Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-07-18
DANGERS OF DIETING
UNOERFEEOlNG LIABLE TO WEAKEN
HEARTS ACTION.

Usually Appetite II Measure OF
T;ealth. and the First sign Of III
ness In>n Man nn Animal Is Loss
OF the Desire For Food.
Professor Alexander Haig. an Eng
fish dietary expert. has written from
London 10 the medical fraternity of
New York warning Americans against
The popular belief that the average
man eats too much. He says that the
increasing number Of deaths from heart
failure is largely due 10 undcrfceding
The notion that science is more
uncrring guide than Is nature Is con
stantly gaining ground. In the good
old days men drank when they were
thirsty and ate OF whatever they wished
until their hunger was satisfied. Now
science condemns such fOollshness as
primitive. 1t prcscribes one glass OF
water one hour before meals and one
glass one hour after meals-nO more
no less. II you happen not TO be thirsty
at those times. no matter. drink that
amount anyway. II pcgchance YOU are
thirsty and would like two glasses YOU
must not yield; il Is only nature that
prompts YOU. and nature is an unsafe
guide. OR. YOU may be ''abnormallv''
thirsty ut meals; nevertheless do not
drink then
rs 10 our amount of food. we are
directed 10 consume so many. grams
OF the protcids, SO many grams Of the
carbohydrates and 50 many grams Of
Fat, while we hear learned discourSes
upon large Galleries and the supreme
Importance OF exactly maintaining our
nitrogen balance-whatever that NAV
mean.
nave purpOSely not mentioned the
precise numbers OF grams OF the differ
ent food elements, for the simple rea-
son that our eminent authorities have
not yet agreed upon this important
point. All give different figures
Scientists, however. following the
lead of Russell II. Chittenden. Ph. d.
IL. D., Sc. D., have pretty well agreed
that the average man eats twice more
than he needs. II half his customary
amount of food does not satisfy him
ii ought TO. they say. and II will even
tually, provided he keeps ON suppress
ing his natural and therefore unscicn-
tific instincts.
But just here lies danger 1t Is
true that one can accuStom himself to
much smaller quantity Of food than
that TO which he has been habituated
and that eventually he will desire that
smaller quantity and no more. hut
when he attnins 10 this condition his
digestive power Will have been re-
duced by one-half. As result he will
lose from ten to thirty pounds in
weight; that is To say, his muscles and
organs willie decrease by so much In
bulk and strength. Now. II the heart
decreases considerably in strength
there Will always be danger of it's col
| lapse. particularly IL II he subjected TO
any extra strain. as when ono runs for
car or rapidly up flight of steps.
Excitement alono may he fatal to a
weak heart,
Rigorous dieting to reduce weight Is
| always dangerous. y better plan is TO
work eff the superfuous flesh by ex-
ercise.
Lack OF sleep has depressing effect
on the heart. for during sleep cerebral
circulation diminiShes, when the blood
can devote itself to the rest of the
body.
Eating before going to bed, partiCu-
larly II one is up late is n good prac-
tice. IL being most favorable to thor
Ough body repair that the blood at
night be rich I'm nourishmcnt
Accustoming the digestive organs 10
n small amount OF food results i'm de
cline of appetite. whereas our object
should Ike to increase appetite and
thereby strengthen our digestive pow
ers by JudiciOus exercise in the open
air or In well ventilated room.
If the doctrine that II small appetite
is preferable 10 n large appetite be
true-and this Is what economy In