Part II: What it means to eat like a human - With Dr. Bill Schindler

Podcast Summary

• Ancestral diets and modern nutrition: Exploring ancestral diets and their impact on modern nutrition through the lens of archaeology and anthropology with Dr. Bill Schindler.

  Our ancestral diets and the evolution of our bodies over centuries have important implications for our modern nutrition choices. In this podcast episode, Dr. Bill Schindler, an archaeologist and anthropologist, shares his insights from studying various indigenous cultures and their diets. He explains how our digestive systems have changed based on modern living, and the importance of eating foods that align with our evolutionary history. The medical profession often has limited nutritional knowledge, and it's valuable to seek perspectives from experts in different fields, like archaeology and anthropology, to gain a more holistic understanding of healthy eating. Dr. Schindler's research and experiences traveling the world have led him to promote native eating practices in different locations, such as Ireland, Kenya, and South Italy. Overall, this podcast series with Dr. Schindler offers a unique and enlightening perspective on the connection between our ancestral diets, our bodies, and our modern nutrition choices.

• Exploring the Past for Modern Diets: Archaeologist Dr. Bill Schindler and Mindy Pelz highlight the value of traditional food practices and fasting for modern health. They emphasize the importance of understanding the past to inform and enhance our present.

  Dr. Bill Schindler, an archaeologist and anthropologist, is dedicated to exploring the past to create a more meaningful and accessible modern diet. He immerses himself in traditional food practices around the world and translates his findings into practical applications for modern health. Meanwhile, Mindy Pelz invites listeners to join her Reset Academy, a supportive community for those embracing a fasting lifestyle, offering exclusive insights and guidance towards health goals. Using the example of sauerkraut, Dr. Schindler illustrates how the fermentation process can transform simple ingredients into something entirely new and valuable. Both scholars emphasize the importance of understanding the past to inform and enhance our present.

• Duck's crop filled with barley reveals ancient food preparation methods: Discovering ducks eat grains and the importance of fermentation in their digestion led to understanding ancient human food practices and the benefits of consuming fermented foods.

  Fascinating connection between animals and the human diet, specifically the role of grains and the process of fermentation. The speaker shared an experience where he was asked to demonstrate early human methods of animal butchery and food preparation for a documentary. During this experience, he had a revelation when he discovered a duck's crop filled with barley. This discovery led him to understand that birds, such as ducks, are designed to eat grains and that the process of cropping and gizzard grinding allows for the grains to soak, ferment, and sprout before being fully digested. The speaker then drew a comparison between this natural process and the production of sourdough bread, which uses ancient grains and the natural fermentation process. This realization answered a long-standing question for the speaker about the importance of grains in the human diet and the potential benefits of consuming fermented foods. It also highlighted the importance of understanding the historical context and natural processes behind the foods we consume.

• The importance of natural food processing for our health: Natural food processing, from the source to our digestive system, is crucial for our overall health. Slowly chewing food and allowing good bacteria to predigest it can make it easier for our bodies to absorb nutrients, while the use of anti-bacterial products can hinder this process.

  The way our food is processed plays a significant role in its impact on our health. Using the example of angel wing disease in waterfowl, it was explained how feeding them bread that hasn't undergone the natural fermentation process can lead to malnutrition. Similarly, when we consume processed foods like bread made with yeast rather than wild yeast and bacteria, we miss out on the beneficial transformation of grains into a more digestible and nourishing form. Our bodies, unlike waterfowl, don't have the ability to firm up the bread before digestion, leading to potential health issues. Furthermore, the importance of the predigestive process in our mouths was discussed. Chewing food slowly and thoroughly allows good bacteria to break down the food before it enters our stomach, making it easier for our bodies to digest and absorb the nutrients. The use of anti-bacterial toothpaste and mouthwash can kill these beneficial bacteria, hindering the predigestive process. Additionally, the transfer of bacteria from parents to their children through food and skin-to-skin contact is crucial for a child's healthy development. Parents can set their children up for success by focusing on their own microbiome health. In essence, the way our food is processed, from the food source to our digestive system, plays a crucial role in our overall health and wellbeing.

