Analyzing Human Breast Milk (03:03)

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Breast milk contains all the nutrients a baby needs to grow and thrive. Dr. Michael Mosley deconstructs the milk into fat, protein, water, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates. Nutrients come from increasingly complex food sources as we mature.

Nutrients: Carbohydrates (04:18)

Most people around the world eat starchy grains for breakfast. James Wong learns about rice farming on terraces in Banaue. Hear calorie requirements for different activities.

Energy in Rice (03:30)

Wong converts potential energy in the starchy grain into heat and light energy. Cooking it in water releases carbohydrates and makes the rice digestible. One cup takes 70 calories to produce, but yields 700 calories.

Sourdough Bread (08:29)

Mosley learns about the bread making process in San Francisco. A community of yeast and bacteria thrive in a starter dating to 1849. View yeast producing carbon dioxide in a la; carbohydrates make modern civilization possible.

Nutrients: Protein (04:38)

Our bodies need protein to survive and build new proteins. Mosley deconstructs an egg to learn about its components. Cooking eggs makes them more easily digestible.

Huitlacoche—Corn Fungus (05:22)

Our bodies require nine essential amino acids from food. Corn lacks lysine and tryptophan. In Puebla, Mexico, a pathogenic fungus contains the missing proteins; chef Lalo Garcia prepares it as a delicacy.

Nutrients: Fat (02:27)

Fat is essential for the body to function. Mosley analyzes fatty acids in salmon. We cannot produce omega-6 or omega-3, which is found in fish, beans, and grass-fed beef.

Omega-3 Sources (04:15)

On the Isle of Mull, Scottish Highland cattle graze on clover and grass rich in the fatty acid. Mosley explains its importance for brain function. Most Americans have too much omega-6 fat in their diet..

Nutrients: Minerals (03:54)

In Bulgaria's Rhodope Mountains, locals live longer than Americans. Mosely and Wong investigate whether a milk rich diet is responsible. Learn about calcium and bone health.

Nutrients: Yogurt (04:58)

Lactose intolerance prevents some people from getting sufficient calcium from dairy products. Lactobacillus bulgaricus bacteria convert lactose into lactic acid, making milk easier to digest.

Nutrients: Vitamins (07:34)

Hear ways in which vitamins are essential for health. Calcium needs vitamin D for absorption. In the Rhodope Mountains, locals consume sun dried mushrooms, a winter vitamin D source helping to maintain bone health and possibly contributing to longevity.

Credits: We Are What We Eat (00:26)

Credits: We Are What We Eat