I was blessed to meet Bob Quinn at the Wise Traditions conference recently. The wisdom of his experience as a grain farmer was inspiring and I have devoured his book Grain by Grain with gusto since. The book will end up on my shelf to be shared but here he is chatting to Hilda about his life and work as an organic farmer in Montana. 

https://www.westonaprice.org/podcast/40-years-of-farming-organically-has-it-been-worth-it-with-bob-quinn/#gsc.tab=0  

Anne Maher

Wise Traditions is the podcast to recommend this month..( again) but I wanted to highlight this episode in particular. Hilda interviews Sally Fallon Morell founder of the Weston A Price Foundation in the USA. I have learned so much from her. When she came to Ireland in 2015 she reminded us to look after our farmers before they were gone..her wise words resonated and still do. If you haven’t had the pleasure please do check this one out.

Wise Traditions Podcast

Over 500 episodes to listen to as you delve deeper! Enjoy!

Anne Maher

This month I am recomending a podcast rather than a book.

​I had a listen to the first podcast of Dr. Richard Rocker lately and want to draw you attention to it.

https://www.rockerclinic.com/podcast/  Called The Integrative Continuum

Richard describes it as a
“Go-to source for cutting-edge insights into health, fitness, rehabilitation, and holistic medicine.

Diving into the world of Functional, Integrative, and Natural Medicine, exploring how we can bridge science, practice, and holistic therapies to restore health and vitality. Each episode will feature practical insights, inspiring conversations, and real tools you can use on your own health journey.”

This may be a very useful tool in your virtual medicine cabinet. 

​Anne Maher

This is not quite a book review, but still a reflection of the times we live in! Technology has taken over! I was keen to recommend a book written in 2012 – an oldie but a goodie, but when looking to source it, I made the executive decision to not go ahead with getting this book for The Urban Co-op.

You may have this one somewhere or not, but if you come across the book “Make Yourself Better” by Philip Weeks in a second-hand shop, snap it up! A simple read, but it covers so many areas of health and how you can do as it says on the tin.. make yourself better. 

A compromise, though, is his website – updated with his wisdom and in a readable form too, so I am highlighting it for you to check out. You may be able to get that answer you are looking for. 

Anne Maher

Let's Talk Shit by Dr Sabine Hazan

I heard an interview with Dr. Sabine Hazan recently and was hooked. The topic of fecal transplants is fascinating but we should be joining the dots as the realisation of the diversity of our gut flora is critical to our health. (Lay of the sterilisers!)

Let’s Talk Shit is a humorous, easy to digest (no pun intended!) explanation of gastrointestinal disorders, their current treatments, as well as next generation hope for heart disease, obesity, autism, Alzheimer’s, and more. From constipation to cancer, research indicates that our unique microbiomes may be the basis for future advances in health and wellness.

​Anne Maher

I know this is the second time I have recommended this book but there is a reason why. It is brilliant. The very foods we are told not to eat because they are apparently bad for us and the environment. Nina brings us through what I will call a crime scene. The academic world that brought us the guidelines of nutritional advice. This is one of those books that when you get to digest it as part of your health journey you will not be disappointed. I have such respect for what Nina has put together here. A major piece of the puzzle of how we are all subject to the social experiment of nutrition advice. Food fads, diets and dogma along the way have been successful by sidelining the very foods that nourish us. Folk are waking up to it though. They smell a rat. And rightly so. The same playbook is used to convince us to adopt other health advice. This book was an eye opener for me… thank you Nina! 

​Anne Maher

These Intangible Things by Eilís Haden-Storrie

This book has come onto our shelves recently from Banner Books. Timely as it echoes an awakening to the wide scope that is health. An interesting read…! 
 
The World Health Organization has recognised mental, physical, social and – to some degree – spiritual health as being key components of our wellbeing. Today, more than one-in-five doctor’s visits are due to chronic pain. Chronic conditions are on the increase and affecting people at a much younger age than ever before. Whilst pharmaceuticals and surgery can enhance our lives and survival rates of many illnesses, the Western medical world is struggling to deal with the 95% of diseases that have little if anything to do with our genes. In order to address this, we need to look beyond physical symptoms and explore what is going on with regard to our minds, our social connections and perhaps even our deeper spirit. Are there elements of our past which might give us clues on how best to do this? Without casting off our clothes and dancing naked under the moon, what can we learn from age-old and natural practices? How can we re-view our past in a measured way so that we can take what we need and leave the rest? .This book comprises of conversations with academics, health practitioners and service users, exploring our history and present day lifestyles in the light of finding a way through. Many of the conversations are held at ancient sites in County Clare – places which connect us to health and wellbeing throughout the ages.

Anne Maher

Toxic by Sally K. Norton

​You may not like to hear this one but it would be remiss of me to not bring your attention to this book. When superfoods are toxic…great! After the chocolate fest of Easter this actually may be a timely one though. What if the very foods you thought were healthy and you are consuming liberally because you believe they are good for you but were making your symptoms worse?

Those green smoothies and nut butters? Berries and potatoes? Surely not! You will be challenged to look more critically at your virtuous diet…oxalates are a topic that you must know about and this book will be a must in your journey towards health. 

Anne Maher