Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-13
DIET FOR BUSINESS MEN.
Suggestions for Maintaining Proper Nourish
ment.

Suggestions for Maintaining Proper Nourish-
ment.
From Food.
Two factors are essential for the proper nour-
ishment Of the brain; the requisite quantity
and quality of food and healthy condition Of
the digestive organs. There is very intimate
relation between brain and stomach They
must work harmoniously together if the best
results are to be obtained. Brain exhaustion
and continuous depressing emotions, worry and
anxiety cause arrangement of digestion by re-
tarding the secretion Of fluids upon which
digestion depends. On the other hand food in
insufficient or in excessive quantities and indi-
gestible food affects the brain by causing slug
gishness Of thought and diminution Of mental
vigor Brain and stomach cannot perform their
functions to best advantage simultaneously.
During the process Of digestion the stomach
requires more blood than at other times and
part OF this extra supply is drawn from the
brain. II the brain be forced to work during
the period Of active digestion the stomach will
be deprived Of certain proportion Of the blood
required. Mental activity necessitates an in
creased flow Of blood to the brain, and as
thought is to q certain extent controlled by the
will, while digestion is not, 1t follows that when
thought and digestion are carried on toge: her
the brain will always take the blood needed by
the stomach. II his be habitual it soon leads
to pronounced dyspepsia, and chronic dyspep-
sia in its turn, by irrita ion of the nervous sys-
tenn, incapacitates even an abnormally vigorous
brain.
In the light Of these facts 1t is important for
business men to understand the relations be-
may obtain the best work from both brain ed
stomach. 1t Is impossible to prescribe Q diet
suitable to every individual, but certain rules
can be formulated which will apply to the
average man. A breakfast consisting Of mod
crate quantity o oatmeal or some other cereal,
q couple of eggs cooked in any desired way, or,
in place of the eggs. chop or piece Of beef,
or almost any other meat, except veal, pork and
corned beef; potatoes, bread and butter, and
one cup Of coffee, together with some form Of
fruit, il desired, will be amply sufficient to
meet all the requirements Of nature and to sat-
habitually perform severe and prolonged men
tai or physical work. Hot biscuit and hot
cakes may be INDUCED in sparingly. Gen
orally speaking, a Light breakfast will
be better borne by the stomach than
large quantities Of food. Breakfast should be
work begins. Reading the papers and mod
crate walk, leisurely conducted, are rather cal
culated to assist than to retard digestion.
Violent exercise immediately following q meal
should be avoided. The midday meal II to the
business man the most important OF the day.
most actively engaged, 10 often the cause Of
severe dyspepsia. The man who goes from his
lunch to any work demanding concentration Of
thought and clearness Of intellect should make
the selection Of his lunch Q study, and should
neither deprive himself of food which his sys-
tenn requires nor indulge in q diet which, while
it pleases the palate, cannot fail either to result
in mental hebetude while the process Of diges-
ton is progressing, or il the brain is made to
work, the Sowing Of the seeds of dyspepsia
Such food as plain soups, cold chicken, milk,
crosses, lettuce, rice, rice pudding, sandwiches
Of beef or lamb, bread and butter and plain
cake win be amply sufficient to preserve nutri-
ton, and yet so readily assimilated that brain
work does not materially interfere With their
digestion
Alcohol in any form should not be taken and
pastry and ice cream should be especially
avoided. Fifteen minutes should be spent in
light reading or conversation before seyere
mental labor 10 begnn. A light cigar imme-
diately after lunch aids digestion. 1t is In the
evening, when work 10 done, that the substan-
tial meal Of the day should be taken. Restric-
tons in regard to articles of diet at this time
arc not, a. rule, necessary, though Of course
the stomach should not be overloaded. Ths
diet, however, should be generous and the sur
roundinss enjoyable.