Uncharted with Hannah Fry 13. The Grain of Truth
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Sep 9, 2024 During the harsh conditions of World War II, a Dutch doctor uses tulip bulbs to nourish starving children, challenging medical norms. The discussion reveals the pivotal role of bananas in treating G. Hurters disease and uncovering wheat's link to celiac disease. A gastroenterologist's groundbreaking work reshapes dietary management for affected children, highlighting both cultural hurdles and significant breakthroughs. The tragic loss of a pioneering scientist before a potential Nobel Prize adds a poignant layer to the narrative of resilience and discovery.
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Unexpected Improvement
- In 1945, amidst the Dutch famine, Dr. Wilhelm Dicke observed an oddity at Juliana Children's Hospital.
- Children with G. Herter syndrome, a debilitating condition, improved when food was scarce.
Holt's Milk Campaign
- Dr. Luther Emmett Holt, a prominent New York pediatrician, researched infant mortality in the late 1800s.
- He linked cow's milk bacteria to infant deaths and successfully campaigned for milk pasteurization.
Banana Diet Fad
- With refrigerated shipping, bananas became readily available, and doctors noticed improvements in G. Herter's patients who ate them.
- This led to the "banana diet" gaining popularity, amplified by marketing, but it was later discovered that wheat was the real culprit.