Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark Episode: Why 2026 Is the Year of Butter! Ancestral Diet with Hilda Labrada Gore
Release Date: December 19, 2025

Episode Overview

In this energizing episode, host Alex Clark welcomes Hilda Labrada Gore (aka "Holistic Hilda") – world traveler, health coach, and host of the Wise Traditions podcast – to reveal why butter and ancestral diets could be the secret to unlocking health in 2026. The conversation dives deep into the wisdom of traditional cultures, nutrient-dense eating, the dangers of modern “dead” diets, and actionable steps listeners can take to reclaim health, energy, and vitality. Alex and Hilda explore the science and stories behind ancestral foods, the impact of nutrition on mood, sleep, generational health, and more, all tied together with encouragement and practical advice for entering the new year proactively.

Main Discussion Points and Insights

1. Why 2026 Should Be the Year of Butter

• The modern diet is nutrient-poor, overly processed, and demonizes real fats like butter.
• Butter and other nutrient-dense animal fats provide vital fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) that are key to mood, cognitive function, and overall vitality.
• Quote:

  “Dr. Price… said, the thing I could recommend the most is that you include more butter in your life. It really does boost your mood on top of helping you think better and help everything function better in your body.” (Hilda, 03:51)

2. The Problem with Modern Diets

• Obsession with food safety has led to “dead diets” — heavily processed, shelf-stable, but lifeless convenience foods.
• Modern food is filled with toxins, preservatives, dyes, and lacks real nourishment.
• Quote:

  “If it has a long shelf life, it'll likely shorten yours.” (Hilda, 00:26)

3. Vitality and Aging: Food as the Gateway

• Hilda (aged 64) attributes her vitality to nutrient-rich eating, curiosity, and a broad, engaged outlook on life, rather than age or genetics.
• Modern “aging symptoms” — aches, lack of passion — are linked heavily to dietary and lifestyle choices.
• Quote:

  “I don't even think about age… What if we expanded instead? ... In that way, you stay young for a long time.” (Hilda, 02:38)

4. Diet's Influence on Mood, Hormones, and Energy

• Many people misattribute depression or fatigue to personality or mental illness, when diet (particularly lack of healthy fats) is often a root cause.
• Sleep and circadian rhythm are deeply interconnected with nutrition and light hygiene.
• Quote:

  "You need to have butter... fat helps loosen up the feel good chemicals in your brain." (Hilda, 03:51)

5. Circadian Rhythm and Light Hygiene

• Sleep challenges, especially for young moms, can be eased with practices that honor the body’s natural rhythm (e.g., blue blockers, avoiding screens at night, using incandescent or red lights).
• Indigenous cultures go to sleep and wake with the sun, reinforcing natural rhythms and health.
• Quote:

  “Honor your circadian rhythm... once the kids go down and the sun goes down, put on some blue blockers... it helps my body know it’s time to wind down.” (Hilda, 08:02)

6. Children, Snacking, and Proper Satiety

• Frequent snacking (especially on carbs) is due to a lack of sustaining proteins and fats—kids (and adults) need “logs on the fire, not kindling.”
• Fat and protein fill you up and keep you going without needing constant snacks.

7. Ancestral Diet Principles (Weston A. Price Foundation Insights)

• Traditional cultures consumed local, seasonal, organic, and especially animal foods rich in fat-soluble vitamins.
• Organ meats, full-fat dairy, bone broths, and properly prepared grains/legumes were staples.
• Indigenous wisdom often outpaces government guidelines, which are influenced by food surpluses and industry interests.
• Quote:

  “The more we eat like the pyramid, the more we're shaped like it.” (Hilda, quoting Sally Fallon, 17:44)

8. Generational Health and Nutrient Density

• The nutrients a mother consumes during pregnancy and breastfeeding set the foundation for her children’s health, jaw, face, and even teeth for decades to come.
• Successive generations decline in health if nutrition suffers (e.g., Pottinger’s Cat Study).
• Quote:

  “If you start getting that morning sunlight, they're going to join you in that. If you start eating nourishing food, they'll be like, yes…” (Hilda, 41:40)

9. Misconceptions: Skim Milk, Low-Fat, and Counting Calories

• Skim milk deprives kids of crucial fat and is nutritionally inferior—full-fat (ideally A2, organic, and even raw) milk is preferable.
• Modern calorie counting is a “scam”—satiety and nutrient density are far more important.
• Quote:

  “Calories are the biggest nutrition scam... Eat until you're satiated, focus on the proteins and fats, and you will be fine.” (Hilda, 60:26)

10. Food Preparation: Soaking, Fermenting, and Cooking Right

• Traditional food prep techniques (fermenting, soaking, souring) neutralize anti-nutrients and enhance bioavailability.
• Fermented foods (like sauerkraut) and properly prepared beans/grains benefit gut health and overall nutrition.

