Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1901-09-09
FRUIT FOR SUMMER THIRST.

Chfmica! analysis would assign prac-
tically no nutritive value to the juicy
fruits, for they consist of little more
than a cellulose envelope containing a
solution of sugar the amount VARYING
from IL per cent, as with grapes, to
about Ia per cent, as with lemons The
amount of water in fruit Is consider
able. In watermelons IL is no less
than 80 per cent, in grapes so Per cent
in oranges Sc per cent, in lemons 80 per
cent, in peaches IS per cent in apples
81 per cent, in pears "a per cent. in
plums 80 psr cent, in nect2rines SO per
cent, and in strawberries 80 per cent,
not a fruit in the whole category con-
tanning less than so per cent The ir-
resistble conclusion, considering these
facts. Is that fruit plays an important
role in diet as a thirst quencher. Csr-
tainiy when fruits are freely repre-
sented In the diet less fluid requires to
De consumed. and fruits would appear
to be endowed with a subtle, inlmitable
fiavor which is ample inducement to
imbibe fluid in this most wholesome
form.
The question so prominent in peo-
~ - 'iA'uoiAA. AIiiS Ipl EtslNOH Ol Tie
year as to what to drink might. there
fore, on sound physiological reasoning.
b. answered eat sound, ripe. juicy
fruit. II is noticeable that as fruit en-
tiers into the diet the indulgence in al
coholic drinks is diminished Taus it
Is most satisfactory to observe people
taking good juicy slice of melon as
preparatory to meal instead of sherry
ana bitters or a cocktail" This Is a
most CONNIE ndable practice and the
proceeding is, dictetically speaking,
perfectly rational.
The favorings of fruits. although of
liitle nutritive value, are undoubted
stimulants to the appetite and aids to
digestion. Moreover, the juice of fresh
cut fruit Is perfectly free from mi
crobes is as sterile as freshly clean,
drawn milk, and the fruit acids tend
to inhibit the power of those disease
producing bacteria which flourish in
neutral or alkaline media. The mar
ked anti-scorbutic properties of fresh
fruit due to the vegetable aeids and
their salts in the Juice arr of great i'm
portance. For the most part thess
acids are combined with potash and
hence a free diet of fruit presel YES a
healthy alkaline condition OF the blood,
and there is consequently reduced
tendency to the depositing Of acids in
the tissues.
Peaches ard that delicious and deli
cately Favored fruit, the nectarine,
contain quite a small quantity of sugar
and this. coupled with the fact of the
tend rnss of their pulp makes them
suitable for the equity and diabetic.
There can be no doubt that the Juice
of sound ripe fruit is an IDEAL means OF
assuaglng the intense thirst of hot
withdrawing. refreshing and of an
agreeable flavor.
1t is common experience. that the
more person drinks to satisfy the de-
mands of thirst In hot weather the
worse he feels. The temptation is to
gulp down huge quantities CT fluids,
with the result that excessive perspira-
ton sets in and a very uncomfortable
and unrelieved feeling follows. On the
ether hand. a judicious amount of
sound, iipe. juicy fruit, while contain
ing all the water necessary to assauge
thirst, would lead to no such distress
and would exercise other healthy eff
fects on the bodily functions.