Page 71 - Spring2010

only we could all live on a mountainside and frolic in the sun and grass all string of ear infections? Or every cold that comes
day, right? Not surprisingly, Dr. Price regularly gave cod liver oil as part along? How about digestive upset, focus and at-
of a regimen to heal his patients. You may even remember stories about tention issues, asthma, or allergies? Gut bugs, or
your parents being chased around the house with a distasteful spoonful our intestinal ecosystem, are a major part of the
of cod liver oil that was mandatory medicine. Cod liver oil is still critical puzzle. Our digestive system houses trillions of
for healing from chronic or acute illnesses, and health maintenance. And microorganisms. While some of the estimated
fortunately for us, today’s cod liver oil is more palatable, and flavored 500 species are harmful, most are essential to
varieties can make it go down much easier (refer to www.westonaprice. our health and often referred to as probiotics,
org for brand recommendations). which means “for life.” An overabundance of
Recall the ten traditional food principles: vitamins A and D were the bad guys, also called dysbiosis, results in gut
the very nutrients that Price found to be ten times more abundant in our inflammation and leaky gut syndrome. And a
ancestors’ diets than in ours today. Not only does vitamin A help preserve leaky gut leads to unwanted food particles enter-
the freshness of the cod liver oil itself, but it also is critical for vision, ing the bloodstream that often become allergens,
healthy skin, maintaining cell membranes (particularly the surfaces of causing even more trouble with inflammation
the respiratory and intestinal tracts), and strong immunity. Vitamin A is and immune system reactions. Essentially, your
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also intimately involved in the development of a healthy fetus. bacterial ecosystem is your first line of defense
Vitamin D from cod liver oil has a strong connection with cancer against illness and disease. 10, 11, 12 So if you want
prevention, not to mention bone health, mineral absorption, immunity, fewer trips to the doctor’s office, more vibrant
insulin production, proper growth, healthy skin, brain function and even health, and better assimilation of every food that
feel-good chemicals. It is estimated that moderate time in the sun, which passes your lips, revive your family’s gut flora.
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stimulates vitamin D production in our skin, would prevent 30,000 annual The reason most of us are in such dire need
cancer deaths in the United States. However, studies show that our vitamin of replacing these valuable bugs is that many
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D levels today are desperately low. common lifestyle choices lead to their demise.
7,8
We can only make vitamin D from sunlight during the summer The most obvious gut flora nemesis is antibiotics
months; the rest of the time we need to get vitamin D from food. (literal translation means “against life”), either
overdosing through prescriptions or the residual
2. GOOD BUGS remaining in the meats and dairy products from
Get some “good bugs” every day. Is your family hit with a continuous commercial farming practices. Chemicals found

INITIAL INVESTMENT, LONG-TERM GAINS

It’s a sad truth that the more processing a food endures, the less strain it places on your pocketbook—at least initially.
It seems backwards that a feedlot meat burger loaded with fillers from the corner drive-thru costs less than a buck, but a
pound of properly raised, grass-fed beef can go for more than five dollars. Government subsidies and simple supply and
demand are at the crux of this cost conundrum. For a better understanding of the cycle, watch Food, Inc., a documentary
that sheds a much-needed light on our nation’s food industry, exposing how our food supply is now controlled by a select
few corporations that put profit ahead of consumer health.
It is the hardworking, tenacious farmers who pour their hearts into growing chemical-free produce and raising pastured
meats who deserve the portion of our budget slotted for food. Small, local, family farmers are few and far between but
are slowly making a comeback, not only for the sheer joy of being involved in the cycle of growing and raising food, but
also because such food is necessary for our survival. It is these folks who are paving the way for a brighter, cleaner, more
nutrient-dense future.
Bottom line: sure, the initial investment in these high-quality foods may be more than stopping off at the local fast
food joint, but the long term benefits are unquestionably worth every penny. Fewer illnesses, happier demeanors, reduced
medical bills, no medications, better productivity at work. Do you want to fill the cells of your body with white flour, trans
fats, and artificial colors? If the answer is no, then put your money toward your most prized treasure—your family—by
nourishing their bodies through traditional foods.
Ways to cut costs while eating traditional foods: Buy in bulk, on your own or in co-ops. Once you find you can’t
do without that perfect pastured roast or your favorite coconut oil, buy big and save. Invest in a second freezer and buy
a half or whole butchered cow, buffalo, hog or lamb. Make more things from scratch. As time goes on, traditional food
preparation becomes less intimidating—fermenting homemade sauerkraut, culturing milk with kefir grains at home, or
even baking your own loaves of sourdough bread. All these little extras will save money in the long run.

SPRING 2010 Wise Traditions 71