PMRpro recommends the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

[PMRpro]

If you are in the UK and you didn't watch them I suggest you look for them on iPlayer, BBC4. For everyone else they are already available on YouTube which is earlier than usual I think

rigb.org/christmas-lectures....

They are all about food this season - and the third lecture is a real eye-opener about UPFs and how, actually, they can be made without ever seeing any real food. And the tricks they use to make us want more, and more ...

I'm a scientist and I love them - if you aren't versed in science, they make it accessible to everyone. Do have a look and I hope you enjoy them.

[Blearyeyed]

We watch them every year, they are much more entertaining and visual with less heavy education material than they were when I was younger but I think it works. Seriously is something you can watch with your children and enjoy although.....My family and I just wished we hadn't sat down to watch the episode on the Digestive System five minutes after eating a very large meal.

The After Dinner Mints box was put aside very quickly😆😆😆

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Blearyeyed]

Wimps!! I was watching gastric surgery during dinner one night!!

Actually - I loved them in the early years too, even though BBC2 had dreadful reception where we lived.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Yes - but you’re just you!…

[Blearyeyed in reply to PMRpro]

Usually I'm the same but seeing someone chewing and dancing tonsils immediately after a three course meal was a bit too much even for me this time!😆😆😆

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Blearyeyed]

😂😂😂

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

I’m with you, I always wanted to be a theatre sister when I grew up!! I had my hysterectomy carried out under spinal block, so I could watch it…& the surgeon brought my womb up to my head end so I could see it better. He was ace & always had a mirror in there for me…ihad 8 surgeries in one year. Occasionally, we argued about his choice of music, but generally it all went fine!! S x

[Sophiestree in reply to Pixix]

love this

[Pixix in reply to Sophiestree]

Thanks, it was a very interesting experience indeed!

[Sophiestree in reply to Pixix]

recovery is so much better too. I also worked on a live hernia operation where the gentleman had hypnosis.

[Pixix in reply to Sophiestree]

I agree…my main reason was that I had a very busy job, & travelled to Europe quite a bit & wanted to be back at work asap! Hypnosis…now that’s interesting. Not an area of knowledge for me, but amazing that it could be done! S x

[Sophiestree in reply to PMRpro]

Did you ever watch Anatomy for Beginners with Gunther von Hagens. Worked on all of those including the first ever live autopsy. Only for a certain kind of person though

[Pixix in reply to Sophiestree]

No, I didn’t, but it sounds interesting. I had 8 surgeries in one year, & didn’t have any general anaesthetic. There was just one time I was in a bit of pain, but they kindly gave me some free gas & air to help (they were all done in a private hospital, as I had Company paid medical insurance cover). I will google Anatomy for Beginners later…& yes, I wasn’t seen as ‘a normal patient’…but I didn’t have a ‘normal’ Surgeon!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

Nothing normal about me from the floor up ...

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

Good news, makes me feel less alone! I knew I could count on you…you’d probably have liked to be inside the theatre watching…..! S x

[Sophiestree in reply to Pixix]

8 surgeries, good job you didn't have general anaesthetics! That's a lot in anyone's book.

[Pixix in reply to Sophiestree]

I had a very busy 60 hours a week job, & travelled quite a bit. I didn’t have an assistant so I had to keep going…it was a hard time!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sophiestree]

No - now that would have been great!!! Are they on YouTube?

[Sophiestree in reply to PMRpro]

I've had a look and the original Ananatomy for Beginners series doesn't seem to be there other than the first show. We had live models and a medical illustrator.

youtu.be/mBU3xgNbrPg?si=vJI...(Not working as expected?)

There are a few of the others we did on ER and Life and Death

This should keep you busy!

youtube.com/watch?v=mx8cDDB...(Not working as expected?)

youtube.com/watch?v=HNEHCBt...(Not working as expected?)

youtube.com/watch?v=O16Pyms...(Not working as expected?)

youtube.com/watch?v=W7uPOcC...(Not working as expected?)

youtube.com/watch?v=8IKUdIa...(Not working as expected?)

[PMRrunner]

We've really enjoyed the Christmas lectures and can recommend his programme Irresistible (broadcast in Nov) on UPF.

[123-go]

Thank you-will certainly look at these.

[piglette]

I always watch the Christmas lectures. I used to watch them with my father when I was a child. I still think the best one I ever saw was Carl Sagan - ‘The Planets’ in 1977. Michael Faraday did the first one in 1825, amazing they are still going strong.

[Blearyeyed in reply to piglette]

Love a good British Tradition.

[Kendrew]

Hi Pro,Yes, I watched them all. Excellent, and the one on UPF's was such an eye-opener!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kendrew]

I knew a lot of it but I thought the fact you could make icecream with no cream or any other real food quite a convincing demo!!!!

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, and also quite horrifying!

[humlies]

yes, we were riveted, and will probably watch them again especially the last one! If anyone is doubtful about the dangers of UHP food, you will not doubt after seeing this episode! Food companies - or at any rate the bigger ones -are in the business of making money. Full stop.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to humlies]

Even if not the dangers - the utter lack of nutritional benefit!! Thank goodness B&J and HD icecream escapes THAT classification!

[Miserere]

I watched each of these at the time - thoroughly useful!

