Ancestral Health Symposium

Jake Marquez and Maren Morgan are the creators of Death in The Garden, a multimedia project that explores the complexity of the converging crises facing humanity, from the chronic health epidemic to ecosystem collapse, as well as our current crisis of meaning. In addition to field exploration, the project analyzes civilizational epistemologies, history, human psychology, ecology, and philosophy. Jake and Maren are passionate about trying to make sense of how the human species has reached a point in history where we are sicker than ever and rapidly destroying the ecosystems that sustain us. Their project aims to ask: what is the human animal? Where do we come from? Why have we dug ourselves into such a deep hole? And where, after everything, are we going? Through film, podcasts, and writing, Death in The Garden is ultimately a journey of two young people trying to make sense of the age we live in. To learn more about it: deathinthegarden.substack.com deathinthegarden.org instagram.com/deathinthegarden arqetypemedia.com https://twitter.com/death_thegarden

In today's episode, we are talking with Dr. Deborah Gordon about bringing ancestral health principles into the doctor's office, She did her medical training at the University of California in San Francisco, and practices family medicine in Ashland, Oregon. She goes by "Dr. Deborah", runs the health website, DrDeborahMD.com, and is a member of Physicians for Ancestral Health. Dr. Deborah integrates conventional and functional medicine, diet, sleep, exercise, sunshine, stress reduction and other lifestyle enhancements into her medical practice. In recent years she has expanded the same health principles into her work with aging patients, particularly with the issues of dementia and osteoporosis. She was an author on the published study: Precision Medicine Approach to Alzheimer's Disease, with highly successful results. Her website provides a wealth of information and resources on topics such as autoimmune disease, cancer, women's health, and brain health. Her current practice is at Northwest Wellness Center in Ashland. Many of us who are inspired to eat and live by ancestral principles find it challenging to talk to family physicians or specialists about using dietary approaches or natural alternatives to conventional medications to control cholesterol, hypertension, osteoporosis, or even mood-related conditions. In our conversation with Dr. Deborah today, we'll get some insights into how she combines the best of conventional medicine with the power of evolutionary health principles grounded in peer-reviewed science and practical experience. She explains how her career as a doctor has evolved and how she combines conventional medicine with lifestyle enhancements. She also talks about her website, DrDebraMD, and the resources it provides on various health topics, and the "Precision Medicine Approach to Alzheimer's Disease: Successful Pilot Project" journal article which demonstrated the efficacy of individualized treatment plans used. Of particular interest, Dr. Deborah describes her use of hormone replacement therapy and vitamin supplementation to improve cognitive outcomes. Finally, she'll give us some tips on how we might better communicate and work with our own personal physicians to achieve health goals. Resources: Website: DrDeborahMD.com Podcast: "Docs Talk Shop" https://www.docstalkshop.com/ Study: "Precision Medicine Approach to Alzheimer's Disease: Successful Pilot Project" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9484109/ Functional Medicine. https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/ Cognitive support, even without a physician: Apollo Health at apollohealthco.com Cranial osteopaths, hands-on approach: https://cranialacademy.org/find-a-physician/ Here is a guide to topics discussed in this podcast episode: Time Topic 00:07 Introduction 02:04 Ancestral health influences on Dr. Deborah 04:46 Dr. Deborah's medical practice 10:38 The DrDeborahMD website and resources 14:52 Applying ancestral health principles to help real patients with anemia and cognitive issues 22:22 Pilot study: "Precision Medicine Approach to Alzheimer's Disease" 29:04 Designing individualized treatment protocols to improve cognitive outcomes 34:38 Expanding primary care testing to pinpoint cognitive decline risks 37:15 Surprising result from the study #1: mold toxicity 40:22 Surprising results from the study #2: Hormone replacement therapy 42:03 Evolutionary perspective on hormone replacement therapy 44:40 Addressing concerns about cancer risk from hormone supplementation 48:11 Vitamin supplementation 49:55 Other areas of Supplementation: Oils, glutathione, and ayurvedic herbs 51:38 Testing to identify deficiencies and supplementation needs 53:05 Cost and affordability of testing and supplementation 55:21 Combining conventional and ancestral medicine 56:20 The mission of Physicians for Ancestral Health 1:01:30 Working with your conventional family doctor 1:03:53 Working with doctors remotely as consultants 1:05:34 How to talk to your doctor (edited)

