat--even red meat--should be a part of a healthy diet. Her plan is to make the environmental, nutritional, and ethical case for better meat via a documentary that is now in pre-production. The working title of the movie is "Kale vs. Cow." Diana knows what she's talking about. She struggled as a child with many health issues which is what led her to become a nutritionist, NTP, LDN, and dietician. She is convinced that real, organic, sustainable food is the key to good health. She lives on a working organic farm near Boston and is a supporter of the grass-fed movement. She cares deeply about improving the lives of animals raised for consumption and protecting our environment. And this is something both vegans and meat-eaters can agree on. On today's episode, Diana shares her personal journey and the reasons behind her decision to produce the "Kale vs cow" documentary and buck conventional thinking a

As a young man, Brian Richards had a laundry list of health issues: mind-racing, insomnia, acne, adrenal fatigue, and more. Doctors wanted to give him Accutane and other pharmaceutical drugs to manage his symptoms, but he wanted to get to the source of the problem. He realized that the reason for cellular degradation is our environmental toxic exposure on a variety of levels—chemical, electro-magnetic, emotional, etc. He sought a natural detox solution and his research led him to the conclusion that passive sweating is one of the best ways to detox the body. He decided to build his own sauna to provide that full-body thermal light therapy for himself. In today’s episode, Brian shares his own story and how it led to him establishing the SaunaSpace company. He also tells stories of those who have benefited from this therapy, along with the science behind why saunas work: how near-infrared incandescent light exposure stimulates the cells so that they can repair themselves, and allows the body to detox. For more

Cod liver oil is one of the main foods that the Weston A. Price Foundation recommends for a healthy diet. It abounds in nutrients that are sadly lacking in our diets today. Cod liver oil provides fat-soluble vitamins A and D, which Dr. Price found present in the diet of traditional people groups in amounts ten times higher than those in "modernized" diets! Unfortunately, in recent years, there has been some controversy around the subject of fermented cod liver oil, which has caused some concern about its safety and health benefits. In today's episode, Sally Fallon Morell, the head of the Weston A. Price Foundation, dispels the confusion and answers the questions that have been posed about it. She explains the value of cod liver oil in detail. She describes the results Dr. Price saw when he introduced it into American diets. She goes through the cod liver oil extraction process, how fermentation allows us to get oils without compromising the nutrient content of the livers, and more.  Most importantly she addre

Did you know that there are chemicals that we encounter on a daily basis--in our food, water, even in our personal care products--that are detrimental to our health? The chemicals, called estrogenics, mimic estrogen and disrupt our bodies' normal functions. You may have heard of BPA (Bisphenol-A), for example, which is a chemical found in some plastics that has been linked to health problems and has been therefore banned from baby products here in the U.S., but it is just one among many estrogen-mimicking chemicals that threaten our health. On today's episode, Dr. Anthony Jay, author of "Estrogeneration: how estrogenics are making you fat, sick, and infertile" explains how estrogenic chemicals are wreaking havoc on our bodies' hormone balance. He tells us where these chemicals are found--from our drinking water to shampoos to sports drinks to sunscreen to grocery store receipts--and he gives suggestions for how to minimize our exposure. For more on Dr. Anthony Jay, see his website: ajconsultingcompany.com.  F

Traditional people groups around the world have long valued fermentation as a process that preserves food and makes its nutrients more bio-available. Today, fermentation “revivalist” and well-known author Sandor Katz takes us on a tour of the wild world of fermentation. He discusses how it works, how delicious it tastes, and how it benefits our bodies. He also dives into his own story—what piqued his interest in fermentation in the first place, and what he’s learned from recent travels around the world. He shares about the foods he's enjoyed, the connections he's made, and the fermentation traditions that are still being used today. He completes the interview with something of a mini-workshop on how to make sauerkraut. This conversation is a fermentation "starter," of sorts. It will spark curiosity and wonder at the mysterious process of fermentation. For more on Sandor, visit his website: wildfermentation.com And check out our sponsors: krautpounder.com and farmtoconsumer.org! For the full show notes, visit

There's a lot of buzz about gut health these days. It is key to our overall wellness. But some people think you can just pop a probiotic pill to protect it and you're good to go. Dr. Zach Bush has a better idea. Zach is an expert on the microbiome and nutrition and in today's conversation he sheds new light on what constitutes a healthy gut and how to keep it that way. The threats to our gut health include glyphosate, herbicides and pesticides that compromise our gut lining and result in allergies, sensitivities, and chronic health conditions. These chemicals are found not only on our food, of course, but also in the soil, the air, our water. Zach goes into detail about how to shore up our guts against these attacks. It takes guts to make the dietary and lifestyle changes he suggests. But if we do, we can be sure that we will improve our own health, and potentially impact the health of future generations.  For more on Zach Bush, the science behind this discussion, and more, go to zachbushmd.com. For complete

Losing weight is a popular new year's resolution. Holistic physician Dr. Tom Cowan makes a strong case for why we should aim for getting healthier, rather than just hitting a particular number on the scale. That said, in today's episode, he offers practical ideas for how to meet both goals: weight loss and good health. He and his patients have benefited from his protocol that includes intermittent fasting, movement, and a balanced diet. He goes into particular detail about fasting. He discusses how it stimulates weight loss, how to approach it as a beginner, how long and how often you should fast, and more. Dr. Cowan also gets into the science behind the macronutrients our bodies need: fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. He explains how to approach a low-carb diet and the role of insulin in weight gain and fat storage in the body. He explains how a balanced diet can lead to more focus, better energy, and protection from diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer. It's a fascinating discussion that will give you prac