Episode 2390 – On this Friday’s show Vinnie Tortorich and “The Sodfather” Dr. Peter Ballerstedt discuss the health of the environment and nutrition through a ruminant revolution, and more.
Pandemic of Metabolic Illness
- Dr. Peter Ballerstedt returns to the show and is known as the “Sodfather.”
- Peter is a Forage Agronomist and has expansive knowledge of agriculture, the environment, and nutrition.
- He explains 3 key messages he is trying to spread:
- public health needs animal foods
- a sustainable food system is only possible with livestock, particularly ruminants.
- livestock and animal foods are a part of our (and others) varied cultural heritage
- He explains 3 key messages he is trying to spread:
- Vinnie gets tired of the fast narratives put out by popular vegan doctors. (4:00)
- He referenced recent guest Dr. Bill Schindler who has studied human development back as far as 3 million years. (5:15)
- Peter adds that grasslands need ruminants for soil to be healthy and growth to be sustainable.
- Early humans discovered tools that helped their brain development; they went from being scavengers to apex hunters.
- They discuss the disconnect that happens as certain tech progresses. (11:30)
- People are becoming even more removed from certain aspects of life which makes things feel as if they are going in reverse.
- Peter asks: is it the tech, or what we choose to do with the tech?
- He gives an example of how Gary Taubes is doing some current research.
- They discuss the politicization through such campaigns as “meat is murder,” etc. (15:00)
- Reconnection with the hard wall of physics, biology, and endocrinology should make people realize how negative campaigns against meat are misguided.
- The proof is the current Pandemic of Metabolic Illness happening.
- Obesity is a symptom of malnutrition—he elaborates.
Ruminant Revolution
- Peter is encouraging a “ruminant revolution,” which is to improve the productivity and efficiency of ruminant agriculture globally. (20:00)
- He and Vinnie also remind people that doctors are not your boss, they work for you. (22:00)
- People need to become better informed for their benefit.
- They discuss how politics has entered the food system. (26:30)
- Peter gives examples from both Germany and Brazil about processes that both didn’t work and do work. (28:00)
- He explains what arable land is (able to be plowed and grown).
- All arable land is agricultural, but not all agricultural land is arable.
- Vinnie asks Peter’s opinion about the recent uproar in Ireland about killing thousands of cattle to reduce emissions. (41:00)
- We must figure out how to feed the world the appropriate amount of animal-sourced food, for public health.
- Even if the U.S. got rid of animal agriculture, it would only reduce global emissions by approximately 2%.
- However, it would also imbalance the food system and reduce nutrition globally.
- One study that is never discussed states that a wildlife-dominated savannah and a livestock-dominated one are equal. (58:00)
- Those who are pushing the Dietary Guidelines for metabolic health are at least 10 years behind on the science. (1:02:00)
- Vinnie shares an idea that he and Nina Teicholz have had about creating a health think tank to better get the truth to the public. (1:03:00)
- You can find Dr. Peter Ballerstedt around the web and on social media and doing various appearances around the world.
- Here is a link to start. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Peter-Ballerstedt
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