11. Sunlight as Nutrition, Not Just Light

• In some traditional worldviews, the sun is as important as food for energy and vitality.
• Early morning sun exposure is a “diet” for cells, impacting the circadian rhythm, mood, and immune function.

12. Practical Advice for Busy, Overwhelmed Listeners

• Start with small, actionable steps: Add real butter. Prioritize sleep and sunlight. Cook more from scratch—even simple meals.
• Community and local food connections (finding farmers, joining a Weston A. Price chapter) are transformative.

13. Legacy, Spirit, and Nourishment Beyond Food

• Gratitude, prayer, and intention at meals and in life are vital ancestral “medicines.”
• Joy and thankfulness are “the secret for longevity and for feeling healthy and happy.” (Hilda, 27:54)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "If it has a long shelf life, it'll likely shorten yours." (Hilda, 00:26)
• “Never let sugar enter your body unopposed.” (Hilda, quoting Lindsay Willen, 57:13)
• "Scales are for fish!" (Hilda, 21:42)
• "You are what you eat—no, you are what you eat, eats." (Hilda, 70:30)
• "Make 2026 the year of butter. Let's do it!" (Hilda, 54:21)
• Jeremiah 6:

  “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths. Ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Hilda, 82:42)

Key Timestamps

• 00:22–01:02 – Introduction to ancestral diets; critique of food safety vs real food.
• 02:13–03:42 – Hilda's age, lifestyle, and approach to vitality.
• 03:51–04:22 – Connection between diet, mood, and mental health; importance of butter.
• 07:45–10:00 – Light hygiene, sleep, and circadian rhythms.
• 10:22–11:28 – Fat for children; milk study in Framingham.
• 14:03–15:11 – Importance of protein, fat, and (real) carbs on the plate.
• 17:39–18:57 – Government food guidelines vs ancestral wisdom.
• 19:40–21:34 – Traveling, eating well on the go, and self-nourishment.
• 23:22–24:20 – Skim milk, school milk, food allergies and children’s health.
• 27:03–29:21 – Disconnection from food sources, gratitude as health, and overcoming food addiction.
• 32:28–36:33 – Introduction to Weston A. Price and the discovery of traditional diet wisdom.
• 39:41–41:40 – Common traits across healthy traditional cultures; role of moms in generational health.
• 46:07–47:33 – Oysters, heavy metals, and natural balancing factors.
• 51:22–54:43 – Hormonal health, going low fat, and why butter is central.
• 55:46–57:13 – Food, politics, and medicalization of grocery stores.
• 62:35–63:43 – Traditional methods: soaking, fermenting, and neutralizing anti-nutrients.
• 65:13–67:21 – Bone density, soda as a “stealer”, and military health trends.
• 69:56–73:46 – Meat quality, prioritization on a budget, and organ meats.
• 73:49–75:45 – Raw milk controversies and the real milk movement.
• 78:42–79:06 – “The two yellow things: sun and butter.”
• 80:20–83:02 – Building community and finding health practitioners via Weston A. Price chapters.
• 82:42 – Hilda’s remedy for a sick culture: Seek the ancient paths.

Action Steps & Resources

• Start small: Add real butter, get outside in the sun, sync your sleep to natural light, cook more meals at home.
• Find community: Connect with local Weston A. Price Foundation chapters to discover resources, holistic practices, and a supportive network.
• Educate yourself: Listen to the “Wise Traditions” podcast for more ancestral health wisdom.
• Explore further: Hilda’s upcoming “Mother Code” course for moms wanting to invest in generational health.

Tone and Style

The episode is warm, encouraging, frank, and full of stories. Alex and Hilda blend practical advice, ancestral wisdom, and personal anecdotes with a playful and hopeful spirit, making complex nutritional topics accessible and actionable for all listeners.

Closing

If you're seeking a fresh approach to health, "butter" up for 2026 and rediscover the nourishing wisdom of the past—starting with what’s on your plate, in your home, and in your heart.