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Life
in all its splendor is Mother Nature obeyed.
—Weston A. Price, DDS
The Weston A. Price Foundation is a nonprofit,
tax-exempt charity founded in 1999 to disseminate the research
of nutrition pioneer Dr. Weston Price, whose studies of isolated
nonindustrialized peoples established the parameters of human
health and determined the optimum characteristics of human
diets. Dr. Price's research demonstrated that humans achieve
perfect physical form and perfect health generation after
generation only when they consume nutrient-dense whole foods
and the vital fat-soluble activators.
Contents
About
Dr. Weston A. Price
Dr. Weston A. Price, a Cleveland dentist, has been called
the "Charles Darwin of Nutrition." In his search for the causes
of dental decay and physical degeneration that he observed
in his dental practice, he turned from test tubes and microscopes
to unstudied evidence among human beings. Dr. Price sought
the factors responsible for fine teeth among the people who
had them- the isolated "primitives." The world became his
laboratory. As he traveled, his findings led him to the belief
that dental caries and deformed dental arches resulting in
crowded, crooked teeth and unattractive appearance were merely
a sign of physical degeneration, resulting from what he had
suspected - nutritional deficiencies.
Price travelled the world over in order to
study isolated human groups, including sequestered villages
in Switzerland, Gaelic communities in the Outer Hebrides,
Eskimos and Indians of North America, Melanesian and Polynesian
South Sea Islanders, African tribes, Australian Aborigines,
New Zealand Maori and the Indians of South America. Wherever
he went, Dr. Price found that beautiful straight teeth, freedom
from decay, stalwart bodies, resistance to disease and fine
characters were typical of primitives on their traditional
diets, rich in essential food factors.
When Dr. Price analyzed the foods used by isolated
primitive peoples he found that they provided at least four
times the water soluble vitamins, calcium and other minerals,
and at least TEN times the fat soluble vitamins from animal
foods such as butter, fish eggs, shellfish and organ meats.
The importance of good nutrition for mothers
during pregnancy has long been recognized, but Dr. Price's
investigation showed that primitives understood and practiced
preconception nutritional programs for both parents.
Many tribes required a period of premarital nutrition, and
children were spaced to permit the mother to maintain her
full health and strength, thus assuring subsequent offspring
of physical excellence. Special foods were often given to
pregnant and lactating women, as well as to the maturing boys
and girls in preparation for future parenthood. Dr. Price
found these foods to be very rich in fat soluble vitamins
A and D.
These primitives with their fine bodies, homogeneous
reproduction, emotional stability and  freedom
from degenerative ills stand forth in sharp contrast to those
subsisting on the impoverished foods of civilization - sugar,
white flour, pasteurized milk and convenience foods filled
with extenders and additives.
The photographs of Dr. Weston Price illustrate
the difference in facial structure between those on native
diets and those whose parents had adopted the "civilized"
diets of devitalized processed foods. |
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discoveries and conclusion of Dr. Price are presented in his
classic volume Nutrition and Physical Degeneration.
The book contains striking photographs of handsome, healthy
primitives and illustrates in an unforgettable way the physical
degeneration that occurs when human groups abandon nourishing
traditional diets in favor of modern convenience foods.
In addition to his work on nutrition, Dr. Price
conducted extensive research into the destructive effects
of root canals, detailed in his two-volume work Dental Infections
Oral & Systemic and Dental Infections &
the Degenerative Diseases. His conclusions, ignored by
the orthodox dental establishment for over 50 years, are gaining
renewed acceptance as holistic practitioners are discovering
that the first step to recovery from degenerative disease
often involves removal of all root canals in the patient's
mouth.
Characteristics
of Traditional Diets
- The diets of healthy primitive and nonindustrialized
peoples contain no refined or denatured foods such as refined
sugar or corn syrup; white flour; canned foods; pasteurized,
homogenized, skim or low-fat milk; refined or hydrogenated
vegetable oils; protein powders; artificial vitamins or
toxic additives and colorings.
