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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
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