Ancestral Health Symposium

On today’s an episode we bring you a special presentation by Lucy Mailing Phd from the ancestral health symposium. All of our past AHS presentations can be found on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIUpXeC1QEjNm54X7KylkQ) Rewilding the gut: what modern microbiome science can tell us about restoring ancestral diversity - Lucy Mailing (AHS21) The gut microbiota plays essential roles in human health and has been implicated in many chronic diseases. This dense community of microbes has co-evolved with its host over million years of evolution, but in recent decades has been substantially affected by modern industrialization. According to some estimates, we’ve lost about half of our ancestral microbial diversity. In this talk, I discuss the evidence for lost microbial diversity, the effects of diet on the industrialization of the gut microbiota, and the potential benefits for a “wilder” gut microbiome. I also review several studies that highlight potential strategies to “rewild” the gut, including the removal of processed foods, the inclusion of fiber or fermented foods, exercise, time spent in natural environments, social interaction, and fecal transplants. Get full access to Ancestral Health Today Substack at ancestralhealth.substack.com/subscribe (https://ancestralhealth.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

On today’s episode we bring you a special presentation by Robert Lustig, MD from the ancestral health symposium. All of our past AHS presentations can be found on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIUpXeC1QEjNm54X7KylkQ Abstract: Substances of abuse qualify for regulation if they satisfy four criteria: unavoidability, toxicity, abuse, and negative impact on society. The carbohydrate fructose is ubiquitous, impacts health negatively beyond its caloric equivalent, and produces a "vicious cycle of consumption and metabolic disease in large quantities, akin to that seen with ethanol. It is time for a paradigm shift in obesity science and policy; one in which sugar, like alcohol, is not treated as an ordinary commodity on the open market. Efforts to reduce fructose consumption should be informed by the extensive body of evidence from international experience and research on alcohol policy. This evidence points to inadequacy of public information and education programs, but rather supports taxation and other controls on marketing and distribution, including taxation and other controls on marketing and distribution, including access and zoning restrictions. At the national level, removal of fructose from the Food and Drug Administration's GRAS list, the abatement of federal corn subsidies, and cessation of deregulation of farmers' crop plantings are among the most promising policy interventions to address the rising rates of chronic metabolic disease. Bio: Robert H. Lustig, M.D. is Professor of Pediatrics, in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Lustig graduated from MIT in 1976, and received his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College in 1980. His research focuses on the regulation of energy balance by the central nervous system. Dr. Lustig is the past Chairman of the Ad hoc Obesity Task Force of the Pediatric Endocrine Society, a current member of the Obesity Task Force of The Endocrine Society, and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association of the Bay Area. His new book Fat Chance: beating the odds against sugar, processed food, obesity, and disease is due to be released in January 2013.

On this episode of Ancestral Health Today, we take a look back into Ancestral Health Symposium 2014 where Dr. Robert Lustig spoke about sugar not being an ordinary commodity. Dr. Lustig is Professor emeritus of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He specializes in the field of neuroendocrinology, with an emphasis on the regulation of energy balance by the central nervous system. His research and clinical practice has focused on childhood obesity and diabetes. Dr. Lustig holds a Bachelor’s in Science from MIT, a Doctorate in Medicine from Cornell University. Medical College, and a Master’s of Studies in Law from U.C. Hastings College of the Law. Dr. Lustig has fostered a global discussion of metabolic health and nutrition, exposing some of the leading myths that underlie the current pandemic of diet-related disease. He believes the food business, by pushing processed food loaded with sugar, has hacked our bodies and minds to pursue pleasure instead of happiness; fostering today’s epidemics of addiction and depression. Yet by focusing on real food, we can beat the odds against sugar, processed food, obesity, and disease. All of our past AHS presentations can be found on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIUpXeC1QEjNm54X7KylkQ) Get full access to Ancestral Health Today Substack at ancestralhealth.substack.com/subscribe (https://ancestralhealth.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