- All traditional cultures consume some sort
of animal protein and fat from fish and other seafood; water
and land fowl; land animals; eggs; milk and milk products.
- Primitive diets contain at least four times
the calcium and other minerals and TEN times the fat soluble
vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin D and the Price Factor) as
the average American diet.
- In all traditional cultures, some animal
products are eaten raw.
- Primitive and traditional diets have a high
food-enzyme content from raw dairy products, raw meat and
fish; raw honey; tropical fruits; cold-pressed oils; wine
and unpasteurized beer; and naturally preserved, lacto-fermented
vegetables, fruits, beverages, meats and condiments.
- Seeds, grains and nuts are soaked, sprouted,
fermented or naturally leavened in order to neutralize naturally
occuring antinutrients in these foods, such as phytic acid,
enzyme inhibitors, tannins and complex carbohydrates.
- Traditional diets contain nearly equal amounts
of omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids.
- All primitive diets contain some salt.
- Tradtional cultures consume animal bones,
usually in the form of gelatin-rich bone broths.
- Traditional cultures make provisions for
the health of future generations by providing special nutrient-rich
foods for parents-to-be, pregnant women and growing children;
by proper spacing of children; and by teaching the principles
of right diet to the young.
Dietary
Guidelines
- 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.
- 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 seasalt and a variety
of herbs and spices.
- Make your own salad dressing using raw vinegar
and extra virgin, cold-pressed oils.
- Use natural sweeteners in moderation, such
as raw honey, maple syrup, dehydrated cane sugar juice and
stevia powder.
- Use only unpasteurized wine or beer in strict
moderation with meals.
- 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.
- Practice forgiveness.
Dietary
Dangers
- Don't eat commercially processed foods such
as cookies, cakes, crackers, TV dinners, soft drinks, packaged
sauce mixes, etc.
- Avoid all refined sweeteners such as sugar,
dextrose, glucose and high fructose corn syrup.
- Avoid white flour, white flour products
and white rice.
- Avoid all hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated
fats and oils.
- Avoid all vegetable oils made from soy,
corn, safflower, canola or cottonseed.
- Do not use refined oils for cooking, sauteing
or baking.
- Avoid deep-fried foods.
- Be careful about practicing strict vegetarianism
(veganism); animal products provide vital nutrients not
found in plant foods.
- Avoid products containing protein powders.
- Avoid pasteurized milk; do not consume lowfat
milk, skim milk, powdered milk or imitation milk products.
- Avoid battery-produced eggs and factory-farmed
meats.
- Avoid highly processed luncheon meats and
sausage containing MSG and other additives.
- Avoid rancid and improperly prepared seeds,
nuts and grains found in granolas, quick rise breads and
extruded breakfast cereals, as they block mineral absorption
and cause intestinal distress.
- Avoid canned, sprayed, waxed, bioengineered
or irradiated fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid artificial food additives, especially
MSG, hydrolyzed vegetable protein and aspartame, which are
neurotoxins. Most soups, sauce and broth mixes and commercial
condiments contain MSG, even if not so labeled.
- Avoid caffeine-containing soft drinks.
- Avoid aluminum-containing foods such as
commercial salt, baking powder and antacids. Do not use
aluminum cookware or aluminum-containing deodorants.
- Do not drink fluoridated water.
- Avoid synthetic vitamins and foods containing
them.
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What's
Wrong With "Politically Correct" Nutrition?
"Avoid saturated fats"
Saturated fats play many important roles in the body. They
provide integrity to the cell membrane, enhance the body's
use of essential fatty acids, enhance the immune system, protect
the liver and contribute to strong bones. Saturated fats do
not cause heart disease. In fact, saturated fats are the preferred
food for the heart. Your body makes saturated fats out of
carbohydrates.
