Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1906-07-21
DANGERS OF DIETING
UNDeRFEEDlNG LIABLE TO WEAKEN
AEARJ's ACTION.

Usually Appetite Is Measure OF
Health, and the First Sign of III
meas In q Man or an Animal Ia Loss
of the Desire For Food.
Professor Alexander Hatg. an Eng
nsh 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 is largely due to undertaking.
The notion that science Is more
unerrlng 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 foolishness as
primitive 1t prescribes one glass OF
water one hour before meals and one
glass one hour after meals-no more.
no less II you happen not to DO thirsty
at those times, no matter. drink that
amount anyway. If perchance you are
thirsty and would like two glasses you
must not yield; 1t is only nature that
prompts you. and nature Is an unsafe
guide Or, you may be "abnormaily"
thirsty at meals: nevertheless do not
drink then.
AS to our amount Of food, we are
directed to consume so mGly grams
of the prOteids, so many grams OF the
carbohydrates and so many grams OF
fat. while we hear learned discOurses
upon large calories and the supreme
Importance of exactly maintaining our
nitrogen balance-whatever that may
mean.
have 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 H. Chlttenden. Phi. D..
LII. 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 unscien-
titic 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. but
when he attains to 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 Will decrease by 80 much In
bulk and strength. Now. II the heart
decreases considerably in strength
there will always be danger OF Its col
lapse, particularly If 1t be subjected to
any extra strain. as when one runs for
car or rapidly up a flight OF steps
Excitement alone may be fatal to
weak heart.
Rigorous dieting to reduce weight Is
always dangerous. A better plan Is to
work Off the superhuous nesh by ex-
ercise.
Lack Of sleep has a 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. partscu-
larly II one Is up late. is a good prac-
tice. 1t being most favorable 20 thor
ough body repair nat the blood at
night be rich In nourtshment
Accustoming the digestive organs to
a small amount Of food results IN a de-
cline of appetite, whereas our object
should he to Increase appetite and
thereby strengthen our digestive pow
ers by judiciops exercise In the open
air or IN q well ventilated room.
II the doctrine that a small appetite
is preferable to large appetite be
true-and this Is 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 IL we may eat only 30 muchf
The notion Is wholly absurd The
first sign Of illness In man or an anl-
NAL is loss Of appetite. And usually
appetite is 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 he
should desire every morsel be eats.
and this he will do only II he under
goes general physical and mental ex-
ercise Food that is ingested. and even
digested, will be absorbed only BY
those organs that need it-that have
been exercised. This fact explains
why many persons that are good feed
ers" are yet inadequately nourished.
If they are brain workers and take no
physical exercise their brains absorb
what nourishment they need; the rest
is excreted-
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 It's turn depends primarily on
the integrity Of its heart lungs and
stomach.-G. Elliot Flint In New York
World.