Pottenger's Research

The following diets were the basis of Dr. Francis M. Pottenger, Jr's study:

THE MEAT STUDY: two diets were used

Diet A: HEALTHY
1/3 raw milk, cod liver oil, 2/3 raw meat

Diet B: DEFICIENT
1/3 raw milk, cod liver oil, 2/3 cooked meat

THE MILK STUDY: five diets were used

Diet A: HEALTHY
1/3 raw meat, cod liver oil, 2/3 raw milk

Diet B: DEFICIENT
1/3 raw meat, cod liver oil, 2/3 pasteurized milk

Diet C: DEFICIENT
1/3 raw meat, cod liver oil, 2/3 evaporated milk

Diet D: DEFICIENT
1/3 raw meat, cod liver oil
2/3 sweetened condensed milk

Diet E: DEFICIENT
Raw metabolized, vitamin D milk
E1: Milk from cows on dry feed
E2: Milk from cows on green feed

Degeneration proceeded more quickly on Diets C and D. Diet E1 produced unexpected results - rickets and early death of male kittens.

The changes in facial structure and onset of degenerative disease that Pottenger observed in cats on deficient diets paralleled the human degeneration that Dr. Price found in tribes and villages that had abandoned traditional foods.

Dr. Pottenger tried to return degenerating cats to health. He found that it took four generations on raw meat and raw milk to bring the kittens of second-generation degenerating cats back to normal. This experiment could not occur with third-generation degenerating cats because they did not live long enough to reproduce.

To purchase Pottenger's Cats - A Study in Nutrition, visit the PPNF bookstore.

Dr. Pottenger recommended dietary guidelines to be used successfully with humans to maintain their body in a state of good health.