The Primal Shift

In this episode, I'm joined by Heidi Moretti, a registered dietician and gut health expert. She's the author of the book Gut Fix and shares how to heal common gut issues and optimize our health.   We discuss common gut issues and how you can fix them, the crucial role of gut health in overall well-being, noting that common gut issues often originate from diet, stress, and lifestyle, and advocating...

Here in the United States, we start fall with a candy holiday in October, a pie holiday in November, and a cookie holiday in December, followed by a liquor holiday at the end of the year. And yet we call it the flu season.   In this episode, I'll share with you how my family and I navigate the holiday season food scene, and how we reduce our chances of getting sick without feeling like we're depri...

If you've been following me for a while, you know that my family and I follow an animal-based diet. But what does that really mean? In this episode, I dive into my eating habits, and share which foods and drinks I regularly enjoy in moderation and sometimes indulge in. Additionally, I share my favorite go-to supplements that I incorporate into my daily routine, provide insight into a typical meal,...

Traveling and dining out can often pose significant challenges to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, depending on your current health status and frequency of travel. In this episode, I discuss practical strategies to stay healthy while traveling and dining out. This includes the essentials I always carry while traveling, the types of food I pack for trips, the initial steps I take after check-in, ho...

Living a healthy life in today's world may seem relatively straightforward when you're solely responsible for your choices. However, matters get considerably more intricate when you factor in a partner, and even more so when children are in the equation.   In this episode, I tackle the complexities of maintaining an animal-based diet and ancestral-focused lifestyle within a family setting. I dive...

Contrary to popular belief, pasture-raised poultry and pork may not be inherently healthier than conventionally raised options, despite the common belief that their natural diets and lifestyles lead to more nutritious meat.   In today's episode, Dr. Anthony Gustin and I dive into the misconceptions surrounding poultry and pork, debating the merits of pasture-raised versus conventionally-raised mea...

Are you struggling to get a good night's sleep? Quality sleep is the cornerstone of optimal health, and harnessing ancestral wisdom can help us achieve it. Whether it's aligning our routines around our natural circadian rhythm, adjusting our lifestyle choices or leveraging modern solutions, we have the power to transform our sleep and, in turn, our lives. In today's episode, I share what my sleep...

When it comes to shopping for food and supplements, one crucial skill is the ability to decipher nutrition labels. Despite ridiculous labeling laws, it's like the Wild West out there, making it incredibly difficult to understand nutrition labels.   In today's episode, I dive into the top 14 marketing claims on product labels that are often meaningless and misleading. Plus, I'll share tips on what...

Two questions I get a lot: 1. What do you do to look so fit? 2. I work out much more than you do and don't look like you. How's that possible? In this episode, I'll answer those two questions, and my answers might surprise you.    Welcome to another episode of the Primal Shift podcast, where I share how to train less but more effectively, to get leaner and stronger, and stay that way for life. I s...

Several years ago, I transitioned from a paleo to a ketogenic diet because I thought all carbs were evil and I maintained a strict keto diet for over three years. By strict, I mean somewhere between 0 to 15 grams of carbs per day.    Welcome to another episode of the Primal Shift podcast, where host Michael Kummer shares the pros and cons of a low-carb ketogenic diet, what triggered him to include...

With the advancement of technology and modern conveniences, many of us have drifted away from our inherent connection to nature. We are living in climate-controlled homes, spending most of our days indoors, and have significantly reduced our time interacting with the natural world. However, did you know that reconnecting with nature could be the ultimate health biohack for optimal physical and men...

There's an underappreciated and often overlooked aspect of maintaining optimal health that many of us miss in our busy, hustle-bustle lives. It's not a magic pill or an exotic superfood. It's something much more primal and deeply rooted in our evolutionary history – community.   The sense of belonging to a community and tribalism in achieving health transcends just the physical. Have you ever thou...

What if you could strengthen your body, improve your health, and boost your immunity with simple everyday activities? Today we explore how you can do that using the concept of hormesis or hormetic stressors. Get ready to discover how you can enhance your body's response to the environment and how vital stressors like exercise, sun exposure, and temperature variations can contribute to your overall...

What if the biggest threat to your health is not the obvious culprits like junk food or lack of exercise, but rather, invisible enemies lurking in your everyday environment? Harmful substances such as xenoestrogens, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and PFAS (aka forever chemicals) are surprisingly found in your personal care products, your food, and even the clothes you wear. The health implication...

Have you ever wondered how much of an impact stress can have on your health? While chronic stress can have detrimental effects on our health, the benefits of "good" stress are often overlooked. Transforming your body's stress response into a powerful adaptation tool is essential for optimizing your overall health.    Welcome to another episode of the Primal Shift podcast, where host Michael Kummer...

Have you ever wondered why a desk job leaves you feeling drained, rather than invigorated? In today's modern world, many of our activities have deviated from our history and what our bodies were designed to do. Rather than walking long distances in search of food and shelter, we often find ourselves living a sedentary lifestyle. This is why compensating with an exercise routine is crucial for opti...

Here's the truth: Without sleep, you'll struggle to achieve optimal health. It doesn't matter how well you eat or how often you workout, if you don't sleep well, nothing else matters.    From boosting your energy levels to enhancing your cognitive abilities, sleep is the secret ingredient to your overall health and wellness. The problem is, most of us aren't getting the sleep we need.   Welcome to...

There's a common misconception that if you're eating right and getting enough exercise, you're living a healthy lifestyle. But the truth is, there's more to optimizing your health than just diet and exercise, and understanding how to cover several different angles of your health is essential for living a primal lifestyle.   Welcome to another episode of the Primal Shift podcast, where host Michael...

In today's modern world, it's not uncommon to find yourself dealing with many types of health issues- everything from cardiovascular problems to trouble falling asleep. So what's the underlying reason for experiencing these health problems? The truth is that our bodies are designed for an environment that no longer exists, which is why shifting away from the modern lifestyle towards a more primal...

Welcome to the Primal Shift podcast! I'm your host, Michael Kummer, and my goal is to help you achieve optimal health by bridging the gap between ancestral living and the demands of modern society. Get ready to unlock the transformative power of nature as the ultimate biohack, revolutionizing your health and reconnecting you with your primal self. Each episode is short and concise, providing you t...