[Palgeo]

I would endorse, as usual, PMRPro’s recommendation. Good science and entertaining TV for children but I learned a lot!

[calibriel]

I love Drs Xand and Chris! They are such good communicators, as well as on the money medically. My 6-year-old grandson is starting to ask body/medical-related questions, and I’ve told my daughter I think he’s ready for Operation Ouch, which speaks so well to children

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to calibriel]

Never come across them before - and Dad as well, quite the family business!

[calibriel in reply to PMRpro]

Genuinely recommend Operation Ouch, just for its entertainment value. My partner, who has FTD and watches a lot of daytime tv, went through a phase of watching it a lot. It’s on children’s BBC (CBBC?) so sure to be on iPlayer. They present medical issues in a child-focused way, with a lot of child involvement. It’s factual, but presented in a way that both minimises anxiety and makes maximum use of the childish fascination with the gross. If I had a child who had to have treatment, I couldn’t think of any better prep than to watch the Operation Ouch episode on that topic.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to calibriel]

Don't have iPlayer - I'm in Italy. I do have BBC but obviously never look at the programmes on children's TV, But I see there are outtakes on YouTube. Must have a look what else is there. Would have been handy last night - was really scraping the bottom of the barrel!! I find such things good for thinking up new ways of enlightening the non-scientist patient about PMR and GCA! I love gross too ...

[Sophiestree]

ahh I worked on these every year from 2005 and only stopped when I was diagnosed but visit the team every year to say hello. They will be thrilled to hear you recommending them. They are a challenge to work on but everyone keeps going back. 2005 was also on food by Prof John Krebbs . I remember one item they went out in the street and took samples from shoppers hands... it was pretty shocking seeing those results.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sophiestree]

I was trying to remember who it was on the forum - you!! I would have LOVED to have worked on them! I was watching the documentary about making the final Vera episode and they were saying how the team kept coming back because it was so good to work on and together. I don't think they should be considered as children's lectures - it is science made accessible to everyone and they don't talk "down" while doing it. Those kids are from primary to secondary aren't they - and everyone got something they could relate to.

I don't like to think about hands ...

[Sophiestree in reply to PMRpro]

It's telling if people go back as the hours are hideous and you have no life. Kevin Fong was the lecturer when my husband was admitted (and later died) and he was so kind offering to speak to the hospital on my behalf when I was clueless as to what was going on.

I've never forgotten the hands. 🤢

[marionofnorwich]

Thank you PMRpro I will take a look. Though I don't need much convincing to stay away from them, having run my own whole food shop in the 1980s

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to marionofnorwich]

Me neither - gives me the creeps thinking about them. My daughter is now a healthy vegan - learned to cook - but at first she and her daughter were very unhealthy vegans with loads of rubbish on the menu. I walk round supermarkets looking at the trolleys and wincing! I often wonder how I got so aware of what is in food. And feel rather guilty about what my family ate when we returned from Germany and they demanded what their peers ate at achool and I gave in - cooking was hard when no two in the house would eat the same thing. And even OH just wanted burgers, sausages and pies ...

[marionofnorwich in reply to PMRpro]

Luckily my other half loves fish more than meat although cheese is a strong driver for him too, but he is receptive to other foods, dal, curries etc. Cauliflower cheese or fish pie being favourites. Neither of us are vegan or even vegetarian but we eat a lot of pulses and grains, seeds nuts etc plus of course vegetables. Thankfully past having to feed youngsters most of the time. Our grand daughters alternate between macaroni cheese and pizza on their weekly visits. Veg are probably my favourites but we make our own bread (really quick in a breadmaker) and buy flour, lentils, onions etc in bulk and grow chard and kale. Not self sufficient but it does reduce visits to supermarkets which is where the temptation is. Stuff does look appealing especially in Waitrose and M&S. Going into convenience stores though, I feel as though I am looking at rows of poison!

[SudsSuds]

I am reading Chris van Tullekin's book "Ultra Processed People's. It's a good eye opening read.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SudsSuds]

I bought it in the last couple of days - on offer on Kindle daily deals!

[Mfaepink1973 in reply to SudsSuds]

Yes I read it a few months ago and it’s definitely an eye opener! I’ve always eaten quite healthily but since reading it I always check labels and am much more aware of what to avoid.

[Broseley]

I love watching anything medical on telly. I have recorded the Christmas lectures but not watched yet, as hubby is the most squeamish person I know and I have to wait till he is back at work. He is even squeamish about his own poo, so when he was sent a FIT test to do, it took him 6 months to pluck up the courage to do it.

I loved chatting to my fellow biology teachers when I worked. We would talk about all sorts of 'disgusting' subjects over lunch!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

Our whole family does/did. OH had some good tales as a vascular medicine researcher, Toes falling off inside a sock ...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

You watching Emergency More4 this week? Very gory ...

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

No, I didn't spot that one. Oh, just looked, and I saw it first time round. A good one! I'm recording Surgeons: a matter of life and death on Channel 5 though! A new series.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

I've seen an Emergency before but not this one.Wish they wouldn't do it on consecutive nights. I'm limited to the hours I can record and then I run out of things to watch over the weekend!!

[Broseley]

🤣

[Timelost]

Oh thank you! We watch them every year but completely forgot this year. My husband is really pleased at this reminder.