The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-07-26

and sweet, are made up largely of
starch.
Sugars-sugars are made from cane
and beets. Syrup and honey are also
carbohydrates Sugars also serve as
flavoring for foods. They make us take
into our bodies enough fuel which, when
burned, keeps US warm and also pro-
duces the energy to make US move.
Starches and sugars are to the human
body what coal is to an engine.
Third-The hydrocarbons. or fats,
which are also burned and transformed
into energy and are stored UP as fats in
the tissues. The most important fats
are butter, cream, the fat from meats Of
all kinds, olive oil and cottonseed oil.
In very cold climates a large amount of
fats is needed to maintain the normal
temperature of the body. Thus the most
important part of the Eskimos' diet is
fats from whale oil and from the fat
of seals, and the very fat fish that exist
in the Arctic regions. In our own cli-
mate less fats are needed In summer
than In winter.
Fourth--Mineral substances, sodium
chloride Ordinary salt), and foods con-
tanning lime salts, and compounds
of phosphorus, iron and other
minerals. though small in guam
tity. play very important part in nu-
triton. The extractives from meats also
contain mineral matter, so do fruits and
vegetables Milk contains lime, very
important mineral substance needed for
hay ha of
eral substances are needed for building
materials in all parts Of the body, and
they tend to neutralize acid substances
that are found in the tissues after the
digestion of meats and cereals.
Green vegetables contain very little
nourishment but they should be an i'm
portant element in diet on account OF
the cellulose which they contain. They
give bulk to the intestines and therefore
tend to prevent constipation Fruits
also contain a large amount of, celulose,
but some of them are quite nourishing
because of the sugars and starches which
they contain. Fruits also contain acids
which are helpful in preventing consti-
patton.
While meats and eggs are called pro-
teins, they also contain fats and min
eral substances. Breads made from
wheat and corn contain not only car
bohydrates, but some protein. The kerr
mel of cereals is largely protein but is
removed in the process of bleaching or
refining flour and meal. Therefore,
whole wheat, and the course variety OF
corn meal, are more nutritious than the
flour and bleached corn meal that we
ordinarily use.
Life cannot be sustained for a great
length Of time on meats or other protein
alone, nor can one live long eating only
breads and no meats. Milk is the only
article Of food which contains protein,
carbohydrate (milk sugar., fat (cream),
and mineral substances in the right pro-
portions for tissue building and for
maintaining life for any great length of
time.
Instinct has taught us the lesson that
various combinations of foods are re-
quired to sustain strength Thus with
meats we eat bread, and with bread we
eat butter, sugars are added In desserts,
and olive oil and other dressings to veg
etables. 1t will not do. however, to de-
pend upon instinct and appetite as
guide for eating. because we are living
under artificial conditions. If we did.
children would eat all sweets and some
adults would eat all meats, because of
| their delicious flavor.
Birmingham, Ala.