by Jutta Muth and Udo Pollmer

European Institute of Food and Nutrition Sciences e.V., D-27404 Gyhum, Am Kiebitzberg 10
(Based on a publication by JM & UP: Der Mensch - ein Coctivor. EU.L.E.n-Spiegel 2007, Issue 3-4, pp 5-13)
Der Mensch – ein Coctivor (177.77 KB)

Correspondence: Udo Pollmer, Scientific Director of the European Institute of Food and Nutrition Sciences e.V., 
Current Address: D-86456 Gablingen, Achsheimer Str. 6a, Upollmer(at)aol.com

Keywords: human evolution, coctivor, brain, digestive tract, food processing, fire

Summary

Due to the anatomic features of dentition and gastrointestinal tract, humans are coctivors compared to great apes. They depend on prepared, easily digestible food. High energy output from food at low digestion rate has only become possible by using fire and, later on, developing kitchen technology. It has generated resources to...

When people still put their faith in the Lord God and his ground staff, the Catholic Church offered a wide range of saints and relics for sale for the sake of recovery. Udo Pollmer uses the example of vitamin C to show that today vitamins are rightly the worthy successors of exquisite relics of Christ.

by Udo Pollmer / October 5th, 2018, supplemented in November 2023

Swallowing vitamins has replaced the arduous pilgrimages to relics once visited by the sick in the hope of healing. Today, vitamin cocktails promise...

A hormone is supposed to save the world. Under the alias "vitamin D", it is touted as a miracle cure for all kinds of health scares. In the last century, the active ingredient had already saved the lives of millions of children and cured them specifically of rickets. In the meantime, the disease, which has largely disappeared, is making a comeback. Udo Pollmer explains the causes.

by Udo Pollmer / May 29th, 2020 / new version of October 2023

Every industry that thrives on murky business needs narratives, which fit the idea that for every complicated problem there is a solution: simple, logical - and, oops, wrong. Vitamin D is such a universal problem solver. Recently, it was supposed to...

The salt reduction promoted by the government has serious consequences and might become life-threatening. In the following article, renowned German food chemist Udo Pollmer - also called the "anarchist of food culture" - will explain the backgrounds.

by Udo Pollmer / January 26th, 2019

Natural healers and alternative doctors like to justify their therapies, by telling, that they were already practiced by our ancestors. Toxic herbs, forgotten healing knowledge and pious spells are in no way inferior to the "appliance medicine." It’s about time to...

Banned pesticides on wild mushrooms and black tea and, above all, the limit value exceeded by up to 100 times! Consumer protectionists and the media sensed a major food scandal. But things turned out quite differently. Udo Pollmer followed the trail of the poison.

by Udo Pollmer / January 26th, 2019

Finally, the cause of dubious residues that has made the tea industry hold its breath for years has been identified. It is about nicotine and anthraquinone contamination. Consumer protectionists naturally...