In this episode of Ancestral Health Today, we hear from Miki Ben-Dor about how our Paleolithic ancestors ate and lived, and what it means for the optimal diet and social structure of modern humans . Miki received his PhD in paleoanthropology when he was 67 years old, and since has made a name for himself publishing and speaking for both academic and popular audiences. His paper, "The evolution of the human trophic level during the Pleistocene", became the most-cited paper in 2021 in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology. He has presented his work at numerous conferences, including several times at the Ancestral Health Symposium. And his recent book, "Live Paleo Style" takes a fresh look at how the mismatch between our evolutionary origins and the circumstances of modern society manifests itself not just in diet and health, but more broadly in social and emotional life. In this discussion. we will dive in to the paleoanthropological evidence that humans evolved as hunters and meat eaters and that meat remains the food we are best adapted to eat for health. As you'll hear, the evidence takes many different forms -- including archeological, anatomical, physiological, and ecological findings. We'll go beyond diet, to consider the cultural and behavioral implications of our background as hunter-gatherers, and what that suggests for increasing human happiness and flourishing. Takeaways Humans evolved as hunters and meat eaters, supported by various forms of evidence. The transition from plant eaters to meat eaters was driven by environmental changes and the availability of large animals. Physiological evidence, such as stomach acidity and fat cell structure, supports our adaptation to a meat-based diet. The decline of megafauna due to human hunting led to the need to hunt smaller animals. Hunter-gatherer societies exhibit principles of equality and autonomy. Hunter-gatherer societies had a sense of autonomy and decision-making that allowed individuals to choose their actions without external influence. Hunter-gatherers had a relatively small amount of work time and more leisure time compared to modern societies. Modern work structures with hierarchy and lack of autonomy can lead to stress and dissatisfaction. Finding a balance between material abundance and autonomy is a challenge in modern society. Building and maintaining a sense of community is important for well-being and longevity. Spontaneity and autonomy go hand in hand, allowing individuals to make choices freely. Resolving disagreements and conflicts can involve mobility and forming new groups. Ongoing research projects focus on understanding prey decline and the impact of human activities on the environment. References and links: Blog and research links: https://www.paleostyle.com/?p=2212 Book: "Live Paleo Style: Overcome the Modern Mismatch to Regain Your Natural Wellbeing". https://www.amazon.com/Living-Paleo-Style-Ancestral-Modern-Wellbeing-ebook/dp/B0BTDKVX1V/ref=sr_1_1?crid=BCVYOPG9HKUK&keywords=miki+ben-dor&qid=1702834665&sprefix=miki+ben-dor%2Caps%2C246&sr=8-1 Here is a guide to topics discussed in this podcast episode: Time Topic 00:07 Introduction 06:35 Transition from plant eating to meat eating 12:08 Physiological evidence 21:50 Role of fire and cooking 28:15 Variability in human diets 35:10 Causes and effects of the megafauna extinction 48:48 Human adaptation to agriculture 51:12 Social structure of hunter-gatherers 58:05 Sharing, Autonomy and Decision-Making in Hunter-Gatherer Societies 1:01:20 Work and Leisure in Hunter-Gatherer Societies 1:03:21 Mismatch and stress in modern work life 1:05:21 Balancing material abundance and autonomy in modern life 1:09:00 Building community and maintaining relationships 1:14:00 Resolving disagreements and the role of mobility 1:15:35 Miki's current research (edited)

Melissa Red Hoffman, MD, ND, FACS In this episode with Dr. Red we discuss her experience as a doctor experiencing illness and trauma. The illness came as a surprise given her previous level of health and commitment to health practices. Dr. Red walks us through how she has navigated this new landscape with compassion, and how it has increased her understanding of what her patients go through. Dr. Red Hoffman started her professional career as a naturopathic doctor and a yoga teacher and now practices as a trauma surgeon and an associate medical director of both hospice and palliative medicine in Asheville, North Carolina. She is one of approximately 90 US surgeons currently board certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and is a clinical assistant professor of surgery at University of North Carolina School of Medicine. She speaks and writes nationally and internationally about the intersection of surgery and palliative medicine and her work has been featured in JAMA, Doximity, KevinMD and General Surgery News. Red is the founder and host of the Surgical Palliative Care Podcast and is the co-founder of the Surgical Palliative Care Society (www.spcsociety.org). She is currently launching a new podcast called The Surgical Soul and is writing a memoir. Links: https://redhoffmanmd.com/ https://twitter.com/RedMDND https://www.linkedin.com/in/redmdnd/ https://www.instagram.com/redmdnd/