On today’s an episode we bring you a special presentation by L Amber O’ Hearn, M. Sc. from the Ancestral Health Symposium. All of our past AHS presentations can be found on our YouTube channel Ancestral Health Today “For decades, the Dietary Guidelines of America have recommended strictly limiting added dietary salt primarily on the basis of real but largely clinically irrelevant effects on blood pressure. Members of the Low Carb and Paleo Diet communities have pointed out the senselessness of these recommendations, while also noting observational correlations between moderately higher salt intake and lower mortality. While it's true that salt has been highly prized in post-agricultural times, evidence does not support high sodium intake in either the Paleolithic or modern non-agrarian societies. In this talk I will present anthropological and biological evidence for and against increasing salt intake, with special attention to the ketogenic and animal-food-predominant dietary contexts”

On today’s an episode we bring you a special presentation by L Amber O’ Hearn, M. Sc. from the Ancestral Health Symposium. All of our past AHS presentations can be found on our YouTube channel Ancestral Health Today (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIUpXeC1QEjNm54X7KylkQ) “For decades, the Dietary Guidelines of America have recommended strictly limiting added dietary salt primarily on the basis of real but largely clinically irrelevant effects on blood pressure. Members of the Low Carb and Paleo Diet communities have pointed out the senselessness of these recommendations, while also noting observational correlations between moderately higher salt intake and lower mortality. While it's true that salt has been highly prized in post-agricultural times, evidence does not support high sodium intake in either the Paleolithic or modern non-agrarian societies. In this talk I will present anthropological and biological evidence for and against increasing salt intake, with special attention to the ketogenic and animal-food-predominant dietary contexts” Get full access to Ancestral Health Today Substack at ancestralhealth.substack.com/subscribe (https://ancestralhealth.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

On this episode of The Ancestral Health Today Podcast, our host, Isabel Burnett tries to bridge the gap between health optimization and the nuanced complexities of multi-systemic chronic illness, with an emphasis on infection-associated complex diseases such as long covid and MECFS. Isabel started out wanting to be a doctor, but she was derailed by MECFS, which she has had since childhood, and worsened in adolescence. Isabel became a systems engineer and worked in the pharmaceutical sector while continuing to struggle with managing ME. She later became a Board certified health coach, initially to better understand managing her own condition, and later to help others in similar situations. Isabel became familiar with the ancestral health framework around 2016 while researching modalities for herself and her clients. She became fascinated with the concept of evolutionary medicine, especially as a plausible explanation for how our bodies react to modern-times inputs and triggers in light of evolutionary biology's mechanisms. Driven by her own struggles, Isabel embraces citizen science, leveraging her profound understanding of systems and her love for science to unravel the complexities of chronic illness. Her journey has evolved into a mission, fueling her work to redefine research paradigms and improve patient outcomes. Isabel's passion lies in exploring the microbiome's role in health, dissecting the neuro-cognitive implications of chronic illness, and unraveling the intricate web of immune, metabolic, and inflammatory pathways. She believes in empowering patients to be catalysts for change, to reclaim agency over their health narratives. She has an unwavering commitment to reshaping the future of healthcare. As she continues to lead the charge, she embodies the spirit of empowerment, turning adversity into opportunity, and offering hope to countless others on similar journeys. Isabel emphasizes that while all humans have the same basic biological needs encompassed in the ancestral health framework, not all have the same outcomes when moving towards this framework, especially in the context of the dysfunction and changes created by these conditions. The evolutionary concept of "cell danger" response is a great place to start to explore these challenges. When not immersed in her work, Isabel finds joy in nature, foraging for mushrooms and plants or nurturing her garden. She indulges her culinary creativity through traditional cooking experiments, from fermenting to sprouting. And amidst it all, she finds time to feed her mind with scientific literature, exploring the realms of plants and sustainable living. We hope you enjoy today's episode.

