Forget figgy pudding and sugar plums. This year’s Royal Institution Christmas Lectures are serving up a different kind of holiday treat: a scientific exploration of how food fuels, builds, and powers the human body. In the second lecture, “How Food Makes Us,” Dr. Chris van Tulleken takes viewers on a journey from the microscopic to the macroscopic, exploring the intricate processes that transform what we eat into energy, cells, and ultimately, ourselves.
Prepare for a demonstration that’s a bit more explosive than your average cooking show. Dr. van Tulleken will use common kitchen ingredients to illustrate the principles of combustion, the same process that powers car engines, but on a much smaller, cellular scale. He’ll then shrink us down for a microscopic tour of the human cell, highlighting the mitochondria, the tiny powerhouses responsible for extracting energy from the food we consume.
But this isn’t just a biology lesson; it’s a shocking revelation (pun intended). The lecture reveals the surprising amount of electricity generated within our bodies during this energy extraction process—enough to rival a lightning strike. Beyond mere fuel, food also provides the building blocks for growth and repair, a concept Dr. van Tulleken will illustrate by exploring how we obtain essential elements like iron from our diets. And what happens when those diets fall short? The lecture will address the consequences of nutritional deficiencies.
The episode also turns its attention to the animal kingdom, examining how animals instinctively select foods their bodies need. Dr. van Tulleken will revisit a century-old experiment to see if humans possess the same innate nutritional wisdom. Finally, the lecture will tackle the expanding waistlines of humanity, exploring the interplay of diet and lifestyle in our growing size as a species. It’s a lecture that’s both educational and electrifying.
The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures: “How Food Makes Us” airs Monday, December 30, 2024, at 9:00 PM on BBC Four.