• The role of bacteria in building a strong immune system and producing new neurotransmitters: Consuming fermented foods and maintaining a healthy bacterial exchange with children contributes to a strong immune system and neurotransmitter production.

  The exchange of bacteria between parents and children, as well as the consumption of fermented foods like sourdough bread, plays a crucial role in building a strong immune system and producing new neurotransmitters. This symbiotic relationship between humans and bacteria is beautiful and unique, but it's also important to consider the cultural aspects of food and diet to ensure it meets both our biological and cultural needs. The ideal human diet would include ethically sourced and harvested animals, consumed in their entirety, as well as carefully selected and processed plants. By combining these two elements, we can create a diet that maximizes our health and sustainability.

• Reconnect with food's source: whole animals or closer-to-the-source products: Support ethical farming by buying whole animals or closer-to-the-source products, fostering a healthier relationship with food, and educating children about food production realities.

  Reconnecting with the source of our food, particularly animal products, is essential for understanding its ethical, sustainable, and nutritional implications. The speaker advocates for buying whole animals or closer-to-the-source products to put a "face back on the plate," encouraging people to be aware of the animal's origin and respect the process. This could mean buying a whole chicken instead of just chicken breasts, or even going as far as purchasing a half pig and learning to butcher it at home. By taking these steps, we can foster a healthier, more mindful relationship with our food, support ethical and sustainable farming practices, and educate our children about the realities of food production.

• Exploring the benefits of nose-to-tail eating and fermented vegetables: Consider nose-to-tail eating for enhanced dietary benefits and embrace fermented veggies for reduced oxalate risks.

  Embracing the cultural and communal aspect of nose-to-tail eating and incorporating properly processed vegetables, particularly through fermentation, can significantly enhance the benefits of a carnivore diet. The speaker emphasizes the importance of respecting the animal and forming a connection with the food source. However, certain vegetables, such as those high in oxalates like spinach, Swiss chard, kale, rhubarb, beets, almonds, and potatoes, can cause health issues if not properly processed or consumed in moderation. Fermentation is a key method for reducing the negative effects of oxalates, but other processing techniques like cooking, drying, soaking, and sprouting can also be effective. It's important to be aware of the potential risks of oxalates and the foods that contain them, and to approach vegetable consumption with a thoughtful and informed approach.

• Listen to your body: Feel good after every meal: Consume real, nourishing foods and proper process them to improve health and well-being, while being mindful of potential health issues from certain foods.

  Eating real food should make us feel good, both physically and emotionally. It's important to be mindful of what we're putting into our bodies and how it affects us. For example, consuming high levels of oxalates, found in spinach and other foods, can lead to health issues if we're not predisposed to them. It's essential to listen to our bodies and not overdo it with any one food. Additionally, there are natural methods to process and prepare foods, like the ancient techniques used by communities in South America with toxic potatoes, that can help reduce the negative effects of potentially harmful foods. Overall, our goal should be to feel better after every meal, not hungrier or less energetic. By focusing on real, nourishing foods and proper food processing, we can improve our overall health and well-being.

• Ancient methods for detoxifying potatoes: Peeling potatoes and avoiding their skin, or using traditional methods like fermentation and clay, can help minimize toxicity when consuming potatoes.

  Consuming raw potatoes or other toxic plants can be harmful, but ancient cultures have found ways to detoxify them through various methods like peeling, fermenting, or using clay. For instance, in some South American communities, they peel potatoes extensively before eating them due to the presence of toxins on the skin. In Peru, they make a dish called tokash by letting toxic potatoes sit in water for months before consuming them. These practices allow the body to pass through the toxins while still gaining nutrition from the food. Peeling potatoes and avoiding their skin is a simple yet effective way for us to minimize potential toxicity when consuming potatoes at home. Additionally, charcoal, though illegal as a food ingredient in some places, plays a crucial role in detoxification and is often used in traditional diets.

• Small diet changes for better health: Making small, everyday diet swaps to healthier alternatives can lead to better nutrition, healthier habits, and potentially contribute to human intelligence evolution.

