The Detroit times., 1915-08-07
Eating and Thinking.
eY n. AppiNcroN BRUCE,
Author OF The Riddle Of Personality"
Psychology and Parcnthood." etc.

One great drawback to efficiency which many
people do not seem to appreciate Is overeating.
Most OF US, in fact, eat more than Is good Tor
either our bodies or our minds.
And there are more ways than one in which
overeating weakens the power to think.
An essential to quick. clear. and accurate
thinking is a good flow Of blood through the
brain, the supreme organ Of the mind. When
the blood flow is diminished the brain functions
less effectively and tires more rapidly.
To some extent diminution occurs every
time food is eaten, the blood being drawn from
the brain to the stomach TO assist in the pro-
cess OF digestion.
The greater the amount Of food taken into
the stomach, the greater the quantity OF blood
drawn from the brain Also the more one eats
the longer this change in distribution persists.
For the more abundant the food the longer the
time required TO complete digestion.
Consequently, light eaters always have an ad-
vantage over heavy eaters In point OF main
tanning a good bloodfow through the brain.
Moreover, when too much food Is eaten i'm
perfect digestion usually results. This means
that waste products. instead of being properly
eliminated, get into the blood TO poison IL.
Getting into the blood they are carried to the
brain, with resultant damage TO the thinking
power For in order to think we'll. the supply
of blood TO the brain must not merely be copfous
il must also be pure.
II Is this two-fold process Of blood withdraw
al and blood poisoning that causes the mental
inertia and drowsiness so often observed after
every meal.
Even though the inertia and drowsiness are
not palpably in evidence II still II demonstra BILE
that. as said. most people eat more than
they should. and accordingly are handicapped In
the power to think
Decisive proof of this was furnished some
years ago by the results OF remarkable series
OF experiments These experiments unfortu-
nately have not as yet led 10 general adoption of
the reform in eating habits 10 which they con.
vincingiy point.
They we're made by Professor r. II. Chitten
den OF Yale. He took three squads Of men, and
for several months put them on diet in which
the proteid of their daily ration-especially
meat-was greatly reduced
One squad consisted OF college professors an
other of college athletics in training, the thirt
of soldiers OF the regular army. Thus the effect.
OF diet reduction on both brain and muscle work
ers could be studied
With regard both 10 mental and TO physica
vigor. great benefit observed In every case
| The soldiers and athletes positively gained II
muscular strength, as determined by numerou
tests. And the professors found that they coul
| think and teach much more effectively.
| The lesson Of these experiments should no
be ignored
| Don't go to the extreme OF starving yoursel
as An aid to efficiency In thinking
THAI Is fanatical and absurd, and defeats II
| end, for the body requires a certain amount o
| nourishment daily.
But shorten your menu somewhat, cut dow
particularly the heavy foods, avoid overeatin
OF any food
II You will find, as Professor Chittenden's sui
jects found, that II pays and pays handsomely