Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-02-02
DANGERS. OF DIETING

DANGERS OF DI.ETING
UNDERWRITING LIABLE 10 WEAKEN
HEARTS ACTION.
Usually Appetite Is Measure OF
+ Health. and the First Sign of III
ness In a Man or an Animal Is Loss \
OF the Desire For Food.
Professor Alexander Haig, an Eng
lish 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 a more
unerring guide than is nature is con-
stantly gaining ground. In the good
old days men drank when they were
thirsty and ate of whatever hey wished
until their hunger was satisfied. Now
science condemns such foolishness as
primitive. 1t prescribes one glass of Z
water one hour before meals ana 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. If perchance YOU are
thirsty and would like two glasses you
must not yield; it is only nature that:
prompts you, and nature is an unsafe
guide. Or, you may be sabnormally' !
thirsty at meals; nevertheless do not
drink then. FL 2:
As to our amount Of food, we are
directed to consume so, many grams
of the proteids, so many grams of the
carbohy drates and so many grams Of
fat while we hear learned discourses
upon large Galleries 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 vet agreed upon this important
point. All give different figures
Scientists, however, following the
lead Of Russell 81. Chittenden, Phi. o..
IL. D., Sc. p. have pretty well agreed
that the average man eats twice more
4 than he needs. Ifhalf his customary
amount of food does not satisfy him
4 it ought to, they say, and it will even
tually. provided he keeps on suppress
Ing his natural and therefore unscien-
tific Instincts.
II But just here lies a danger IT. 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 viii have been re-
duced by one-half. As a result he will
lose from ten to thirty pounds in
weight; that is to say. his muscles and
organs will decrease by so much in
bulk and strength. Now, il the heart
decreases considerably in strength
there will always be danger of its coll
lapse. particularly If it be subjected to
any extra strain, as when one runs for
\ a car or rapidly up a fight of steps.
4 Excitement alone may be fatal to a
weak heart. d s
Rigorous dieting to reduce weight is
always dangerous. As better plan is to
work off the superfluous flesh by ex-
ercise. s'35
4 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-
Z iarly If one is up late, is a good prae-
tice, it being most favorable to thor
ough body repair that the blood at
night be rich In nourishment..
Accustoming the digestive organs to
Y a small amount Of food results in a de-
& cline Of appetite. whereas our object
should be to Increase appetite and
i thereby strengthen our digestive pow
ers by judicious exercise in the open
I airor in a well ventilated room.
IL the doctrine that a small appetite
Is preferable to a large appetite be
true and this is what ECONOMY In
{ nutrition teaches then open air ex-
ercise, which manifestly increases APP
4 petite, must be In urious to health. Or
\, why should we exercise to increase ap-
petite if we may eat only SO much?
The notion is wholly absurd. The
first sign Of illness In man or an ami
NAL is loss of appetite. And usually
appetite is q measure Of health.
To build up the heart and muscular
system generally we must vigorously
exercise the muscles.
It is not enough that one should stun
himself; 1t lis all important that he
Il should desire every morsel he eats
a and this he will do only If he under.
y goes general physical and mental ex
ercise. Food that is ingested. and ever
digested. viii be absorbed only b
a those organs that need it-that have
been exercised This fact explains
why many persons that are good feed
ers'' are yet inadequately nourished
Il III they are brain workers and take M
4 physical exercise their brains Absorb
A what nolrishment they need the res
u 10 excreted u