"Limit cholesterol"
Dietary cholesterol contributes to the strength
of the intestinal wall and helps babies and children develop
a healthy brain and nervous system. Foods that contain cholesterol
also provide many other important nutrients. Only oxidized
cholesterol, found in powdered milk and eggs, contributes
to heart disease. Powdered milk is added to 1% and 2% milk.
"Avoid red meat"
Red meat is a rich source of nutrients that protect
the heart and nervous system including vitamins B12
and B6,
zinc, phosphorus, carnitine and coenzyme Q10.
"Cut back on eggs"
Eggs are nature's perfect food, providing excellent
protein, the gamut of nutrients and important fatty acids
that contribute to the health of the brain and nervous system.
Americans had less heart disease when they ate more eggs.
Egg substitutes cause rapid death in test animals.
"Eat lean meat and drink lowfat
milk"
Lean meat and lowfat milk lack fat soluble vitamins needed
to assimilate protein and minerals in meat and milk. Consumption
of low-fat foods can lead to depletion of vitamin A and D
reserves.
"Limit fat consumption to 30%
of calories"
30% calories as fat is too low for most people, leading to
low blood sugar and fatigue. Traditional diets contained 40%
to 80% of calories as healthy fats.
"Restrict salt"
Salt is crucial to digestion and assimilation. Salt is also
necessary for the development and functioning of the nervous
system.
"Eat at least 5 servings of fruits
and vegetables per day"
Fruits and vegetables receive an average of 10 applications
of pesticides, from seed to storage. Consumers should seek
out organic produce. Quality counts!
"Eat more soy foods"
Modern soy foods block mineral absorption, inhibit protein
digestion, depress thyroid function and contain potent carcinogens.
Myths
and Truths About Nutrition
Myth: Heart disease in America is caused
by consumption of cholesterol and saturated fat from animal
products.
Truth: During the period of rapid increase in heart
disease (1920-1960), American consumption of animal fats
declined but consumption of hydrogenated and industrially
processed vegetable fats increased dramatically. (USDA-HNI)
Myth: Vitamin B12
can be obtained from certain plant sources such as blue-green
algae and soy products.
Truth: Vitamin B12
is not absorbed from plant sources. Modern soy products
increase the body's need for B12.
(Soybeans: Chemistry & Technology Vol 1 1972)
Myth: For good health, serum
cholesterol should be less than 180 mg/dl.
Truth: The all-cause death rate is higher in individuals
with cholesterol levels lower than 180 mg/dl. (Circulation
1992 86:3:1026-1029)
Myth: Animal fats cause cancer
and heart disease.
Truth: Animal fats contain many nutrients that protect
against cancer and heart disease; elevated rates of cancer
and heart disease are associated with consumption of large
amounts of vegetable oils. (Fed Proc July 1978 37:2215)
Myth: Children benefit from
a low-fat diet.
Truth: Children on low-fat diets suffer from growth
problems, failure to thrive & learning disabilities.
(Food Chem News 10/3/94)
Myth: A low-fat diet will make
you "feel better . . . and increase your joy of living."
Truth: Low-fat diets are associated with increased
rates of depression, psychological problems, fatigue, violence
and suicide. (Lancet 3/21/92 v339)
Myth: To avoid heart disease,
we should use margarine instead of butter.
Truth: Margarine eaters have twice the rate of heart
disease as butter eaters. (Nutrition Week 3/22/91
21:12)
 Myth:
Americans do not consume enough essential fatty acids.
Truth: Americans consume far too much of one kind
of EFA (omega-6 EFAs found in most polyunsaturated vegetable
oils) but not enough of another kind of EFA (omega-3 EFAs
found in fish, fish oils, eggs from properly fed chickens,
dark green vegetables and herbs, and oils from certain seeds)
(Am J Clin Nutr 1991 54:438-63)
Myth: A vegetarian diet will
protect you against atherosclerosis.
Truth: The International Atherosclerosis Project
found that vegetarians had just as much atherosclerosis
as meat eaters. (Lab Invest 1968 18:498)
Myth: Low-fat diets prevent
breast cancer.
