The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-09-18
THE WAY TO EAT WISELY.
PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN TO
PRESERVE nEALTR.
Thrce Great Sources OF Mischief from
Eating Quantity, Fro ucncy and
Bapidity Cause Dyspepsia.

Three Great Sources OF Mischief from
Eating Quantity, Fro ucncy and
Rapidly Cause Dyspepsia.
AS a universal rule in health, and,
with very rare exceptions, in disease,
that is best to be eaten which the appe-
tite Graves or the taste relishes.
Persons rarely err in the quality of the
food eaten: natures instincts are the
wisest regulators in this respect,
The great sources of mischief from
eating are three: Quantity, frequency,
rapidity; and from these come the hor-
rlblc dyspepsias which make of human
life a burden, a torture, a living death.
Rapidity-By eating fast, the stomach,
like a bottle being filed through a fun
mel, is full and overlooking before
we know it. But the most i'm.
portant reason is, the food is
swallowed before time has been
allowed to divide it in sufficiently small
pieces with the teeth; for, like ice in a
tumbler of water, the smaller the bits
are, the soonc are they dissolved. 1t
has been seen with the naked eye, that
if solid food is cut up in pieces small as
half a pea, it digests almost as soon,
without being chewed at all, as if it had
been well masticated. The best plan,
therefore, is for all persons to thus com
minute their food; for even if it is well
chewed, the communion is no injury,
while it is of very great importance in
case of hurry, forgetfulness or bad teeth.
Cheerful conversation prevents rapid
eating.
Frequcncy-It requires about five hours
for n common meal to dissolve and pass
out of the stomach, during which time
this organ is necessarily at work, when
it must have reposc, as any other muscle
or set of muscles, after such a length of
effort. Hence persons should not eat
within less than Il five hours interval.
The heart itself is at rest more than one
third of its time. The brain pcrishes
without reposc. Never force food on
the stomach.
All are tired when night comes; every
muscle of the body is weary and looks
to the bed; but just as we lie down to
rest every other part Of the body, if we,
by a hearty meal, give the stomach five
hours work, which, in its weak state,
requires a much longer time to perform
than at an earlier hour Of the day, it is
like imposing upon a servant a full days
labor Just at the close of a hard days
work hence the unwisdom Of eating
heartily late in the day or evening and nc
wonder it has cost many a man his life.
Always breakfast before work or ex-
erclse.
No labOrers or active persons should
eat an atom later than shutdown, and
then it should not be over half the mid
day meal. Persons of sedcntary habits
or who are at all ailing, should take ab.
s%olutcly nothing for supper beyond a
single piece of cold stale bread and but
ter, or a ship biscuit, with a single cup
of warm drink. Such a supper will al
ways give better sleep and prepare for q
h"eartier breakfast, with the advantage
of having the exercise Of the whole DAY
TO grind it up and extract its nutriment,
Never eat without an inclination.
Quantity-It is variety which tempt;
to excess; few will err as to quantity who
will cat very slowly. Take no more
than q quarter of Il pint Of warm drink,
with a piece of cold, stale bread anC
butter, one kind Of meat and one vege
table, or one kind of fruit. This is the
only safe rule OF general application. anc
allows all to eat as much as they want.
Cold water at meals instantly arrest:
digestion, and 50 will much warm drink
hence, a single teacup of drink, hot o
cold, is sufficient for any meal.
For half m hour after eating sit erect
or walk in the open air. Avoid severe
study or deep emotion, oon after eating
Do not sit down to q meal under grea
grief or surprise, or mental excitement
-LalrS journal Of Hsalth.