The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-04-06
DO WE EAT TOO MUCH7
Experiments Proved Men Gained
Strength on Hall Rations,

Strength on Hall Rations.
In a general way we may speak OF
foods as of three classes, fats, car.
bohydrates (starch, sugar, etc.,, and
proteids of albuminous substances.
These serve essentially two purposes:
first, supply of fuel or energy for
the body, and second, to replace the
materials of the body structure which
are constantly wasting away as long
as life goes on. Under normal condi-
tions the fats and carbohydrates are
used as Physiological fuel, although
the proteids may also serve in this ca
pacity; to replace the body waste
only proteids can be utilized, and in
consequence they are absolutely es-
or carbohydrates in the diet may
cause laying on Of fat. but. aside
from possible digestive troubles can
produce no harmful effects. An ex-
cess Of proteid food may and often
does, prove harmful because Of the
physiological effects of certain of the
proteid decomposition products which
float around in the system before be-
ing eXcreted. A number Of dietaries
are to be found in the literature of
nutrition, expressing the amounts OF
the various classes of foods which 10
to make up well balanced ration, In
these dietaries the quantities of fuel
furnishing foods are always made de-
pendent upon the amount Of exercise
which the individual is accustomed
to take, just as in any machine he
more work, the more fuel The
quantity OF albuminous constituents
required is more fixed and the author
tiles give amounts varying from 100
grams CAS- ounces) to 130 grams (46
ounces) per day. The figures IN these
rations are not obtained from observa.
tions Of the quantities required by a
man, but from the tabuiated figures
of what men actually do eat; It by no
means follows that these quantities
arc the required amounts, they may
be much in excess of the actual needs.
Moreover, there are a number of OBJ
servations on record of men and wo-
men in perfect health subsisting on
amounts of albuminous foods far be-
low the so-called standards. On ac-
count of the absolute necessity of
proteid food of some kind, it is mat
ter Of no small moment to find out
by careful experiment the amounts
actually needed for normal life.
To get some knowledge of this
point a comprehensive investigation
was carried out under the direction
of Professor R. Fl. Chittenden, the
Director of the Scheffield Scientific
School. The subjects of the expert
ments were of three groups: men
whose pursuits were chiefly intellec-
tual, including two professors, two in
structors, and one clerk at the uni
verify; detail of soldiers from the
hospital corps of the United States
from the Yale gymnasium. The in
yestigation lasted for many months,
involving great amount of analytical
work in the physiological laboratories.
The data obtained show the blood con-
dition, the weight, strength, and men
tai alertness of each of the subjects
of the experiment, as we'll as an ac-
curate account of the amounts of food
eaten and nitrogen, uric acid, and
phosphorus eXcreted.
The results show that the dietary
standards given by the writer's On
nutrition are seriously at fault in
respect to the amount of albuminous
food required by active men. The
subjects Of this investigation cut
down their intake of such food ma
terials to at the most a half and in
some cases to as little as one-third, of
the STANDARD" quantities No incon-
venience resulted, and in many cases
there was a positive benefit, the sys-
TEN showing the good effects result
Ing when it was not overloaded with
an excess of food. In the case of the
soldiers, who spent two hours each
day at the gymnasium under the SUI
pervision of its director DR.. Ander-
son, the gain in strength was nhe-
nomenal. albeit these men were living
on what might be called half rations.
It should be said, however, that not
every one will benefit by cutting his
rations in two, for not every one is
indulging in a marked excess.-Col-
lier's.