Truth: A recent study found that women on very low-fat
diets (less than 20%) had the same rate of breast cancer
as women who consumed large amounts of fat. (NEJM
2/8/96)
Myth: Coconut
oil causes heart disease.
Truth: When coconut oil was fed as 7% of energy to
patients recovering from heart attacks, the patients had
greater improvement compared to untreated controls, and
no difference compared to patents treated with corn or safflower
oils. Populations that consume coconut oil have low rates
of heart disease. Coconut oil may also be one of the most
useful oils to prevent heart disease because of its antiviral
and antimicrobial characteristics. (JAMA 1967 202:1119-1123;
Am J Clin Nutr 1981 34:1552)
Myth: Saturated fats inhibit
production of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.
Truth: Saturated fats actually improve the production
of all prostaglandins by facilitating the conversion of
essential fatty acids. (Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation
Journal 20:3)
Myth: Arachidonic acid in foods
like liver, butter and egg yolks causes production of "bad"
inflammatory prostaglandins.
Truth: Series 2 prostaglandins that the body makes
from arachidonic acid both encourage and inhibit inflammation
under appropriate circumstances. Arachidonic acid is vital
for the function of the brain and nervous system. (Price-Pottenger
Nutrition Foundation Journal 20:3)
Myth: Beef causes colon cancer
Truth: Argentina, with higher beef consumption, has
lower rates of colon cancer than the US. Mormons have lower
rates of colon cancer than vegetarian Seventh Day Adventists
(Cancer Res 35:3513 1975)
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Myths
and Truths About Soy
Myth: Use of soy as a food dates back
many thousands of years.
Truth: Soy was first used as a food during the late
Chou dynasty (1134-246 BC), only after the Chinese learned
to ferment soy beans to make foods like tempeh, natto
and tamari.
Myth: Asians consume large amounts
of soy foods.
Truth: Average consumption of soy foods in Japan
and China is 10 grams (about 2 teaspoons) per day. Asians
consume soy foods in small amounts as a condiment, and not
as a replacement for animal foods.
Myth: Modern soy foods confer
the same health benefits as traditionally fermented soy
foods.
Truth: Most modern soy foods are not fermented to
neutralize toxins in soybeans, and are processed in a way
that denatures proteins and increases levels of carcinogens.
Myth: Soy foods provide complete
protein.
Truth: Like all legumes, soy beans are deficient
in sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cystine.
In addition, modern processing denatures fragile lysine.
Myth: Fermented soy foods can
provide vitamin B12
in vegetarian diets.
Truth: The compound that resembles vitamin B12
in soy cannot be used by the human body; in fact, soy foods
cause the body to require more B12
Myth: Soy formula is safe for
infants.
Truth: Soy foods contain trypsin inhibitors that
inhibit protein digestion and affect pancreatic function.
In test animals, diets high in trypsin inhibitors led to
stunted growth and pancreatic disorders. Soy foods increase
the body's requirement for vitamin D, needed for strong
bones and normal growth. Phytic acid in soy foods results
in reduced bioavailabilty of iron and zinc which are required
for the health and development of the brain and nervous
system. Soy also lacks cholesterol, likewise essential for
the development of the brain and nervous system. Megadoses
of phytoestrogens in soy formula have been implicated in
the current trend toward increasingly premature sexual development
in girls and delayed or retarded sexual development in boys.
Myth: Soy foods can prevent
osteoporosis.
Truth: Soy foods can cause deficiencies in calcium
and vitamin D, both needed for healthy bones. Calcium from
bone broths and vitamin D from seafood, lard and organ meats
prevent osteoporosis in Asian countries - not soy foods.
Myth: Modern soy foods protect
against many types of cancer.
Truth: A British government report concluded that
there is little evidence that soy foods protect against
breast cancer or any other forms of cancer. In fact, soy
foods may result in an increased risk of cancer.
