This week, we highlight the work of Brian Sanders (Food Lies), whose writing and research consistently challenge mainstream nutrition narratives. His piece tackles the “35-year myth” — the idea that our ancestors lived short, unhealthy lives, and therefore their diets can’t be trusted.
This myth has been one of the most effective tools used to discredit ancestral diets and justify the rise of processed foods, refined grains, and industrial seed oils. Brian shows us why it’s time to move past the deception.
The 35-Year myth
“It’s a popular narrative: our ancestors lived short, brutish lives, barely making it past the age of 35. This narrative isn’t just flawed; it’s one of the most substantial deceptions in history.”
Brian explains how this myth originated from misused averages, skewed by infant mortality and external causes (accidents, infections, predators). Once children survived the dangerous early years, most people lived long, robust lives — supported by diets rich in red meat, seafood, eggs, and dairy.
The problem is not that our ancestors’ diets failed them — it’s that modern industry has twisted this story to steer us toward processed foods and seed oils.
👉 Read the full article here: Food Lies Substack
🎥 Clip of the Week: “Elaea’s Swaps Meet Brian’s Logic”
Earlier this week, Elaea showed us how to make simple ancestral swaps — butter for margarine, olive oil for soybean oil, tallow for canola.
Brian’s work explains why this matters: if people today can live to 120 despite diets heavy in processed oils, imagine the potential longevity and vitality of a world built on nutrient-dense ancestral foods.
Longevity, Logic, and the Food System
Brian’s essay doesn’t just debunk a myth — it reframes the way we think about health and time.
Ancestral Health: Skeletal remains show taller stature, robust bones, minimal cavities before agriculture.
Modern Decline: Despite medicine, today we face obesity, insulin resistance, and chronic disease — fueled by refined grains and seed oils.
The Logic of Longevity: If humans can reach 120 years on nutrient-poor diets, then with proper nourishment (and the benefits of modern medicine), we may be capable of even longer, healthier lives.
This is the heart of the seed oil movement: reclaiming what truly sustains us, and rejecting a system built on disinformation and profit.
Explore more of Brian’s work on 👉 Food Lies Substack
Ancestral Beef Stew
Slow-cooked grass-fed beef with root vegetables and herbs — simple, nutrient-dense, and deeply satisfying. This is the kind of meal our ancestors would have thrived on!
Ingredients (serves 4–6):
2 lbs (900 g) grass-fed beef chuck, cut into cubes
2 tbsp beef tallow or butter (ancestral fat for browning)
2 large carrots, chopped
2 medium turnips or parsnips, chopped
3 onions, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups bone broth (beef preferred)
2 bay leaves
4–5 sprigs fresh thyme
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
2 medium potatoes (optional, for extra heartiness)
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions:
Brown the beef: In a heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat the tallow or butter over medium-high. Add beef cubes, season with salt and pepper, and brown on all sides. Remove and set aside.
Sauté aromatics: In the same pot, add onions, garlic, and carrots. Cook until softened and fragrant.
Deglaze: Pour in a splash of bone broth, scraping the bottom to release all the browned bits.
Simmer: Return the beef to the pot. Add remaining broth, turnips, potatoes, bay leaves, thyme, and rosemary. Stir well.
Cook slowly: Cover and let simmer on low for 2–3 hours, until the beef is tender and flavors are deeply combined. (Alternatively, transfer to a slow cooker on low for 6–8 hours).
Finish & serve: Remove bay leaves and herb stems. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve hot with rustic bread or alongside a fresh green salad.
Nutritional & Ancestral Notes:
Beef tallow/butter → stable cooking fat, rich in fat-soluble vitamins.
Bone broth → collagen, minerals, and gut-healing compounds.
Root vegetables → ancestral carb sources with fiber and micronutrients.
Herbs → natural antioxidants and flavor depth.
This stew mirrors the kind of meal that kept communities nourished long before processed foods existed — hearty, simple, and built on real ingredients.
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Thanks for showing up early. The food system won’t fix itself — but together, we might.
— The SeedOil.com Team