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From Revisionist History: The Starvation Experiment

Oct 6, 2022 31m 22s 4 insights
<p>We’re sharing a bonus episode from another Pushkin podcast, Revisionist History. Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast about things misunderstood and overlooked. This season, Malcolm’s obsessed with experiments – natural experiments, scientific experiments, thought experiments. In this episode, Revisionist History examines the testimony of 18 men who took part in an astonishing experiment at the University of Minnesota during the Second World War. Revisionist History takes you through the tapes, and asks why people are still arguing over the Minnesota experiment 75 years later.</p> <p> </p> <p>You can hear more from Revisionist History at <a href="https://podcasts.pushkin.fm/rhs7?sid=thl">https://podcasts.pushkin.fm/rhs7?sid=thl</a></p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
Actionable Insights

1. Prioritize Varied Whole Foods

Focus on obtaining vitamins from a wide variety of good food rather than relying solely on vitamin pills. According to Dr. Keyes, the best and natural way to supply vitamins is through diverse food, as pills cannot substitute for actual food when it comes to preventing starvation.

2. Cultivate Self-Possession & Resolve

Develop a strong sense of self-possession and unwavering resolve, as exemplified by Ansel Keys, who was noted for doing what he set his mind to from a young age. This trait can be instrumental in achieving ambitious goals.

3. Increase Perceived Portion Size

To create a psychological sense of larger portions, particularly when calorie-restricted, add water to your meals (a practice called ‘souping’). This technique was used by subjects in the Minnesota Starvation Experiment to make their limited food supply feel more substantial.

4. Utilize Allowed Indulgences for Coping

When facing severe restrictions or deprivation, lean on the few permitted indulgences, such as excessive coffee consumption (12-18 cups a day) or chewing large amounts of bubblegum. These were used by the starvation experiment subjects as coping mechanisms to manage discomfort and cravings.