The statue of Hildegard von Bingen in Eibingen, Germany. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images)
When studying 12th century polymath Hildegard von Bingen, you'd be hard pressed to find a subject area she wasn’t heavily involved in. Aside from her status as one of the most famous composers of sacred monophony (and the most recorded in modern history), Hildegard was an abbess, writer, medical practitioner, mystic, visionary, and theologian believed by many to be the founder of scientific natural history and, in her free time, a nutritionist.
Compiled in 2019, her guidelines for healthy living called for a balance of acidic and alkaline foods to prevent disease. Her go-to dishes? Spelt, beans, and chestnuts.