Sacred Plates: Reclaiming Wellness Through Ancestral Eating | Kamila McDonald | TEDxClarkstown

Health & Wellness Industry Trends - Preventable chronic diseases like heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and inflammation are becoming increasingly prevalent [2] - Poor diet is now the leading cause of early death worldwide, according to a 2023 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association [13] - A 2024 study in the Lancet indicates that a plant-rich whole food diet can add up to 13 years of life expectancy [13] - Diets high in processed food and refined sugar are directly linked to depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline, as shown in a study in nutritional neuroscience [15] Dietary Recommendations & Gut Health - Ancestral wisdom emphasizes eating real food, trusting food, and respecting it as medicine, survival, and sacred [3][4] - The gut microbiome thrives on diversity, with individuals eating over 30 different plant foods per week having a more diverse and resilient gut [24] - Focus on adding more plants to the diet rather than counting macros or adhering to strict rules [27] - Key elements to crowd out of the diet include ultra-processed food, refined sugars, toxic oils, and sources of chronic stress [28] Holistic Healing Practices - Deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, signaling safety to the gut and promoting healing [20][21] - Incorporating herbs and spices like ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon can offer healing benefits [12]