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Episode Show Notes
Dr. Hillary Lampers is a naturopathic doctor who founded Hunt Harvest Health, combining 14 years of clinical practice in naturopathic medicine with her passion for hunting and wild game nutrition. In this episode, she reveals how wild elk contains three times the omega-3 fatty acids of domestic beef, why the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio in wild game (1:4) completely transforms inflammation compared to conventional meat (1:20), and how a naturopathic doctor went from treating patients in Portland, Oregon to becoming one of the most compelling voices in wild game nutrition. This conversation goes deep into nutrient density, land stewardship, and why hunting might be the most ethical way to source your protein.
What makes wild game meat more nutrient-dense than conventional beef?
Wild elk has about three times the omega-3 fatty acids, 2.5 times the iron, and 10 times the vitamin E compared to domestic beef. The omega-3 to omega-6 ratio in wild elk is 1:4, while domestic beef is 1:20. This difference comes from wild animals eating diverse plant diets and moving constantly, building lean muscle naturally.
Who is Dr. Hillary Lampers?
Dr. Hillary Lampers is a naturopathic doctor who earned her degree from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. She's been in clinical practice for 14 years, specializing in nutrition and food as medicine. About 10 years ago, she became interested in hunting and founded Hunt Harvest Health to educate people about wild game nutrition.
Title Sponsor
This episode is presented by Star brite, the marine care company that supports conservation through Project Sea Safe. Whether you're processing wild game or maintaining your boat, quality products matter.
Visit Star brite →How Nutrient Density Changes Everything About Food
Dr. Lampers breaks down a concept that most people have never considered: nutrient density isn't just about what's in your food—it's about how many nutrients you get per calorie. She explains that if you're eating 100 calories of food, the question becomes how many actual nutrients are packed into those 100 calories. This framework completely changes how you think about portion sizes and caloric intake. Wild game allows you to eat smaller portions while meeting nutritional needs because every bite delivers more protein, vitamins, and minerals than conventionally raised meat. The implications for weight management, inflammation, and disease prevention are massive. Her explanation of nutrient density starts at 3:54.
The Shocking Omega-3 to Omega-6 Ratio in Your Meat
When Dr. Lampers reveals the omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratios, it's a moment that makes you rethink every piece of meat you've ever eaten. Domesticated beef has a ratio of about 1 to 20—meaning for every one omega-3 fatty acid, there are 20 omega-6 fatty acids. Wild elk? About 1 to 4. She explains this isn't just a minor nutritional difference—it's the difference between eating food that promotes inflammation and food that fights it. The reason comes down to diet: grain-based feeds used in conventional livestock production are loaded with omega-6s, while wild animals eat diverse plants that naturally balance their fat profiles. She also shares the specific numbers on iron content and vitamin E that make the comparison even more striking. The omega fatty acid breakdown starts at 5:50.
Hear Dr. Lampers explain why the fat profile in wild game completely changes inflammation in your body
Why Hunting Is Actually Land Stewardship
This is where Dr. Lampers connects hunting to conservation in a way that non-hunters rarely understand. She explains that most public lands in the United States serve as critical wildlife habitat, but those habitats need active management to stay healthy. When wildlife populations exceed the carrying capacity of the land, they overgraze vegetation and damage ecosystems. Hunting becomes a tool for keeping those populations in balance. She emphasizes that ethical, sustainable hunting means you're not just taking from the land—you're participating in its health. The conversation touches on how hunters fund conservation through licenses and equipment taxes, making them the primary drivers of conservation funding in the United States. Her case for hunting as conservation starts at 7:41.
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SubscribeFrom Hunter Safety Course to Hunt Harvest Health
Dr. Lampers shares her personal hunting journey, which started about 10 years ago when she was already deep into clinical practice and working with patients on nutrition. She kept encountering information about wild game and nutrient density, and eventually decided to take a hunter safety course. That decision changed everything. She describes falling in love with being in nature and the entire hunting process, which led her to create Hunt Harvest Health—a platform designed to educate people about the nutritional benefits of wild game and help them understand hunting as a form of land stewardship. She hunts elk, deer, wild turkey, upland birds, waterfowl, and has gotten into wild boar hunting. Her approach combines medical expertise with hands-on hunting experience. Her hunting origin story starts at 34:53.
