Who was Weston A Price?

As a Cleveland dentist, Dr. Weston A. Price (1870-1948) has been rightfully hailed as the “Isaac Newton of Nutrition.” His journey from the confines of his dental practice to the far reaches of the globe was driven by a singular quest: to uncover the root causes of dental decay and physical degeneration. In his pursuit, Price eschewed the conventional tools of his profession in favor of firsthand observation among isolated, non-industrialized communities. What he discovered was nothing short of revolutionary.

The world became Price's laboratory, and as he traversed continents, his findings coalesced into a profound revelation: dental caries and malformed dental arches were not merely isolated dental issues but rather symptomatic of broader physical degeneration resulting from nutritional deficiencies. His travels took him to remote villages in Switzerland, Gaelic communities in the Outer Hebrides, Eskimo and Indian tribes of North America, Melanesian and Polynesian Islanders of the South Pacific, African tribes, Australian Aborigines, New Zealand Maori, and the indigenous peoples of South America.

Wherever Price ventured, a consistent pattern emerged: populations adhering to traditional diets rich in nutrient-dense foods exhibited remarkable dental health, robust physical constitutions, and disease resistance. Among these indigenous peoples, fine teeth, freedom from dental decay, sturdy physiques, and vibrant characters were the norm rather than the exception.

Price's groundbreaking work transcended dentistry, offering profound insights into the intimate connection between diet and overall well-being. His observations led him to emphasize the critical importance of nutrition in shaping human health and vitality. In his view, the key to optimal dental and physical health lay not in modern dental practices but in returning to the dietary wisdom of our ancestors.

Central to Price's findings was recognizing certain dietary principles promoting optimal health and vitality. He observed that traditional diets centered around nutrient-dense animal foods such as organ meats, bone broths, and fatty fish, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats crucial for dental and overall health. Moreover, traditional cultures employed time-honored techniques like fermentation, soaking, and sprouting to enhance food's nutritional value and digestibility, further bolstering gut health and immune function.

Price's legacy endures through the work of the Weston A. Price Foundation, founded to promote his teachings and research. In an era marked by processed foods and chronic disease, Price's message resonates more profoundly than ever: that the path to optimal health lies in embracing nutrient-dense, whole foods and honoring the dietary wisdom of our ancestors.