Tag: Victor lindlahr

While the precise origin of the maxim 'you are what you eat' is debated, its earliest versions trace back to French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin in 1826. The question of who said we become what we eat has a winding history rooted in philosophy, culture, and, eventually, the modern nutrition movement.

The modern form of the popular saying, "You are what you eat," was famously popularized by American nutritionist Victor Lindlahr in the 1940s, though its philosophical roots stretch back much further. The saying is a common adage in health and diet culture, underscoring the deep connection between diet and well-being. While it has ancient philosophical undertones, its direct and recognizable phrasing is a 20th-century innovation.

The modern phrase "you are what you eat" did not appear in English until the 1920s or 1930s, but its philosophical roots trace back much further to Europe. The journey of this popular health adage is a fascinating tale involving multiple key figures and centuries of shifting interpretations.