Myth: Soy foods protect against
heart disease.
Truth: In some people, consumption of soy foods will
lower cholesterol, but there is no evidence that lowering
cholesterol improves one's risk of having heart disease.
Myth: Soy estrogens (isoflavones)
are good for you.
Truth: Soy isoflavones are phyto-endocrine disrupters.
At dietary levels, they can prevent ovulation and stimulate
the growth of cancer cells. Eating as little as 30 grams
(about 4 tablespoons) of soy per day can result in hypothyroidism
with symptoms of lethargy, constipation, weight gain and
fatigue.
Myth: Soy foods are safe and
beneficial for women to use in their postmenopausal years.
Truth: Soy foods can stimulate the growth of estrogen-dependent
tumors and cause thyroid problems. Low thyroid function
is associated with difficulties in menopause.
Myth: Phytoestrogens in soy
foods can enhance mental ability.
Truth: A recent study found that women with the highest
levels of estrogen in their blood had the lowest levels
of cognitive function; In Japanese Americans tofu consumption
in mid-life is associated with the occurrence of Alzheimer's
disease in later life.
Myth: Soy isoflavones and soy
protein isolate have GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe)
status.
Truth: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) recently withdrew
its application to the FDA for GRAS status for soy isoflavones
following an outpouring of protest from the scientific community.
The FDA never approved GRAS status for soy protein isolate
because of concern regarding the presence of toxins and
carcinogens in processed soy.
Myth: Soy foods are good for
your sex life.
Truth: Numerous animal studies show that soy foods
cause infertility in animals. Soy consumption enhances hair
growth in middle-aged men, indicating lowered testosterone
levels. Japanese housewives feed tofu to their husbands
frequently when they want to reduce their virility.
Myth: Soy beans are good for
the environment.
Truth: Most soy beans grown in the US are genetically
engineered to allow farmers to use large amounts of herbicides.
Myth: Soy beans are good for
developing nations.
Truth: In third world countries, soybeans replace
traditional crops and transfer the value-added of processing
from the local population to multinational corporations.
Soy
Infant Formula: Birth Control Pills for Babies
Babies fed soy-based formula have 13,000 to
22,000 times more estrogen compounds in their blood than babies
fed milk-based formula. Infants exclusively fed soy formula
receive the estrogenic equivalent (based on body weight) of
at least five birth control pills per day.
Male infants undergo a “testosterone surge”
during the first few months of life, when testosterone levels
may be as high as those of an adult male. During this period,
baby boys are programmed to express male characteristics after
puberty, not only in the development of their sexual organs
and other masculine physical traits, but also in setting patterns
in the brain characteristic of male behavior.
In animals, soy feeding indicates that phytoestrogens
in soy are powerful endocrine disrupters. Soy infant feeding—which
floods the bloodstream with female hormones that inhibit testosterone—cannot
be ignored as a possible cause of disrupted development patterns
in boys, including learning disabilities and attention deficit
disorder. Male children exposed to DES, a synthetic estrogen,
had testes smaller than normal on maturation.
Almost 15 percent of white girls and 50 percent
of African-American girls show signs of puberty, such as breast
development and pubic hair, before the age of eight. Some
girls are showing sexual development before the age of three.
Premature development of girls has been linked to the use
of soy formula and exposure to environmental estrogen-mimickers
such as PCBs and DDE.
A high intake of phytoestrogens during pregnancy
may even have adverse affects on the developing fetus and
the timing of puberty later in life.
Coronary
Heart Disease: What the Experts Say
“In Framingham, Massachusetts, the more saturated
fat one ate, the more cholesterol one ate, the more calories
one ate, the lower people’s serum cholesterol. . . we found
that the people who ate the most cholesterol, ate the most
saturated fat, ate the most calories weighed the least and
were the most physically active.”
