Dr. Weston A Price

Weston A. Price, DDS, was a dentist practicing in Cleveland, Ohio, in the early 1900s. Noting an increase in dental caries (cavities), he became determined to find the causes of the tooth decay and physical degeneration he observed in his dental practice. He left Cleveland in search of people groups that had healthy teeth – and found them among those who were geographically or culturally isolated from the modern world. Price studied primitive peoples around the world and discovered several commonalities among them:

• beautiful, straight, strong teeth with few cavities
• strong, healthy bodies
• resistance to disease
• emotional stability
• adherence to a traditional diet

Weston A. Price’s 10-year study of 14 tribal groups around the world caused him to be referred to as the “Charles Darwin of Nutrition.” His travels and observations also led him to the answers he sought. Dr. Price noted that diet was the cause of the good health of these tribes. He also observed that those members of the tribes who embraced modern diets suffered the ills of the modern world: dental caries (cavities), crooked, crowded teeth, and other physical degeneration.

Today people enjoy more modern conveniences than did those in the time of Dr. Price’s studies. We have new and better ways of filling and straightening teeth. Foods – and indeed entire meals – are readily available to us processed and pre-packaged for quick preparation. Notably, there appears to be a coinciding increase in the number of acronyms describing physical and behavioral disorders as well.

“If civilized man is to survive, he must incorporate the fundamentals of primitive nutritional wisdom into his modern life-style.”

– Dr. Weston A. Price

Primitive nutritional wisdom – the traditional diets studied by Dr. Price – incorporated foods that were high in protein, vitamins, and minerals. The peoples ate foods that were nutrient-dense, including fish, butter, eggs, and organ meats and minimally processed. Primitive, traditional diets do not include high quantities of sugar, white flour, fillers, or other additives.

As Dr. Price once became determined to discover the causes of dental decay and physical degeneration, he later became committed to sharing his findings in order to reduce oral and physical degeneration and to improve the health of the people around him. He based his message of good health on the traditional diets of the isolated tribes he studied. Dr. Price’s nutrition findings were confirmed through an unrelated study by Dr. Frances M. Pottenger, Jr., MD.

The traditional diets observed by Dr. Price produced healthy teeth, healthy bodies, healthy minds, and healthy children in the peoples he studied. Price-Pottenger's mission is to teach that these principles can do the same for people today.

Dr. Francis M. Pottenger, Jr.

Francis M. Pottenger, Jr., MD, dedicated his professional life to understanding the role of nutrition in the prevention of chronic illnesses and physical degeneration. Boldly challenging contemporary dogma, Dr. Pottenger’s studies consistently demonstrated the direct relationship between a healthy diet and vital living.

Today, the world faces a nutritional crisis. This is evidenced by:

• the proliferation of unhealthy and over-processed foods
• chemicals in the food chain
• the epidemics of obesity and diabetes
• the popularization of fad diets

As these problems continue to worsen, it is clear that Dr. Pottenger’s findings and message are more valid today than ever before. In order to reverse these trends, and to improve our quality of life, we all must come to understand, as Dr. Pottenger did, that good nutrition is key to optimum health.

In modern times there remain questions as to what defines a “healthy diet.” Through celebrity endorsers and glitzy media campaigns, we are regularly introduced to trendy eating plans with catchy names – all promising miraculous results. However, most of these fad diets eventually fail and fade away; they neglect a basic understanding that was proven by decades of Dr. Pottenger’s research – and corroborated by the studies of Dr. Weston A. Price. Namely: tradition NOT trends are the keys to a healthy diet and good life.

In his research –  the results of which are detailed here – Dr. Pottenger found that animals enjoying traditional diets containing raw and unprocessed meats and milk were stronger, more active, disease free and socially well-adjusted. These findings mirror the discoveries of Dr. Price in his studies of human tribes who maintained traditional diets. Humans and animals alike need the nutrients provided by consuming a variety of minimally processed meats, vegetables and dairy products.

Price-Pottenger works to promote a return to traditional nutritional values as the best path for increased health and longevity.