Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-26
FISH NOT BRAIN FOOD;
OLD BELIEF WRONG
Large Amount of Phosphorus
Has Little Bearing on Effect
on Gray Matter

Most of us aren't too old to remember
into what a state of mental demoraliza-
tion and spiritual collapse the youngster
across the street threw us when he con-
fided the awful truth about Santa Claus.
1t was pretty rude awakening all right,
but we know now that the initiation had
to come sooner or later. and we hold no
honest grudge against that youth.
Disillusionments have followed so closely
on the heels of one another that we find
ourselves at last more capable Of being
more amused than alarmed at someone
skidding so hard into our old beliefs as to
topple them over completely.
A doctor, who has made an exhaustive
study Of dietetics, says regarding ideas
that have been handed down for genera
tions like the family clock:
at is a mistake to believe that raw or
semi-raw meat is more nutritious than
that which has been moderately cooked.
The latter is more easily masticated, and
on that account more readily digestiple;
and as it is drier it actually contains q
larger proportion of nutritive matter than
the same meat in the raw condition"
FACTS ABOUT SOUPS.
Soups and extracts are popularity sup
| posed to be very nourishing, and are fire.
| quently administered to invalids on that
| account. Loss of nourishing matter re-
| sulting from moderate boiling is not very
| great. Much of the substance extracted
from meat by boiling undergoes a partial
| decomposition, whereby its nourishing
| properties are greatly reduced. Soups
thickened by the admixture of quantities
| of flour, barley and fresh vegetables are,
of course, an entirely different case Each
| of these foods contains a definite nutri-
! tive value of its own.
| There is silly notion that fish is
| brain food, because it contains a large
| n nh ncFH sn
fish is good for the brain not for the
| reason alleged, but because, being readily
| digesuble, 1t is good for the stomach.
| Some foods, eggs for instance, contain
larger proportion of phosphorus than
fish does. The phosphorescent appearance
that ish exhibits in the dark is no evil
| dence or the presence of phosphorus
This appearance is due to the action of
| certain bacteria and is a sign of in
| sipient decomposition.
Many people entertain the ridiculous
notion that water is fattening. Alco-
holio beverages taken in large quantities
| nave a tendency to increase the weight
This effect is not due to the water. how
ever, but to the solids Of which malt
liquors and certain wines contain a con.
siderable amount. Any healthy individ.
ual may drink safely as much water as
| he pleases
AS REGARDS MILK.
milk has been called the perfect food
This Is pre-eminently true as regards in
rants. But for adults there is no per.
feet food. Their requirements vary.
And to say that there is more nour
ishment in skim milk than in whole mill
Is silly. No food is increased in nutrients
by extracting portion of II.
EGGS are considered highly nutri
ttous food. AS matter OF fact, eggs d,
not contain SO large proportion of nour-
ishment as is sometimes supposed. com
pared to many other foods they are ex
pensive. That is to say, the same amount
of nourishment could be obtained from
other foods at less cost"