The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-19
what Articles OF food are best Adapted Go
Warm Weather.
PHILOSOPHY OF EATING.


II IL be true that in cold weather we need, and
the appetite demands concentrated carbonaceous
food, IL is also true as might be expected, and as
we all know, that the appetite demands In warm
weather a very different class of articles Of food
and the reason is obvious.
Four-ffths Of our food being devoted 10 the
production Of heat, we need four times Is much
in cold weather as in warm. II, therefore, we ate
the same articles in summer in winter, aud only
what or nature required, the stomach and DOW
would collapse into one quarter OF their size, ana
could not properly carry out their functions. Ma.
ture therefore, provides for warm climates and
the summers of cold, food In which all elements
are greatly diluted, and in which the proportions
Of csrbonates are much smaller than those pro-
vided for cold weather. This you will see IN the
anylysis OF Southern and Northern corn, IN a very
remarkable degree. While the proportion OF
Northern corn is six of the carbonates to one OF
the nitrates the proportions OF these principals In
Southern corn are nearly equal. IL would therefore
REQUIRE six times the bulk of Southern corn as of
Northern to support the same degree OF heat; and
this disparity is still more strikingly seen II we
compare Northern corn with some OF our common
vegetables. Corn contains seventy-three per cent.
Of cotboDates turnips four per cent, and cucum-
bers one per cent. Consequently 1t Will require
eighteen pounds of turnips, or seventy three
pounds of cucumbers, to furnish as much heat as
Northern corn meal.
The comparative proportions of carbonates aud
Ditrates in wheat, and indeed in all cereals that
grow both in northern and southern climates, as
well those of all other natural products of the
sci, plainly declare the will of God in regard to
summer and winter food, as also do our appetites
and tastes.
Ia the spring we lose our desire for butter and
buckwheats, and begin TO crave some acid fruits
and green vegetables. And yet BIO many thought
less housekeepers at the North go through nearly
the same routine of cooking in summer IS in win
ter, with Just about as much butter and lard and
fat beef, and even pork, and fat gravy. and -four
Tuddings, with sauce; not because they like It as
.wan EaWE hfIA ma Init nIU hQn
their mothers did so before them" And so pow
eIful il this thoDehtless and absurd habit in the
Southern States, that il is said that however plen-
tiiul may be the supply of milk, and cheese, and
green vegetables, fresh lean beef, fruits, etc., a
southern family always has on the table a smoked
ham q ''side of pork" aud their vegetables are
cooked swimming in fat; and 10 force appe-
lite they the most stimulating spices and con.
0iments. In short, their food in the hottest
weather is suitable only for the coolest northern
winter weather. Is it strange that diseases pre-
vail,
We need, in summer or winter, whether using
muscles or brains, neither. every day food con-
tanning carbonstes for the lungs, nitraes for the
muscles and tissues, and phOsphates for the vital
powers; but we need them 10 very different pro-
portions, according to the temperature in which
we live and our habits of life. These elements
are furnished at our hands, varying in proportions
as TO be adapted TO the different temperatures
and habits and for animals that have inst acts
and not intellects TO guide them, from the ele-
n6ut 10 lne SMALLEST anlnaicule, these 0iuerent
elements are so mixed and prepared, and the ap-
petite so adjusted to them, that they always want.
snd always have, and always eat the right kind
Of food at the right time, and in the right guam
thy. But man, who has intellect, is expected to
understand the laws Of his being and TO adapt
his food to the wants of his nature, varying it
according 10 circumstances We are creatures of
habit, and our systems have wonderful power in
adapting themselves to circumstances, aud there
fore we do not all die however thOughtlessy we
live, and however perseveringly continue the
wrong habits TO which we have been accustomed,
and cur appetites falling in with our habits, the
evils of wrong living are perpetuated. Still it is
true everywhere that the average amount of
health and the average length of life are in exact
proportion to the care we take to live in accord
ance with the laws of our being. This statistics
show and our own observations confirm.
But what responsibility these considerations
place upon wives and mothers who have, or ought
TO have, the direction of these matters. To them,
in providence, as in the word of God, the iDjlnc
ton emphstically is, keep my commandments,
for length of days. and long life, and peace, shall
they add to thee" and thy family. This mpor-
tant promise is fulfilled literally Go those who study
TO obey physical laws, however igurative its full
fllment may be in regard to moral law.