Page 66 - Fall2010

of sacred foods in the diet become a common practice, passed down to surprisingly, egg yolks and liver are both sacred
future generations for the health of their own families, communities, and foods.
nations. The sacred foods we are familiar with in
the western world include raw dairy products
SAGE ADVICE FOR SACRED FOODS from pastured cows, egg yolks from pastured
Back to our elders’ sage advice. The wisdom bestowed would sound chickens and cod liver oil. In the context of the
something like this. At least six months before trying to conceive, both western diet, where the sacred foods are largely
parents-to-be should ideally begin absent, cod liver oil provides
to consume ample amounts of a vital insurance policy. Until
sacred foods (see sidebar, below). the Second World War, par-
However, those who have consumed ents and health professionals
the typical Standard American Diet understood that cod liver
(SAD) since childhood would need oil helped ensure optimal
a longer period of time to correct growth and development in
nutritional deficiencies—at least children.
two years before attempting to con- Four less common-
ceive. The SAD is laden with many ly known sacred foods are
foods that are counterproductive to small fish, fish eggs (fish
producing vibrantly healthy babies: roe), bone marrow and liver.
foods such as damaged fats (those With a little ingenuity, these
overheated and extracted with sol- nutrient-dense foods can be
vents), commercially raised meats incorporated into the western
(if any meat is consumed at all, as diet in many delicious ways.
many fall victim to the deception of
vegetarianism), and an abundance SMALL FISH
of pesticides and chemicals via Small fatty fish, both
conventionally farmed foods, fast fresh and dried, are excep-
foods, processed ingredients, body tionally nourishing foods
care products, cleaning supplies and because they are eaten whole
municipal water sources. with the bones and some-
Once the miracle of life has A 1930s ad for cod liver oil recognizes the role of cod liver oil in times—even better—with
begun, sacred foods should be main- giving babies the help they need to build “a well shaped head, the heads and organs. There
tained throughout pregnancy. Mom a straight strong back, a firm, full chest and sound, even teeth.” is no need to skin or de-bone
should continue with the same diet these tiny critters; one con-
during breast feeding, which should go on at least one year. Somewhere sumes the whole kit and caboodle. And when
around four to six months, baby will be able to supplement breast milk dried, certain features—especially the eyes—be-
with his first foods, ideally pastured egg yolk and liver (see the article come even more pronounced (which many kids
“Nourishing a Growing Baby” at www.westonapirce.org for more on feed- think is pretty darn cool!). Dr. Price described
ing infants). Yolks supply choline for brain development and cholesterol several societies that preserved the high nutrient
to nourish the brain and build the intestinal system, while liver supplies content in fresh fish through drying.
needed iron—which drops considerably around six months of age—plus Anchovies, sardines and whitebait make a
vitamins B , B , A and C, and almost every mineral the baby needs. Not lovely addition to the family’s fish intake. They
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IMPORTANT SACRED FOODS OF NATIVE PEOPLES

SEAFOOD: whole small fish, fish livers, fish liver oil, fish heads and shellfish
RAW DAIRy: whole milk, fermented milk, cream and butter from pastured animals
EGGS: especially egg yolks, from poultry; eggs of insects and fish
ORGAN MEATS: liver, brain, tongue, marrow, kidney, lungs, stomach lining, intestines and reproductive organs
ANIMAL FAT: from cows, lamb, game, pig, poultry and sea mammals
INSECTS: Worms, caterpillars, larvae, grasshoppers, etc.
66 Wise Traditions FALL 2010