On this episode of The Ancestral Health Today Podcast, our host, Isabel Burnett tries to bridge the gap between health optimization and the nuanced complexities of multi-systemic chronic illness, with an emphasis on infection-associated complex diseases such as long covid and MECFS.  Isabel started out wanting to be a doctor, but she was derailed by MECFS, which she has had since childhood, and worsened in adolescence. Isabel became a systems engineer and worked in the pharmaceutical sector while continuing to struggle with managing ME. She later became a Board certified health coach, initially to better understand managing her own condition, and later to help others in similar situations. Isabel became familiar with the ancestral health framework around 2016 while researching modalities for herself and her clients. She became fascinated with the concept of evolutionary medicine, especially as a plausible explanation for how our bodies react to modern-times inputs and triggers in light of evolutionary biology's mechanisms.  Driven by her own struggles, Isabel embraces citizen science, leveraging her profound understanding of systems and her love for science to unravel the complexities of chronic illness. Her journey has evolved into a mission, fueling her work  to redefine research paradigms and improve patient outcomes. Isabel's passion lies in exploring the microbiome's role in health, dissecting the neuro-cognitive implications of chronic illness, and unraveling the intricate web of immune, metabolic, and inflammatory pathways. She believes in empowering patients to be catalysts for change, to reclaim agency over their health narratives. She has an unwavering commitment to reshaping the future of healthcare. As she continues to lead the charge, she embodies the spirit of empowerment, turning adversity into opportunity, and offering hope to countless others on similar journeys. Isabel emphasizes that while all humans have the same basic biological needs encompassed in the ancestral health framework, not all have the same outcomes when moving towards this framework, especially in the context of the dysfunction and changes created by these conditions. The evolutionary concept of "cell danger" response is a great place to start to explore these challenges. When not immersed in her work, Isabel finds joy in nature, foraging for mushrooms and plants or nurturing her garden. She indulges her culinary creativity through traditional cooking experiments, from fermenting to sprouting. And amidst it all, she finds time to feed her mind with scientific literature, exploring the realms of plants and sustainable living. We hope you enjoy today's episode. Get full access to Ancestral Health Today Substack at ancestralhealth.substack.com/subscribe (https://ancestralhealth.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

In this episode, Dr. Michael Crawford discusses the essential role of the essential fatty acids DHA and ARA in the evolution and health of the human brain. Dr. Crawford is visiting professor at Imperial College in London, and has been Director of the Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition since 1990. For his pioneering discovery of the role of DHA in the brain in 1971, and its importance in prenatal nutrition, Michael was elected by his peers to the Hall of Fame at the Royal Society of Medicine in 2010. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed scientific papers and 4 books, most recently "The Shrinking Brain", which documents the evolutionary evidence for the role of the marine food web in human evolution, and the societal threats posed to brain health and intelligence posed by recent changes to the food supply and the human diet. Dr. Crawford highlights the essential functions of DHA and ARA in cell regulation, immune response, and vision, and their importance in brain growth and construction. He emphasizes the significance of the marine food web in providing an abundance of DHA and the role of the combination of marine and land food webs in human brain growth. Dr. Crawford challenges the dominant theory of that humans brains size increased as a result of hunting in African savannahs, and presents evidence that access to marine foods at the shoreline drove human brain development. Dr. Crawford discusses discuss the subsequent decline in brain size since the advent of agriculture, and particularly with modern diets. He emphasizes the importance of maternal and prenatal nutrition, and the ongoing need for DHA and arachidonic acid in brain development. The discussion ends with the prospects for developing marine agriculture to ensure good mental health of future generations. References Book: Crawford and Marsh The Shrinking Brain and the Global Mental Health Crisis, 2023 Publications: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/michael.crawford Here is a guide to topics discussed in this podcast episode: Time Topic 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:44 The Role of DHA and ARA in the Evolution of the Brain 06:12 DHA in Early Single Cellular Organisms 07:45 The Universality of DHA in Animal Eyes and Brains 09:12 The Universality of DHA and ARA in Mammalian Brains 11:24 The Decrease of Brain to Body Size Ratio Across Species 18:16 How Access to Seafood Explains the Larger Brains of Humans 21:45. Rebuttal of the Savannah Hunting Theory of Human Evolution 26:10 The Extinction of Megafauna and Human Brain Growth 27:47 The Decrease in Human Brain Size Since Agriculture 29:47 The Importance of Iodine and Marine Minerals and Vitamins 33:36 Evolutionary Mismatch and Epigenetic Impact of Modern Diets 38:35 The Importance of Maternal and Prenatal Nutrition 41:25 Nutritional Requirements for Brain Development into Adulthood 46:50 Benefits of Mussels, Oysters and Fish for Brain Health 47:56 Farmed Fish vs. Wild Caught Fish 49:18 The Potential of Marine Agriculture to Ensure Global Mental Health 55:19 Michael Crawford's Current Research

