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The surprising secret to a healthier gut - Kathryn M. Stephenson and David L. Suskind

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TEDEd Animation

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1,700 years ago, Chinese alchemist Ge Hong was renowned for his soup that could cure diarrhea-stricken patients. It had a surprising secret ingredient: feces. While it might seem unwise to consume feces, exciting new research suggests that taking poop into the body in other ways might benefit our health. Kathryn M. Stephenson & David L. Suskind share the science of fecal microbial transplantation.

Part of being a good doctor is thinking about how your patients feel (example, hopes, fears, reactions, questions). Imagine you are a patient about to receive a fecal transplant. How might you feel about it? Now imagine you are the doctor. What would you tell the patient to help them?

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Kathryn M. Stephenson, David L. Suskind
  • Director Luísa Holanda
  • Narrator Susan Zimmerman
  • Storyboard Artist Luísa Holanda
  • Animator Murilo Jardim
  • Art Director Luísa Holanda
  • Sound Designer Gabriel Maia
  • Composer Gabriel Maia
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Produced by Anna Bechtol, Abdallah Ewis
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Script Editor Shannon Odell
  • Fact-Checker Charles Wallace

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