Don't miss this one.
A naturopathic doctor explains why wild game might be the most powerful food choice you can make.
Key Takeaways
- Wild elk contains three times the omega-3 fatty acids of domestic beef, and the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio difference (1:4 vs 1:20) has massive implications for inflammation and disease prevention.
- Nutrient density—the amount of nutrients per calorie—explains why you can eat smaller portions of wild game and still meet your nutritional needs better than with conventional meat.
- Dr. Lampers went from clinical naturopathic practice to founding Hunt Harvest Health after discovering that wild game was one of the most nutrient-dense foods available and largely underutilized in modern diets.
- Processing and cooking wild game correctly is critical—field dressing and cooling meat quickly prevents bacterial growth, and using methods like braising and slow cooking keeps lean wild meat tender.
- Hunting isn't just about food—it's about participating in land stewardship, controlling wildlife populations to prevent ecosystem damage, and funding conservation through licenses and equipment taxes.
- Wild game is free from antibiotics, hormones, and pesticides that are present in conventionally raised livestock, making it a clean food source from healthy ecosystems.
- The mental health benefits of hunting—spending time in nature, practicing mindfulness, gaining a sense of purpose, and connecting to ancestry—are as powerful as the nutritional benefits.
Final Thoughts from Tom
This conversation with Dr. Hillary Lampers opened my eyes to aspects of nutrition I hadn't fully considered, even as someone who spends a lot of time thinking about food and performance. The specific numbers she shares—like the 1:4 versus 1:20 omega fatty acid ratio—aren't just interesting data points. They're game-changers for how you think about inflammation and long-term health.
What strikes me most is how Dr. Lampers connects the dots between medicine, hunting, land stewardship, and mental health. She's not just talking about wild game as a health food—she's talking about it as part of a holistic approach to wellness that includes your relationship with nature, with your food sources, and with your own sense of purpose. That's a perspective that goes way beyond the typical nutrition conversation.
If you've ever been curious about hunting, or if you're already a hunter who wants to understand the nutritional science behind what you're doing, this episode is absolutely worth your time. Listen to the whole thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hunt Harvest Health?
Hunt Harvest Health is a platform founded by Dr. Hillary Lampers to educate people about wild game nutrition and hunting. They offer educational content, consulting services, meal planning with wild game meat, hunting guide services, and wholesale meat sourcing for restaurants and businesses.
How do I start hunting if I don't have experience?
Dr. Lampers recommends taking a hunter safety course first, which most states require. Then find a mentor or hunting guide to learn from someone experienced. Start with a game animal that's accessible in your area, like deer or turkey, and expand to other species once you're comfortable.
Is wild game meat really better than grass-fed beef?
Yes, wild game is significantly more nutrient-dense than conventional beef and even grass-fed options. Wild elk has three times the omega-3s, 2.5 times the iron, and 10 times the vitamin E of domestic beef. The animals eat diverse plant diets and move constantly, creating leaner, more nutrient-rich meat.
Why does wild game taste gamey?
The gamey taste reflects the animal's diet and health—it's actually a positive sign of nutrient-dense, healthy meat. Dr. Lampers explains it allows you to taste the diversity of the land the animal lived on. Proper processing and cooking methods also significantly improve taste and tenderness.
How does hunting help conservation?
Hunting controls wildlife populations to prevent overgrazing and ecosystem damage. Hunters fund most conservation work in the United States through hunting licenses and taxes on equipment. Ethical hunting is a tool for land stewardship and maintaining healthy habitats for all wildlife.
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Dr. Hillary Lampers – Naturopathic doctor, National University of Natural Medicine, Founder of Hunt Harvest Health
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Tom Rowland Podcast Knot GuideAbout this Guest
Dr. Hillary Lampers
Dr. Hillary Lampers is a naturopathic doctor who earned her degree from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. With 14 years in clinical practice specializing in nutrition and food as medicine, she founded Hunt Harvest Health to combine her medical expertise with her passion for hunting and wild game nutrition. She hunts elk, deer, wild turkey, upland birds, waterfowl, and wild boar, and offers consulting, meal planning, hunting guide services, and educational resources through her platform. Visit Hunt Harvest Health to learn more about wild game nutrition and hunting education.
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