Ancestral Eating
In the late 1920s, a Cleveland dentist named Weston A. Price became concerned by what he was seeing in his patients. Adults had high rates of tooth decay, and children were showing increasing signs of crooked teeth and facial deformities such as overbites, narrow faces, and underdeveloped jawlines.
Dr. Price also noticed that poor dental health was often accompanied by poor physical health, poor mental health, and even behavioral problems.
Curious, he began hearing about communities around the world that were known for strong teeth and vibrant health. Together with his wife, he spent the next ten years traveling more than 100,000 miles. They visited people in Africa, South America, Australia, Polynesia, Europe, and northern Canada.
Some might bristle at the word “primitive,” but Price meant it as a compliment. “Primitive” comes from “prime,” meaning first or best. To him, these groups were living examples of health at its finest. His goal was to “prime” us, to prepare us with knowledge to care for our own health.
Wherever Price found traditional ways of living and eating, he also found people who were not only physically healthy but also remarkably happy.
He described the Swiss in the Loetschental Valley as so healthy they had no need for doctors or jails. He praised Polynesians for their buoyant personalities and excellent physiques. He admired the forest Indians of the far North for their joy and vitality, and he was deeply moved by the contentment and peace of the Torres Strait Islanders.
But whenever processed foods crept into these communities, the results were stark: physical and mental health quickly declined. Price documented all of this in his landmark book, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration.
What Healthy Cultures Had in Common
Although the diets he studied were vastly different, they shared three simple principles:
All their food was local.
They ate food in its natural season.
They prized nutrient-rich foods and avoided processed junk.
Eat Local
Us modern city dwellers tend to value what comes from far away. You think that the expensive herb that comes from the Amazon jungle is better than that pesky weed growing in your garden. Not true. You might belief that the bottle of coconut oil
That used to be me. And all I got was a cupboard full of expensive supplements I intended to use but never did. For me a was cocoa nibs. ordered them off Amazon, used them once, tasted so-so, and let them sit in the cupboard for two years before my wife through them out. Could have bought a steak instead.
There is this fancy French word I learned recently. It's Terroir. And I'm so glad I came across it because it perfectly expresses in one word what I couldn't say in a thousand.
Terroir - the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate.
The characteristic taste and flavor imparted to a wine by the environment in which it is produced.
Terroir is a wine word, but close your eyes for a moment and imagine that you too have terroir. The soil you stand on, the air you breath in, the season you are in all resonate perfectly with you, and then you go and spoil it all by eating a mango from Thailand in the middle of winter.
Local food connects you to the land and people around you.
Look into nearby farmers’ markets, pick-your-own farms, or farm-to-table restaurants. If there’s a local food co-op, consider joining, it supports small growers and gives you access to high-quality foods.
When shopping, take a moment to check where your food comes from. And if you have the space, try planting a small garden. Nothing is more local than food from your own backyard.
For a deeper connection, try “sit spotting.” Take a quiet moment outdoors to notice your surroundings. This simple act strengthens your bond with the place you live.
Eat Seasonal
Health also depends on rhythm. For today’s task, start noticing the natural cycles around you.
Keep a simple notebook. Record the moon’s phases, the changing times of sunrise and sunset, the weather patterns, even the tides if you live near the sea. The point isn’t just to collect facts—you can find those online in seconds. The point is to connect.
Research which fruits, vegetables, meats, and fish are seasonal in your area. For fun, you might include flowers as well. Create your own seasonal calendar and then step outside. See if you can spot the plants, birds, or insects that belong to this time of year.
Eat Rich
When Dr. Price studied healthy traditional diets, he found they were built on nutrient-dense foods. Each culture valued what he called “sacred foods,” especially for children, pregnant women, and those recovering from illness.
One of his key discoveries was “Activator X” now believed to be vitamin K2. It's found in foods like grass-fed butter, organ meats, shellfish, and aged cheese. This nutrient played a powerful role in bone and dental health, as well as overall vitality.
Of course, organ meats and fish eggs may not be for everyone. The principle is what matters: seek out foods that are deeply nourishing.
You can take small steps: choose full-fat dairy instead of fat-free, cook with butter or ghee, add an egg yolk to your meals, or simmer bone broth. Each choice adds layers of nourishment.
Healing doesn’t require extremes—it only requires intention. Even simple changes, made consistently, can bring you closer to the vitality that Dr. Price admired in those traditional cultures.
I’m Dr. Rodger Douglas, DMH, a South African-born homeopath now based in Osaka, Japan. With a degree in psychology degree and a DMH from the Hahnemann College of Heilkunst, I specialize in holistic care for fibromyalgia. I serve clients by phone or video across the US, Canada, the UK, and Europe.