The human system, far more intricate and elaborate than any computer, spaceship or other machine devised by man, has infinite potentialities for development. It is said that most of us employ only five per cent of our brain cells. Doctors know a lot about disease but very little about health. The science of nutrition is still in its infancy, at any rate as far as the medical profession is concerned. Few doctors or lay people recognise the full implications of the fact that our bodies, including the most sensitive organs, such as the brain, heart and nerves, are made of the food we eat.
Engineers go to extreme lengths to select the right alloys for some delicate machine.
The latest nutritional research indicates that the ideal diet for positive health and longevity is one comprising a high proportion of raw, organically grown fruit, vegetables, nuts and herbs. Such a diet avoids the build-up of acid, fatty substances which clog the system and are the main cause of degenerative diseases, such as arthritis. Older people should progressively reduce their intake of proteins and calories, which overload the system, hindering the free flow of the restorative factors which constitute the body's healing and health-promoting armoury. Cornaro had the answer in his dissertation on 'The Joys of Old Age'. While young people can sometimes acquire intellectual and manual skills with amazing speed, the most important lessons of an evolving life, those connected with the emotional and spiritual nature and human relations, generally take decades to imbibe.