The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-17
Vegetable or Animal Foods.

Speaking of things as we find them,
we must accept conclusions which are
maseA on the results of many years
careful study of the diseases of the d.
gestive organs, which are caused and
influenced by the diet and habits. And
even though we may concord with the
altruiStic vegetarian beliefs, 1t IS quite
possible that a vegetarian diet may
prove anything but satisfactory.
When we consider how little is known.
by the majority of people about the
proper preparation of vegetable foods
any foods, for that matter-or about
their properties and uses: or how the
amount of these should be regulated so
as to conform to the seasons change in
order to make a perfect diet, we may
readily understand the chief reasons
why so many, who make their so-called
attempts to adopt vegetarian diet,
fail so utterly. In making the trials one
must take into consideration that not
| only is it necessary to understand the
digestion and proper assimilation OF
vegetable foods. but they must know
how to adjust diet to their needs, max
ing allowance for their individual
idiosyncrasies and having ascertalned
to a reasonable certainty what kind and
amount of food materials are required,
they must not cvertax, weaken or inn
pair the digestive powers by eating too
great a quantity of food, or that which
is so imperfectly cooked as to be unfit
for proper assimilation.
we nave quite SuIlCl6nt eNiQeuCS "
convince us that a large per cent of Ordi-
} nary diseases is caused by excessive
meat eating, by which excess we not
only waste a large amount of tissue
forming foods, but over burden the kid
neys. The imperfect elimination of this
excess, or of the dead tissues of the
body by the kidneys is so marked in re-
suits, that it is strange that we do not
take greater care to prevent the posi-
bility of disease arising from this source.
Results just as dangerous and unpleas-
ant may follow a vegetable as meat
diet when one INDUCES in an excess OF
any one of the important food clements
found in this class of foods. This is
very noticea BILE when the starches and
sugars are taken in too great proper
ton to other parts. The imperfect ox.-
dation of starches and sugar; the bolt
ing down of badly cooked starchy vege-
table, such as potatoes. is sure to dis
turb any digestive functions and abso-
lutely certain to bring disagreeable re-
suits to an acid stomach Meals in the
average household usually contain an
excess if not an eXtravagant amount OF
starch; this with the sugar and fats
which are invariably added throws the
diet too far out of balance, and even
when the digestion of every one is quite
mol NAL, discomfort is sure to follow
When meats are entirely avoided it is
most imperative that one study the ma
ture of vegeta BILE foods more closely, for
by the elimination of these tissue form
ing foods we are in danger of increasing
the percentage of starch in the diet
without corresponding increase in the
vegeta BILE food properties which will re-
place like properties in the tabooed
meats Most people who attempt the
vegetarian diet without the clear under
standing of the nature of foods which
are ranked in this class, go too far in
substituting starch for meat, instead OF
trying the meat counterpart, wheat, and
its close allies, the nuts.
Many people would most undoubtedly
enjoy better health if they would adj
here strictly to a correct vegetable die
and there is not the slightest danger o.
their not being well and properly nour
ished on such regime when they car
obtain twice the amount of tlssue-form
ing food from the wheat grain that car
be secured from meat especially wher
experience has or should. have laugh
them that they cannot perfectly diges
meat IF the stomach only secretes
small amount of acid and peDsin, anS
the pancreatic digestion is good, veg.
etable foods viii agree much better thar
roeets-
While we have shown that starch,
foods in large quantities. or out OF pro
portion to other principles, are harmfu
in a great many cases-in most cases
we may say-and particularly hurtful t,
those who have strongly acid StOmach
and weak pancreatic digestion. this fac
does not in any wise eliminate the vege
table gluten supplied by wheat. pea
and beans. which, if properly treated
agree with invaiids better than meat
unless perhaps there are some very pc
culiar individual conditions. which ar
possible. but not common
BEAN FLUFF.
Cover one pint Of dried white bean