This episode with Peter Ballerstedt makes the case that animal-based foods are nutritionally optimal for humans, and provide a sustainable way to feed the world. Peter is a leading advocate for ruminant animal agriculture. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky in 1986, specializing in forage management and utilization, minoring in ruminant nutrition. He was the forage extension specialist at Oregon State University from 1986 to 1992. Peter worked for Barenberg USA, a major forage seed company from 2011 until his retirement this past July. And he is the current president of the American Forage and Grassland Council. Peter describes himself as building bridges between two tribes he belongs to -- those who produce grass-eating animals like cattle and sheep, and those who particularly appreciate the nutritional and health benefits of an ancestral diet that includes animal products like meat, eggs and dairy. He is in demand internationally as a conference speaker for both tribes. In this episode, Peter highlights the importance of animal-sourced foods in providing essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. He emphasizes the unique ecological niche of ruminants and their role in upcycling nutrients. Peter also addresses the debate between grass-fed and conventional beef, taking into account the affordability and availability in dietary choices. He discusses global trends in plant vs. animal-based diets and the potential negative impact of plant-based diets on public health. Finally, Peter addresses the environmental impact of plant-based vs. meat-based diets and challenges the notion that they are detrimental to the environment. He explains the carbon cycle and the role of grasslands in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Peter emphasizes the complexity of sustainability and the need to consider economic and societal factors. He also compares emissions from livestock and plant agriculture, highlighting the importance of taking into account the full context. The conversation explores the feasibility of feeding a growing population with animal agriculture and the potential for expanding herds on marginal lands. Peter concludes by discussing signs of progress and the importance of bottom-up change to influence public opinion and policy. 01:21 Introduction 03:02 Peter's personal journey and Interest in ancestral diets 08:53 Connecting the ruminant animal agriculture and ancestral diet "tribes" 12:38 Ecological role of ruminants 14:39 Unique benefits of meat and animal products in the human diet 19:16 The quality of protein in plant- vs. animal-based foods 25:02 The role of ruminants in nutrient upcycling 28:37 Metabolism of humans vs. other primates 31:10 Origins of ruminant agriculture 34:57 The debate about grass-fed vs. conventionally raised beef 41:23 Global trends in consumption of plant- vs. animal-based foods 43:40 Global health Impact of plant- vs. animal-based diets 47:55 Greenhouse gas impact of ruminant agriculture 51:00 The carbon cycle connecting ruminants and grasslands 53:50 Comprehensive sustainability accounting 56:06 Comparing emissions from livestock and crop agriculture 59:33 The scale of emissions and potential solutions 1:00:07 Is there enough grassland to feed the world a ruminant-based diet? 1:04:10 Improving the efficiency of livestock agriculture 1:07:26 The feasibility of meat production to feed the world 1:09:27 The moral imperative to promote animal agriculture 1:13:20 Influencing opinion and signs of progress

Angie Alt is a writer, community care activist, independent researcher, and former health coach and nutritional therapist. After a decade of helping clients manage chronic illness through nutrition and lifestyle and training practitioners to utilize the autoimmune protocol in their practices, she shifted her focus from teaching individuals about self-care concepts toward community care-centered work more well-suited to the cooperative and social nature of human well-being. Angie now writes at Notes from a Neighbor, a weekly newsletter on new ways to frame the pressing health and wellness challenges we face collectively and the small, slow, simple actions we can take to respond meaningfully.

Anne Dann has been a stellar volunteer at the Ancestral Health Symposium for many years. She has implemented an ancestral lifestyle and has helped facilitate the symposium through her volunteer work.  Today’s episode is focused on Anne’s amazing experience with Red Light Therapy, which enabled her to reverse a very scary decline in her vision.  There is a body of research on the benefits of Red Light Therapy for eye health: The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) cited two studies discussing the potential eye-related benefits of red light therapy. “A 2017 study found that red light partially reversed the effects of aging in the retinas of old mice, enhancing retinal performance by 25%,” the AAO says. “And a 2019 study found that while blue light damaged lab-grown retinal cells, red light reversed that damage.” The (AAO) also reported in late 2020, that "a study in The Journals of Gerontology found that brief exposure to deep red light — three minutes a day for two weeks — improved older adults’ ability to discern letters against a similarly colored background.” Listen to Anne’s personal experience to understand this profound effect and we encourage you to do your own research and speak to your health care provider to see if this can be beneficial to you also. 

This episode of Ancestral Health Today is a wide-ranging discussion with Julie Angel about Parkour and other natural movement practices.  Julie is a filmmaker, an author and a movement coach.  Her movement practice developed out of her early encounter with the Parkour movement in Paris in the early 2000s.  For those of you who may not be familiar with Parkour, it involves jumping, leaping, climbing and traversing buildings, walls and railings .  It's thrilling to watch, but it takes considerable practice, skill and a lot of nerve. Julie  documented the Parkour story in her Ph.D. thesis, and then in several documentary films, and more recently her book, Breaking the Jump.  I've put links to several of these in the show notes. And more than document it, Julie was brave and learned Parkour and got certified as a teacher of Parkour, MoveNat, Animal Flow and other natural movement practices.  Then Julie developed her own movement practice that emphasizes how ordinary people like you and me can incorporate movement into our lives, and she hosts the Curious Midlife Podcast, helping middle aged women reclaim and increase their strength, agility and confidence. Today we'll get into the history of Parkour and natural movement, but then spend some time learning more about how some of Julies methods, including what she calls Movement Snacks, can help you break out of a sedentary lifestyle,  stay limber and boost your confidence.  It's a sustainable approach that can be built into your daily routine without having to go to the gym or buy special equipment.

In this episode of AHTP we have Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, PhD. She is the founder of Nutrivore.com. She creates educational resources to help people improve their day-to-day diet and lifestyle choices, empowered and informed by the most current evidenced-based scientific research. Dr. Sarah began her career as a science communicator and health educator when she launched her original website in 2011. Since then, Dr. Sarah has continued to follow the science—diving deep into immune health, metabolic health, gut microbiome health, nutritional sciences. With Nutrivore, Dr. Sarah seeks to create a positive and inclusive approach to dietary guidance, based in science and devoid of dogma, using nutrient density and sufficiency as its basic principles: Nourishment, not judgment. We discussed the concept of Nutrivore, her previous work as a scientist in nutritional approaches and much more. You can find Dr. Ballantyne at Nutrivore.com Use code ancestral25 for 25% off of her weekly serving matrix.