A short history of digestion studies

Abstract

Understanding digestion processes has fascinated humankind since very early. This chapter presents theories and milestones encountered in the history of digestion studies from Ancient Greece to the middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the late Modern period (it does not cover the prehistoric era). Theories and practices are presented alongside key figures and developments in a chronological order, from efforts to understand and theorise how food is digested to introducing modern nutritional values and dietary recommendations.