The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-07-21
DANGERS OF DIETING
uhDeHFeEDDNG LIABLE 70 WEAkEN
HEARTS ACTION.

OF the Desire For Food.
Professor Alexander Haig, an Eng.
iish dietary expert has written from
London to 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 " largely due to underfcedlng.
The notion that science In a more
uncrring guide than IL nature Is con-
atantIy gaining ground. In tho good
old days men drank when they were
thirsty and ate Of whatever they wished
until their hunger was satisfied, Now
science condemns such foollshncss ms
primitive II prescribes one glass OF
water one hour before meals and one
glass one hour after meaIs--no more.
no less. n you happen not to be thirsty
at those times, no matter, drink that
amount anyway II perchance you are
thirsty and would like two glasses you
must not yield; II ~ only nature that
prompts you. aud nature 10 an unsafe
guide. Or. you may be "abnormally"
thirsty at meals; nevertheless do not
drink then.
Az 10 our amount OF food, we are
directed 20 consume 10 many grams
OF the pr0ieids. No many grams OF the
carbohydrates and 80 many grams Of
fat, while we hear learned discourses
upon large caIories and the supreme
importance Of exactly maintaining our
nitrogen balance whatever that may
mean.
have purposeiy not mentioned the
precise numbers OF grams Of the differ
ent food elements. for the simple rea'
son that our eminent authorities have
net yet agreed upon this important
point. All give different figures.
Scientists. however. following the
lead OF Russell II. ChIttenden. Ph. D..
IL. D.. &c. d.. have pretty we'll agreed
that the average man eats twice more
than hc needs. II half his customary
amount OF food does not satisfy him
IL ought to. they say, and It will even
tuaily, provided he keeps on SUPPRESS
ing his natural and therefore unscien-
tiflc Instincts.
But Just here lies danger. II 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, but
| when be attains to this condition bis
digestive power will have been re-
duced by one-half. As result he will
lose from ten TO thirty pounds In
weight; that 10 to say, his muscles and
organs will decrease by 30 much In
bulk and strength. Now, II the heart
decreases considerably in strength
there viii always be danger Of It's col
lapse, particularly II II be subjected to
any extra strain. as when one runs for
a car or rapidly up flight OF steps.
Excitement alone may be fatal to a
weak heart.
Rigorous dieting to reduce weight Is
always dangerous. A better plan Is to
work of the superauous flesh by ex-
| erclse.
Lack OF sleep has a depressing effect
on the heart, for during sleep cerebral
circulation dIfAinlshes, when the blood
can devote itself to the rest OF the
body.
Eating before going to bed, particu-
larry II one Is up late, Is a good prac-
tice, II being most favorable to thor
ough body repair that the blood at
night be rich in nourishment
| Aceustoming the digestive organs to
a small amount OF food results In a de-
cline of appetite, whereas our object
should be to increase appetite and
thereby strengthen our digestive pow
ers by judiclous exercise In the open
alr or In a we'll ventilated room.
II the doctrine that small appetite
Is preferable to a large appetite be
true-and this ls what economy In
nutrition" teaches-then open air ex-
ercise, which manifestly increases ap-
petite, must be injurious to health. Or
why should we exercise to increase ap-
petite II we may eat only 80 much2
The notion Is wholly absurd. The
tirst sign OF illness In q man or an AMI
NAL, is loss OF appetite. And usually
appetite ls a measure Of health.
To build up the heart and muscular
system generally we must vigorously
exercise the muscles,
1t is not enough that one should stun
himself; 1t is all important that ne
should desire every morsel he eats,
and this he will do only IL he under
goes general physical and mental ex-
ercise, Food thatis ingested, and even
dlgested, win be absorbed only BY
those organs that need lt-that have
been exercised. This fact explains
why many persons that are good feed
ers" are yet inadequately nourlshed.
If they are brain workers and take no
physical exercise their brains absorb
what nourishment they need; the rest
Is excreted. . 6i.
4 Magnificent as are the results OF
brain work we must bear In mind that
there could be no result without the
cooperation Of the body, and that the
body in Its turn depends primarily on
the integrity Of Its heart, lungs and