– Biography:
– Born on 22 August 1867 in Aarau, Switzerland
– Studied medicine at the University of Zurich
– Developed jaundice in the first year of opening his clinic
– Experimented with raw foods and promoted muesli
– Died on 24 January 1939 in Zürich
– Nutrition:
– Advocated raw vegetables and fruits for healing
– Believed raw foods were more nutritious due to solar energy
– Recommended a diet of 50% raw foods for good health
– Developed muesli as a staple dish
– Emphasized a lifestyle of physical activity and dietary restrictions
– Criticism:
– Held pseudoscientific ideas about nutrition like vitalism
– Believed cooking diminished food’s nutritional value
– Dismissed by the medical profession as a quack
– Received criticism for promoting raw food-only diets
– Not recognized by other scientists until the 1930s
– Legacy:
– Second sanatorium opened after his death
– Original muesli recipe widely marketed in cereals
– Sanatorium renamed in his memory
– Sanatorium later repurposed into an executive training center
– His ideas influenced vegetarianism and natural lifestyle movements
– External Links:
– Wikimedia Commons related to Maximilian Bircher-Benner
– Resources on vegetarianism and related topics
– Various authors and chefs in the field of nutrition and vegetarianism
– Links to books and articles on nutrition and lifestyle
– Official websites of brands marketing Bircher-Benner’s muesli recipe
Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner, M.D. (22 August 1867 – 24 January 1939) was a Swiss physician and a pioneer nutritionist credited for popularizing muesli and raw food vegetarianism.
Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner | |
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Born | |
Died | 24 January 1939 | (aged 71)
Occupation(s) | Physician, nutritionist |
Known for | Created muesli |
Works | Food Science for All |