Page 73 - Spring2020
P. 73

all becomes something that we can use our dollars to buy rather than  when it needs to. Generally, ketogenic is what
            knowing internally what we need to do to maintain health and be free of   you think of. I’m not saying that everyone needs
            disease.                                                      to be on a strict ketogenic diet, but I do think
                                                                          the benefits of fat-based metabolism and being
            HG: A farmer comes to mind who I met in Cuba. He was one of the hap-  able to use ketones, as shown by research, are
            piest people I’ve ever met. He was self-sufficient. “If the electricity blows,  phenomenal. Train your body to do that. Once
            we’ve got our own manure-powered generator.” He had gotten everything  you’re trained to do that, you can go back and
            we ate that day for lunch from his own farm. He was nourishing himself  forth between fats and healthier carbohydrates.
            on so many levels. It wasn’t just one thing. He could do anything.  But you have to make sure you get back into
                                                                          that by restricting carbohydrates. It’s a kind
            SH: Even if we’re talking about hunter-gatherers in the distant past before  of mental flexibility. That’s key. That’s where
            traditional populations were around, they probably knew multiple places  I start with my clients. You have to fix your
            where they could get food and water. And they knew how to do it, and  metabolism first. After we do that, if there are
            they were good at it. Even if animal food wasn’t available, which I think  still issues, we can address those. But because I
            is the best source of complete nutrition, humans evolved this ability to eat  don’t know whether these issues you’re having
            plants when we needed to. We’re obvious omnivores, and there are better  are based on metabolism or something else, we
            foods than others, but it wasn’t stressful. If that waterhole was dried up,  have to correct the metabolism first.
            you just knew where the next one was. If you didn’t catch that animal,
            there were others, and you’d get another chance. Whereas if you don’t   HG: Would people need to consult with a na-
            have money, you don’t know what to do. You don’t have many options   turopath or a functional medicine practitioner
            unless someone helps you.                                     to be able to figure that out, or could they do it
                                                                          on their own?
            HG: If I want to start adding more fat in my diet, what should I start with?
                                                                          SH: I think that it can be useful to consult with
            SH: Some people don’t like some of these fats, or it takes a learning curve.   someone, especially if you have different ail-
            But I think most people like egg yolks. It’s one of the most nutrient-dense   ments or chronic diseases. But if you’re just
            fats. But it’s important that eggs come from a hen that is pasture-raised.   looking to start the diet because you want to
            They will be much more nutrient-dense. I think we should also include   improve your health, there are a lot of resources
            bone marrow. People can make bone broth. You don’t have to eat the   out there. There are many great books on fat-
            straight marrow. As long as you get the marrow bones and you’re mak-  based metabolism and higher-fat diets that can
            ing bone broth with them, the broth will be incredibly rich in nutrients.   get you started, and you can go from there.
            Finally, I like beef tallow. It took me a while to get used to that one because
            it has a different flavor. But I usually just cook with it.   HG: Do any resources come to mind right
                                                                          away?
            HG: What would you cook in it, for example?
                                                                          SH: There are two people I’ll give a shout-out
            SH: I cook everything in it. I cook my eggs in it and all my meats and   to.  One  is  Maria  Emmerich.  She’s  written
            organ meats. But I usually just put a little water in the pan, too, so I’m not   guidebooks for fat-based metabolism. I think her
            burning stuff. I think it’s great for cooking because it’s going to be less   stuff is great. And the couple, Matt and Megha
            damaged by heat than any plant oil, whether it’s processed vegetable oil   of Ketoconnect. They do a good job of keto or
            or even olive oil. Tallow can hold up to heat much better. So, we won’t   fat-based for average people who just want to
            be getting those damaged fats with it.                        learn how to do this diet even though they are
                                                                          very busy. Ketoconnect is good at showing
            HG: I hope people are persuaded to add more fat to their diet after this   people how to do that.
            conversation. Now I want to wrap up with a question I often pose at the
            end. If you were to recommend just one thing to improve our health, what
            would you recommend?

            SH: I think it would be teaching your body to have a fat-based metabolism.
            I think it’s really important to have a metabolism that can easily burn fats

            SPRING 2020                              Wise Traditions                                                   73
   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78