—William Castelli, MD, Director,
The Framingham Study
“The diet-heart hypothesis has been repeatedly
shown to be wrong, and yet, for complicated reasons of pride,
profit and prejudice, the hypothesis continues to be exploited
by scientists, fund-raising enterprises, food companies and
even governmental agencies. The public is being deceived by
the greatest health scam of the century.”
—George Mann, SsD, MD, Former Co-Director, The Framingham
Study
“An analysis of cholesterol values . . . in
1,700 patients with atherosclerotic disease revealed no definite
correlation between serum cholesterol levels and the nature
and extent of atherosclerotic disease.”
—Michael DeBakey, MD, Famous heart surgeon
"The relevant literature [on CHD] is
permeated with fraudulent material that is designed to convert
negative evidence into positive evidence with respect to the
lipid hypothesis. That fraud is relatively easy to detect."
—Russell L. Smith, PhD, Author of authoritative study on CHD
“Whatever causes coronary heart disease, it
is not primarily a high intake of saturated fat.”
—Michael Gurr, PhD, Renowned Lipid Chemist |
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Principles of Holistic Dentistry
In addition to his work on nutrition, Dr.
Price conducted extensive research into the destructive effects
of root canals, detailed in his two-volume work Dental Infections
Oral & Systemic and Dental Infections & the Degenerative
Diseases. His conclusions, ignored by the orthodox dental establishment
for over 50 years, are gaining renewed acceptance as holistic
practitioners are discovering that the first step to recovery
from degenerative disease often involves removal of all root
canals in the patient's mouth. The principles of holistic dentistry,
based on the research of Weston Price, are as follows:
- Eat nutrient-dense whole foods, properly
grown and prepared.
- Avoid root canals. If you have root
canals that you suspect are causing disease, have them removed
by a knowledgable dentist.
- Avoid mercury (amalgam) fillings.
If you have amalgam fillings, have them removed by a holistic
dentist who specializes in mercury filling replacement.
- Orthodontics should include measures
to widen the palate.
- Extract teeth only when necessary,
and then in such a way as to avoid leaving the jaw bone
with cavitations, which can be focal points of infection.
The
Weston A. Price Foundation
The Weston A. Price Foundation is a nonprofit,
tax-exempt charity founded in 1999 to disseminate the research
of nutrition pioneer Dr. Weston Price, whose studies of isolated
nonindustrialized peoples established the parameters of human
health and determined the optimum characteristics of human
diets. Dr. Price's research demonstrated that humans achieve
perfect physical form and perfect health generation after
generation only when they consume nutrient-dense whole foods
and the vital fat-soluble activators found exclusively in
animal fats.
The Foundation is dedicated to restoring nutrient-dense
foods to the human diet through education, research and activism.
It supports a number of movements that contribute to this
objective including accurate nutrition instruction, organic
and biodynamic farming, pasture-feeding of livestock, community-supported
farms, honest and informative labeling, prepared parenting
and nurturing therapies. Specific goals include establishment
of universal access to clean, certified raw milk and a ban
on the use of soy formula for infants.
The Foundation seeks to establish a laboratory
to test nutrient content of foods, particularly butter produced
under various conditions; to conduct research into the "X"
Factor, discovered by Dr. Price; and to determine the effects
of traditional preparation methods on nutrient content and
availability in whole foods.
The board and membership of the Weston A. Price
Foundation stand united in the belief that modern technology
should be harnessed as a servant to the wise and nurturing
traditions of our ancestors rather than used as a force destructive
to the environment and human health; and that science and
knowledge can validate those traditions.
The Foundation's quarterly journal, Wise
Traditions in Food, Farming, and the Healing Arts, is
dedicated to exploring the scientific validation of dietary,
agricultural and medical traditions throughout the world.
It features illuminating and thought-provoking articles on
current scientific research; human diets; non-toxic agriculture;
and holistic therapies. The journal also serves as a reference
for sources of foods that have been conscientiously grown
and processed.
To become a member of Weston A. Price Foundation,
please press
here.
For a printer-friendly
version of this page, please press here
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