Maximilian Bircher-Benner, Father of Muesli
Dr. Bircher-Benner Created the Popular and Nutritious Cereal
Apr 27, 2009
Birchermuesli, named after its originator, Dr. Maximilian Bircher-Benner (1867-1939), is just one of the countless varieties of muesli consumed today. Muesli, also called granola, is defined as a mixture of raw grain flakes (e.g., oats, millet, wheat), dried fruits, nuts, and seeds (e.g., flax, sunflower) sometimes sweetened with sugar or honey. It is usually eaten with milk, soymilk, yogurt, kefir or fresh fruit. Muesli is undoubtedly the most well-known type of breakfast cereal in the world and continues to be one of the healthiest, something of which its founder would be proud.
Who was Maximilian Bircher-Benner
Dr. Bircher-Benner was born in Aarau, Switzerland, in 1867, and studied medicine in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. He is considered one of the earliest and most influential proponents of natural healing through eating habits. As a young physician in Zurich, Switzerland, he came in contact with newly-emerging theories about natural medicine, including the effects of diet on health, and he began to develop his own ideas about a diet based on whole, raw foods.
As an avid mountain climber, he was also impressed by the simple and healthy lifestyle of the shepherds he encountered in the Swiss Alps. On one of his hikes, he and his wife were served muesli. This was his first experience with the dish, and it inspired him to create his own version for the patients in his private clinic.
Dr. Bircher-Benner's Plan for Healthy Eating and a Healthy Lifestyle
Dr. Bircher-Benner revolutionized nutrition in northern Europe in the early 20th century by advocating a diet based less on meat and more on fruits, vegetables and grains. He theorized that because plants contain more of the sun's energy, they must be more nutritious than meat. He also believed that people should consume as much uncooked food as possible since cooking destroys some of food's nutrients.
As an advocate of healing via nutrition, Bircher-Benner offered what was then considered a radical diet to the patients in his sanatorium, consisting of at least 50 percent raw fruits, vegetables and nuts. His muesli cereal was an integral part of this approach to eating. Patients also performed daily exercise, worked in the garden, and were required to be in bed by 9:00 PM. He placed great value on a life lived in close harmony with nature.
The Original Birchermuesli Recipe
Dr. Bircher-Benner did not call his oat and fruit concoction muesli--the name appeared later and is derived from an old German word for "stew"--but rather referred to it as the "apple diet dish." His method called for combining a small amount of oat flakes and water with 3-4 chopped apples, lemon juice, condensed milk or cream, honey and chopped nuts. He claimed that the mixture contained the same protein, fat and carbohydrate proportions as mother's milk.
Easy Overnight Birchermuesli Recipe
Here is a recipe for a modern, nutritious version of the popular creamy cereal known as birchermuesli. Serves 1.
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons chopped dried fruit (such as raisins, cranberries, mango, apple, pineapple)
- 2 tablespoons chopped raw nuts (such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts)
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- 1 tablespoon raw cane sugar or honey, optional
- 2/3 cup water
- milk, soymilk, plain or fruit yogurt, or kefir
Combine the first 7 ingredients (oats through water) in a large cereal bowl. Cover with a plate or plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight to allow grains and fruit to soften. Remove from refrigerator, stir, and serve cold, blending in milk, soymilk, yogurt, or kefir. Also wonderful topped with fresh seasonal berries or a raw grated apple.
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