  Making small, everyday changes to your diet, rather than drastic ones, can have a significant impact on your health. The founders of Eat Like A Human are advocating for replacing common, less nourishing foods with healthier alternatives, such as fermented potato chips or real sourdough bread. They believe that this approach can lead to better overall nutrition and healthier habits, without requiring a complete diet overhaul. The founders have seen great results from this approach in their own lives and plan to launch a line of these nourishing alternatives in the near future. Additionally, the discussion touched on the idea that the development of stone tool technology, specifically knives, may have played a role in the growth of the human brain. The production of these tools required complex planning and abstract thinking, which may have contributed to the evolution of human intelligence. Overall, the key takeaway is that small, everyday changes to your diet, combined with the use of nourishing, traditional foods, can lead to better health and potentially even contribute to the development of human intelligence.

• An encounter with hyenas in Uganda shows the importance of community and nature's protection: Learning from indigenous communities and their traditional practices is crucial for optimal health as modern Western diets have influenced traditional ones.

  During the filming of a show about ancient human life, the producers lived according to the technologies available during each time period. One memorable experience was in Uganda, 2 million years ago, where they had fire technology. However, one night, they were surrounded by hyenas, and when their numbers grew, the hyenas became fearless and relentless. Just when they thought all was lost, a male lion appeared and scared off the hyenas, saving them. This experience highlights the importance of community and the power of nature in protecting ancient humans. Another key takeaway is that in various countries, traditional diets have been influenced by modern Western food, making it essential to focus on learning from indigenous communities and their traditional practices for optimal health.

• The Samburra People's Unique Diet and Lifestyle: The Samburra people's ancient diet and lifestyle, consisting primarily of raw milk and blood, has contributed to their good health and ideal figures for generations.

  The Samburra people of Africa follow a unique and ancient way of life where they live separately from their herds for half a year, surviving on a diet primarily consisting of raw milk and blood. The men and boys drink this mixture twice a day, and they view it as a replenishable resource. The Samburra people are known for their ideal human figures, and their diets contribute to their good health. When they hunt, they use a method where they only wound the animal to collect its blood, which they consume and use for various purposes, including feeding their dogs. The taste of the mixture is described as a warm, irony salty chocolate milkshake. The Samburra people's diet, which is primarily animal-based, has helped them thrive in their environment for generations. Despite ongoing debates about the healthiest diets for the planet, the Samburra people offer a fascinating example of a community that has lived healthily for centuries through their traditional practices.

• Learning from Ancestral Practices: Foraging for Wild Foods: Reconnecting with ancestral practices, such as foraging for wild foods, can nourish both our bodies and souls, and provide valuable insights into sustainable living and ideal diets.

  Our current understanding of ideal diets and sustainable living is limited, and we can learn valuable lessons from ancestral practices, such as foraging for wild foods. Foraging is a free and safe way to connect with nature, learn about seasonality, and gain a deeper understanding of our food sources. The secret to health lies in understanding what it means to be human, and that includes understanding our past, present, and future. By reconnecting with our ancestral ways, we can nourish both our bodies and souls. The disconnect between our modern lifestyles and our ancient biology may be contributing to disease and suffering. The interview with Bill provided valuable insights into the importance of connection with our food and our past, and the potential benefits of incorporating ancestral practices into our modern lives.

• Exploring new cultures through travel and experiences: Embrace new experiences, discover traditions firsthand, and enjoy the joy of planning future trips, including potential food tours in Ireland and Italy, while maintaining a virtual practice with keto-friendly wine from Dry Farm Wines.

  Travel and exploring new cultures, whether it be through food or experiences, can add a whole new dimension to our lives. Jess shared her transformation from a brick-and-mortar practice to a virtual one, while maintaining the dream of traveling. She also emphasized the importance of experiencing traditions firsthand, like the ancient practice of making fermented butter in Ireland. The conversation also touched on the excitement of planning future trips, including a potential food tour in Ireland and Italy. Another intriguing mention was Dry Farm Wines, a keto-friendly wine supplier that not only offers delicious wine but also aligns with a mission to serve the world. Overall, the conversation highlighted the importance of embracing new experiences and the joy that comes from discovering new things.

