In 1896, Eugen Baumann observed iodine in thyroid glands. In 1897, Christiaan Eijkman worked with natives of Java, who also suffered from beriberi. Eijkman observed that chickens fed the native diet of white rice developed the symptoms of beriberi but remained healthy when fed unprocessed brown rice with the outer bran intact. Eijkman cured the natives by feeding them brown rice, discovering that food can cure disease. Over two decades later, nutritionists learned that the outer rice bran contains vitamin B1, also known as thiamine. COUNT 5
QSN1 What element can be found in thyroid glands? ANS1 iodine QSN2 What group of natives suffered from beriberi? ANS2 Java QSN3 Who worked with the natives to help solve their dietary issues? ANS3 Christiaan Eijkman QSN4 What simple alternative food prevented the development of beriberi in chickens? ANS4 unprocessed brown rice with the outer bran intact QSN5 How long after the natives were cured did it take for people to figure out the reason that brown rice cured them? ANS5 two decades