In this episode, Dr. Michael Crawford discusses the essential role of the essential fatty acids DHA and ARA in the evolution and health of the human brain. Dr. Crawford is visiting professor at Imperial College in London, and has been Director of the Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition since 1990. For his pioneering discovery of the role of DHA in the brain in 1971, and its importance in prenatal nutrition, Michael was elected by his peers to the Hall of Fame at the Royal Society of Medicine in 2010. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed scientific papers and 4 books, most recently "The Shrinking Brain", which documents the evolutionary evidence for the role of the marine food web in human evolution, and the societal threats posed to brain health and intelligence posed by recent changes to the food supply and the human diet. Dr. Crawford highlights the essential functions of DHA and ARA in cell regulation, immune response, and vision, and their importance in brain growth and construction. He emphasizes the significance of the marine food web in providing an abundance of DHA and the role of the combination of marine and land food webs in human brain growth. Dr. Crawford challenges the dominant theory of that humans brains size increased as a result of hunting in African savannahs, and presents evidence that access to marine foods at the shoreline drove human brain development. Dr. Crawford discusses discuss the subsequent decline in brain size since the advent of agriculture, and particularly with modern diets. He emphasizes the importance of maternal and prenatal nutrition, and the ongoing need for DHA and arachidonic acid in brain development. The discussion ends with the prospects for developing marine agriculture to ensure good mental health of future generations. References Book: Crawford and Marsh The Shrinking Brain and the Global Mental Health Crisis, 2023 Publications:  http://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/michael.crawford Here is a guide to topics discussed in this podcast episode: Time     Topic 00:00     Introduction and Background  01:44     The Role of DHA and ARA in the Evolution of the Brain 06:12     DHA in Early Single Cellular Organisms 07:45     The Universality of DHA in Animal Eyes and Brains 09:12     The Universality of DHA and ARA in Mammalian Brains 11:24     The Decrease of Brain to Body Size Ratio Across Species 18:16     How Access to Seafood Explains the Larger Brains of Humans 21:45.    Rebuttal of the Savannah Hunting Theory of Human Evolution 26:10     The Extinction of Megafauna and Human Brain Growth 27:47     The Decrease in Human Brain Size Since Agriculture 29:47     The Importance of Iodine and Marine Minerals and Vitamins 33:36     Evolutionary Mismatch and Epigenetic Impact of Modern Diets 38:35     The Importance of Maternal and Prenatal Nutrition 41:25     Nutritional Requirements for Brain Development into Adulthood 46:50     Benefits of Mussels, Oysters and Fish for Brain Health 47:56     Farmed Fish vs. Wild Caught Fish 49:18     The Potential of Marine Agriculture to Ensure Global Mental Health 55:19     Michael Crawford's Current Research Get full access to Ancestral Health Today Substack at ancestralhealth.substack.com/subscribe (https://ancestralhealth.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)