• Exploring the Carnivore Diet and Its Potential Benefits: Dr. Paul Saladino discussed the carnivore diet's potential to reset the gastrointestinal system and reduce inflammation. He emphasized the importance of diet variation and consuming collagen and sauerkraut for optimal microbiome health.

  Todd White and his team at Dry Farm Wines are dedicated to helping people enjoy healthy wines and the full wine experience. They offer a penny bottle promotion on their website for those interested. During this podcast episode, the hosts, Todd Schindler and Jess, had a deep and engaging conversation with Dr. Paul Saladino about the carnivore diet and its potential benefits for resetting the gastrointestinal system and reducing inflammation. While the hosts have had differing views on the idea of a strictly carnivore diet, Dr. Saladino provided a broader perspective, emphasizing the importance of feast, famine, and seasonal diet variation. Additionally, the discussion touched on the role of firmicutes and bacteroides in the microbiome and how consuming collagen and sauerkraut can help raise bacteroides and improve weight management. The hosts expressed their excitement about trying new recipes, such as sauerkraut with meat, and encouraged listeners to explore these concepts further.

• Invest in high-quality food and supplements for better health outcomes: Choosing high-quality items and expressing gratitude for our food can improve diet quality and enhance health during fasting

  Investing in high-quality food and supplements can lead to better health outcomes and a more effective fasting lifestyle. By making lateral changes to the items we consume regularly, such as choosing high-quality coffee or sourdough bread, we can improve the quality of our diet and reduce the need for excessive consumption. Furthermore, developing a connection to our food and expressing gratitude for it can enhance the nourishment we receive, whether that comes from raising our own animals or growing our own vegetables. This approach not only benefits our physical health but also offers an energetic and mindful way to approach our relationship with food.

• Eating raw and seasonal foods benefits gut health: Consuming raw, unprocessed foods and eating seasonally promotes gut health by providing beneficial enzymes, probiotics, and a diverse range of nutrients.

  Consuming raw, unprocessed foods, like raw milk and fermented bread, can provide beneficial enzymes and probiotics that aid in digestion and support a healthy gut. The discussion also highlighted the importance of eating seasonally and reducing the consumption of high-oxalate foods, particularly potatoes, to promote gut health and diversity. The speakers emphasized the significance of understanding the historical context of food production and consumption, as well as the potential negative effects of modern farming practices and processed foods on our health. Additionally, they suggested creating a chart of seasonal food availability to encourage a more varied and gut-friendly diet.

• Understanding the Survival Instincts of Plants and Animals: Consider the survival and well-being of both the food we eat and ourselves. Reconnect with natural cycles and practices, and avoid processed foods.

  Everything in nature, including plants and animals, is programmed for survival. Paul Saladino discussed how certain parts of plants, like roots and stems, contain more toxins, while fruits are meant to be eaten without harming the plant. He also emphasized the importance of variation and seasonality in our diets. Furthermore, he highlighted the idea that plants and animals have an inherent intelligence and survival instinct. When it comes to food production, Saladino argued that animals raised in stressful environments are not thriving and may carry more stress hormones, making their meat less desirable. He also criticized the consumption of processed foods, which are far removed from our ancestral way of living. Saladino's perspective underscores the importance of considering the survival and well-being of both the food we eat and ourselves, as well as the need to reconnect with natural cycles and practices.

• The impact of our diet on our health and future generations: Our dietary choices affect not only our health but also our fertility and the future health of generations. Consuming nutritious foods supports our bodies and future generations, while processed foods can lead to health issues and impact fertility.

  The connections between our dietary choices, our health, and the health of future generations are more intertwined than we might realize. Eating and sex, two fundamental experiences, both trigger chemical reactions in the body. However, if we're not fueling our bodies with nutritious foods, our health and libido can suffer, potentially impacting our fertility and the future of our species. The food industry plays a significant role in shaping our taste preferences, often leading us to consume processed, empty foods. It's crucial to consider the long-term implications of our choices and strive for a diet that supports our bodies and the health of future generations. Fasting and ancestral eating practices can be valuable tools in this pursuit. Remember, the food we consume not only affects us in the present but also shapes the future for generations to come.