Is the Weston Price Diet Healthy? A Critical Review

January 5, 2026 •

3 min read

In his 1939 book, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, dentist Weston A. Price documented his travels and findings among isolated populations with exceptional health. But is the Weston Price diet healthy for today's modern world, or are its principles outdated and potentially risky?

Quick Summary

This article examines the Weston A. Price diet, analyzing its foundation in nutrient-dense, traditional foods. It explores the claimed health benefits while also scrutinizing modern scientific critiques concerning raw dairy and high saturated fat intake.

Key Points

Based on 1930s Research: The diet originates from dentist Weston A. Price's observations of healthy indigenous groups, but some of his findings are considered outdated and romanticized.
Focus on Whole Foods: Emphasizes unprocessed, nutrient-dense foods like organ meats, bone broth, and pasture-fed animal products, a principle largely supported by modern nutrition.
Encourages High Saturated Fat: Promotes liberal use of animal fats and traditional oils, which conflicts with mainstream dietary guidelines regarding heart health.
Includes Controversial Raw Dairy: Advocates for consuming raw milk and dairy, a practice that carries significant risk of foodborne illness according to the FDA and CDC.
Prioritizes Traditional Preparation: Uses soaking, sprouting, and fermentation to improve the digestibility and nutrient availability of grains, nuts, and legumes.
Faces Scientific Criticism: The Weston A. Price Foundation is criticized by mainstream science and watchdog groups for promoting misinformation and misinterpreting Price's original work.

The Weston A. Price diet is based on the research of dentist Weston A. Price, who studied the diets and health of various indigenous populations in the 1930s. He noted that groups eating traditional, nutrient-dense foods had better health than those who adopted modern processed foods. The Weston A. Price Foundation promotes a diet based on these observations, emphasizing whole, unprocessed foods and traditional preparation. While many aspects align with healthy eating, some recommendations are controversial and conflict with current health consensus.

The Core Principles of the Weston Price Diet

The Weston Price diet advocates for a return to traditional eating patterns. Key principles include:

Eat whole, unprocessed foods, avoiding refined items.
Consume pasture-fed animal products.
Emphasize nutrient-dense animal foods like organ meats and bone broth.
Liberally use animal fats (butter, lard) and tropical oils (coconut oil).
Consume raw and fermented full-fat dairy, preferably raw.
Prepare grains, nuts, and legumes by soaking, sprouting, or fermentation to improve digestion.
Include lacto-fermented foods for gut health.

Potential Health Benefits

Advocates suggest benefits such as improved dental and bone health, based on Price's observations and the diet's focus on fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, K2). The inclusion of fermented foods is linked to a healthy gut microbiome and better digestion. Some followers report increased energy and reduced inflammation.

Scientific Criticisms and Modern Concerns

The Weston Price diet faces significant criticism, particularly for some controversial recommendations.

Raw Dairy Risks

The promotion of raw milk is a major concern. The FDA and CDC warn against raw milk due to the risk of contamination by dangerous bacteria like E. coli and Listeria, which can cause severe illness, especially in vulnerable groups. While proponents claim pasteurization removes beneficial enzymes, health risks of raw dairy are widely considered to outweigh alleged benefits.

Saturated Fat and Heart Health

The diet's high intake of saturated fats conflicts with mainstream guidelines from organizations like the American Heart Association, which recommend limiting saturated fat for heart health. While saturated fat research is ongoing, the high levels in this diet raise concerns for many medical professionals.

Outdated Research and Misinterpretation

Critics argue that Price's 1930s research is outdated and presents a romanticized view of traditional diets. Experts like Joel Fuhrman accuse the Weston A. Price Foundation of misinterpreting Price's work and promoting misinformation, particularly on fat intake.

Comparison: Weston Price vs. Mainstream Nutritional Guidelines


Feature	Weston A. Price Diet	Mainstream Nutritional Guidelines	Differences & Considerations
Core Philosophy	Traditional, unprocessed foods based on ancestral wisdom.	Based on evolving scientific research and studies.	WAPF uses historical observation; mainstream uses controlled studies.
Fat Intake	Liberal use of saturated animal fats.	Moderation or limitation of saturated fats; focus on unsaturated fats.	Major area of conflict regarding heart health.
Dairy	Encourages raw, unpasteurized, full-fat dairy.	Recommends pasteurized dairy; often promotes lower-fat options.	High-risk area; raw milk poses significant food safety concerns.
Grains/Legumes	Prepared by soaking, sprouting, or fermenting.	Typically consumed whole, without specific preparation.	WAPF emphasizes traditional preparation to reduce anti-nutrients.
Processing	Strict avoidance of modern refined and processed foods.	Promotes whole foods but accepts minimally processed products.	WAPF is far more restrictive on modern food processing.

Conclusion: Navigating the Weston Price Debate

Whether the Weston Price diet is healthy depends on its application. Its emphasis on whole, unprocessed foods and nutrient density is supported by modern science. However, recommendations like liberal raw dairy and high saturated fat are disputed and carry risks. Understanding these controversies, especially raw milk safety issues, is crucial. A balanced approach would adopt the whole food focus while consulting a healthcare professional to personalize the diet and mitigate risks.

For more information on raw dairy risks, visit the FDA's page on the dangers of raw milk: https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/dangers-raw-milk-unpasteurized-milk-can-pose-serious-health-risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the Weston Price diet's encouragement of raw, unpasteurized dairy makes it unsafe for pregnant women. Raw milk can contain Listeria, which can cause miscarriage or harm the newborn.

The diet advocates for proper preparation of grains, nuts, and legumes through soaking, sprouting, or fermenting. This process is believed to neutralize anti-nutrients and enhance digestion.

The diet is controversial due to its endorsement of high saturated fat intake and, most significantly, its promotion of raw milk, which public health experts warn poses serious food safety risks from bacterial contamination.

The Weston A. Price Foundation is a non-profit founded in 1999 that promotes the traditional diet principles based on Dr. Price's research through education, research, and activism.

Yes, many of the diet's principles are beneficial, such as focusing on whole, unprocessed foods and minimizing refined sugars. The emphasis on nutrient-dense foods like organ meats and bone broth can also provide valuable nutrition.

No, the Weston Price diet is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans. It heavily emphasizes the consumption of animal products, including meat, organ meats, and raw dairy, as sources of essential nutrients.

The Weston Price diet differs from the Paleo diet by allowing properly prepared grains, legumes, and full-fat dairy products, whereas the Paleo diet typically excludes all grains, legumes, and dairy.