Francis M. Pottenger Jr.

American physician and researcher

Francis M. Pottenger Jr.

Francis Marion Pottenger Jr. (1901–1967) was an American physician and researcher known for his work in the field of nutrition and allergy. He is best remembered for his pioneering studies on the effects of diet on health, particularly through his experiments with cats, which have had a lasting impact on the understanding of nutritional science.

Early Life and Education

Francis M. Pottenger Jr. was born in 1901. He was the son of Francis M. Pottenger Sr., a prominent physician who specialized in the treatment of tuberculosis. Pottenger Jr. followed in his father's footsteps, pursuing a career in medicine. He attended medical school and became a licensed physician, eventually developing a keen interest in the relationship between diet and health.

Career and Research

Pottenger's career was marked by his innovative research into the effects of nutrition on health. He is best known for the "Pottenger's Cats" study, a series of experiments conducted over a decade from 1932 to 1942. In these experiments, Pottenger fed groups of cats different diets to observe the effects on their health and development.

Pottenger's Cats Experiment

The experiment involved feeding one group of cats a diet of raw meat and raw milk, while another group was fed cooked meat and pasteurized milk. Pottenger observed that the cats fed raw food maintained good health, while those on the cooked diet developed various health issues, including skeletal deformities, reproductive problems, and behavioral changes. These findings suggested that the processing of food could significantly impact its nutritional value and the health of those consuming it.

Impact on Nutritional Science

Pottenger's work contributed to the understanding of the importance of raw and minimally processed foods in maintaining health. His findings have been cited in discussions about the benefits of raw diets and the potential drawbacks of highly processed foods. Although his experiments were conducted on animals, they have influenced human dietary recommendations and sparked further research into the effects of diet on health.

Legacy

Francis M. Pottenger Jr.'s research has had a lasting impact on the field of nutrition. His work is often referenced in discussions about the benefits of whole foods and the potential negative effects of food processing. Pottenger's studies have also been influential in the development of holistic health approaches that emphasize the importance of diet in overall well-being.

Related Pages

• Nutrition
• Allergy
• Holistic health
• Raw foodism