The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-01-31
INFLUENCE OF FOODS
ZCROAsTER'S THEORY OF EOD.
lily AND MENTAL POWER.
The Hand That Makes the Menu,
Not the Hand That Rocks the
Cradle, May In Future Rule the
World-Values of Fruit.

That a person may so feed himself
as to be able to do any given kind cl
work with ease and efficiency and
without fatigue is the contention OF
Dr. T. j. Betiere, New York
teaher of the philosophy of Zoroas-
ter, says the New York Sun. He be-
lieves that the inclinations and
powers of the human mind and body
have their source largely in the VI
brations resulting from the chemical
action set up by food.
This conclusion, he says, is based
on verified statements found in the
old wisdom books. At different times
he and others have confined them
selves to foods which are said by
these old books to stimulate various
centers of activity in the body and
have carefully noted the results.
These results in a general way in
dicate that a generous meat diet In
variably increases the inclination and
ability to show physical activity.
Also that 1t imparts for the time be-
Ing characteristics of animal life,
still essentially the same.
Rice was found to produce much
the same vibration as meat, though
more subtle and persistent, and In
addition to stimulating physical ac-
tivity 1t furnished pabulum for those
centers of control which direct the
finer, less obvious and more potent
forces.
The two foods. rice and meat, Il is
explained. might be compared to
steel and iron, rice representing rs a
food steel, and meat iron: but, Il Is
added, to get this result from rice'it
must be prepared properly and also
combined with certain other foods.
Fruits In general way stimulate
sentiments of religion; certain kinds
turn the mind to considering the
spiritual side of life. For instance.
mother desiring to direct a child's
mind into these channels would be
able to accomplish her purpose with
much greater ease If a generous part
Of the child's diet was of peaches,
oranges and grapes or raisins.
AS there is no age limit when the
controlling power of food ceases, it
might seem that a wife could man
age her husband as well as her chill
dren by feeding him properly. AS
fruits stimulate the affections as well
as religious sentiments, double ad-
vantage might be scored by making
them large part of her husbands
diet
But here turks a danger. 1t Is not
asserted that this diet has any direct
Ing power. Therefore should wives
feed their husbands in such a way
as to Increase the sentimental ten
denotes they might not personally
reap the reward of their effort.
All sugars, SO 1t is said, have n
tendency to increase the activity of
those centers of vibration which
augment the affections. 1t is also
set forth that foods opposed to
sweets, as those that are sour or bit
ter, stimulate the will, making those
who eat them determined, persist
ent and less subject to the sway Of
the emotions.
In confirmation of this assertion;
1t Is pointed out that men take sour
wines in preference to sweet wines,
are fond of acid condiments; in fact,
as rule use strong foods that are
not sweet and do not care for those
which are sweet and that they are
stronger Of will, more forceful and
not so easily moved by sentiment as
women.
In speaking of the foods suited to
different kinds Of work It was said
that those who would devote them
selves to intellectual pursuits should
switch off the material vibrations by
eschewing meat, pastry and all
heavy, rich foods, Having dors
this, to put In commission those CEN
ters which control the vibrations per-
taining to the mind they should eat
pears, maize, breads, birds, fowls,
hsh and all kinds of sea food, but
not more than three or four different
kinds at one time. In general 1t Is
held that alkaline and saline favors
relate to and stimulate vibrations
which make for intellectual activity.
1t Is confidently asserted that
when knowledge of the power of
food vibrations become general wom-
en- will teach their children what to
eat to secure certain results. Then,
1t is affirmed, 1t will be no longer the
hand that rocks the cradle but the
one that makes the menu which will
rule the world.
IL is predicted that when this
comes to pass men will live to a
great age, many things now eaten
VIII not be thought fit for food, i'll
ness Will be rare and all work will be
done with so much greater ease that
leisure VIII be at the command of
all