Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-20


Digestion and that affected pro-
duces more poison-and so on dd
infnitnm
1t is true the worthy Professor
Metchnikof, in all seriousness
proposed short time to prevent this reabsorpton
partially by amputating lresecting) part OF the m
any considerable number OF victims could be found to
submit themselves to major operation involving pos
sbities of extreme danger We have not as yet heard
that Professor Metchniko has taken any OF his own
medicne-which is the crucial test OF conviction
HAVING determined the most important part of the
II question, namely, just how much and how to eat,
the next point to consider IS what to eat.
Right here is where the trouble begns for extending
back into the earliest daybreak OF history there have
been many fads there were foods The hrst quar-
rel between Pthecanthropus Erectus and his wife arose
the method Of serving venlson he wanted 1t an
ndtureI, and she preferred it dressed.
From Neanderthal days down. the disputes over food
have been legion. They have been made the basis OF
religious and civil and racial hatreds The two and
seventy warning sects had monopoly OF cdSHS be as
compared with the dsputations of the diet eformers
And vet the question is very simple one The chem
ical composition of the body is similar to the compost
ton of the foods that noursh it. The problem IS to pre-
sent for Digestion those forms of diet from which the
body may extract the maximum amount OF building
material and fuel with the minimum expenditure OF
dynamic energy.
Our physiological engineers know with tolerable de-
gree accuracy the chemistry and heat value caores OF
the foods. They also appreciate diosyncrasies
liking or distaste for the different foodstuts. SO the
matter resolves itself into subtractng from the attain
able dietary that which dsagrees and eating the rest
always with regard to how much OF each class one needs
THERE are three great groups Of food products that
supply three different requirements. First in i'm
portance the proteids floods rich in ntrogen which
replace waste tissue secondly, starches ana sugars
Carbohydrates which furnish force and contribute to
heat by oxidation and thirdly the fats hydrocarbons
which prevent undue loss Of proted structure, and con-
serve body heat by equalizng temperature.
1t is obvious that the requirements may vary, and
that in their selection based upon these require
ments necessary in preserving physiological equllb
rum. The Eskimo consumes tremendous quantities
of seal oil and whale blubber because the maintenance
of his BODY heat requires this superabundance of hydro
carbon The inhabitants of equatorial regions on the
contrary, have little necessity for hydrocarbons
therefore fats and oils practically superfuous
gramnivorous diet with low percentage OF sugar,
would be considered an ideal diet for them
The normal appetite is trustworthy guide. In gen
era what is usually what he ought to have
perhaps the form he it. but at any rate IN
its chemical constituents If for instance, young girl
strongly desires chalk and slate pencils, give them to
her-in the form of foods rich in lime. If chd-and
all normal growing children share IN thls.demands
candy see that he is supplied with plenty Of sugar in
wholesome form. The chemistry OF the body requires
these things and nothing but good come from sup
plying them in reasonable amount
In approaching those mosques OF preJudlce-vege-
tariansm anirnaism fruit, nut, and breakfast-food
arianisn-we advance with trepdation hat under one
shoes under the other for here tread on danger
Gus ground There is nothing the dyed-ln the wool
faddst SO firmly believes the accuracy OF his diet
iudgment-unleSs it be the fallacy OF yours.
He is knight Grant, armed capa-ple IN defense OF
his ladyethe particular fad that tor the moment OBJ
sesses him. We know; for have not seen these
Quixotes riding many course, and breaking lnnumer
able ances in defense of mo breakfast fruit lunches,
"raw food mo food, risns and prunes nuts and sea-
weed whole wheat, all milk, milk, grapes chOco
late bars, and Heaven only knows what else each firmly
convinced that he has the original and only open sesame
to the Gates of Health?
Usually the less the enthusiast knows of chemistry