The Kenyan Runner's Edge: Don't try this at home

Notes from a university nutrition course I'm currently filming.

Their calories are 50% what?!

"In the ten year period from 1988 to 1998, athletes from one tribe of 3 million people in Kenya (Kalenjins)have won about 40 percent of all the highest international honors available in men's distance running. Their success has cut across all three of the sport's disciplines - track, cross-country and road racing."

"There are five major distance events in track - 800, 1,500, 5,000 10,000 and 30,000 meters. At the Olympics and World Championships during the ten-year period, Kalenjin runners won 31 medals, with 12 golds - 34% and 40% respectively of the available totals....

"These figures represent a geographical concentration of achievement that is unprecedented in the history of any sport. It is all the more remarkable in a sport in which success is a measure of pure speed, strength and endurance." - Ron Schmid, 2003

What's their secret?

Well, part of it is their unusual diet.

"Kalenjins...obtain over half their calories from a soft cheese-like fermented raw milk product called mursik...basically raw milk, which they ripen and ferment for up to a year..."

Bottom dietary line for these super performers:

HALF of their calories come from raw milk products
they grow and make themselves on their farms.

And that's not all...

Have you heard of the total raw milk diet? It's a therapeutic method that was used in the U.S. at the turn of the 20th century, says professor Heidi Dulay.

Some people do the total raw milk diet today as a serious therapeutic method.

But, cautions professor Dulay, don't try any big raw milk diet at home. Because, she told the class:

"You need access to high quality 100% grass-fed clean raw milk - only available from local farmers who do NOT sell their milk to pasteurization plants or other conventional milk distribution companies (and sometimes, Whole Foods)."

I had no idea what a role quality raw milk could have in peak performance or health. You?

Now, to make it more easily available. One way, check your local farmers here for clean raw milk, among other things.
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P.S. Heidi Dulay buys raw milk (and pastured (NOT pasteurized) eggs) from local farmers and Amish families. You can find local farmers too, go here.

P.P.S The raw milk diet is just one of the "diet types" covered in the nutrition program I'm filming. The students in the class are trying different approaches to 1)lose weight, 2)get their energy back (I was amazed that 30-year olds would need energy back - where did it go so soon?) 3) get rid of allergies, and 4) get their drive and motivation back.

P.P.S. Disclosure: Dr. Dulay is the designer of a whole food multi that Whole Food Nation, a company I own part of, markets. I am filming a nutrition course she's giving currently for a Master's program in NO CA.