I have a slight obsession with programs on the BBC. One of the latest is
Medical Mavericks which delves into the history of self experimenters, who ingest all sorts of nastiness, and inject themselves with live vaccines in the name of progress. The host is a journalist and ex-doctor who often recreates a safer form of the early experiment on himself. I was watching an episode the other night on the connection between health and what we eat.
Dr. Joseph Goldberger a Jewish Doctor from New York was sent to the deep south to study the epidemic of Pellagra and discover its source. Until then Pellagra was thought to be an infectious disease starting off as a rash on the hands and then spreading to the face. The first thing he noticed was the typical cuisine in the south, grits(corn), biscuits, and meat. Goldberger thought that Pellagra had to be connected with the southern diet. Having lived in Atlanta I have a deep love for southern food. There is nothing like hot biscuits right out of the oven or silky grits or corn on the cob, Yum!
Before coming off as the northerner insulting the southern diet he had to test it out. First on prisoners who he induced Pellagra in by feeding them lots of corn bread and grits. Then he experimented on himself. He collected mucus samples and put it up his nose and even gathered urine and fecal matter from infected patients rolled it up in a pill and swallowed it down! He injected blood from people with Pellagra into himself, his colleagues and his wife. In the end his colleagues, his wife, nor himself became infected with Pellagra proving that the disease was not contagious but wholly a dietary deficiency.
In the next years he would do many experiments on dogs trying to give them Pellagra, the problem was they didn't want to eat the typical southern diet. So Goldberger gave the dogs an appetite stimulant which contained brewers yeast. The dogs never contracted Pellagra because brewers yeast, more specifically Niacin or vitamin B3, was the missing element in the southern diet. Today corn is treated with lime and alkali, which makes Niacin nutritionally available and lowers the risks of Pellagra. A few spoonfulls of brewers yeast cured those who suffered from Pellagra and Dr. Goldberger became a hero.
After this enlightening show I decided to dig up the bag of brewers yeast that has been tucked away in the back of my cabinet and take a few spoonfulls my self. I grew up with a mother who was very health conscious. I remember flakes of brewers yeast being sprinkled on all our foods. Beans and rice topped off with yellow flakes. The milk of my cereal always had a yellow hue. So naturally last time I was at the Teva market I picked up a bag. Why not I'm also a concerned mother worried about my children's health. So concerned that until now the bag of yeast has been the cause of my cabinet drawer not sliding in all the way...oh thats what that was. I am also such a health conscious mother that I decided to grant tonights dinner request...popcorn. I thought using the brewers yeast with corn would especially be in the spirit Dr. Goldbergers' triumph.
Yeasty Popcorn
2 Tablespoons canola oil
1 cup popcorn kernels
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon brewers yeast
In a large stock pot pour in canola oil and coat the bottom of the pot.
Put in a pinch of salt and turn the heat on high.
Pour in the popcorn kernels and cover the pot.
Gently swirl the pot every 30 seconds until the popping stops.
Empty into a large bowl and sprinkle salt and brewers yeast over the top.
Mix and enjoy!
Not only was the yeasty popcorn a hit with the kids, the adults devoured it as well. The brewers yeast added a deep, rich almost buttery flavor to the popcorn. Easily clinging to every kernel so the taste was distributed throughout the batch. Now to use the rest of the bag, maybe brewers yeast rice and veggies tomorrow night. Or warm cheesy biscuits and soup with a pinch of yeast. I can only hope Dr. Goldberger is looking down on us with a smile.
