The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-06-11
Copyright lao, By International Press Bureau
EATING TOO MUCH.

While certain classes, owing to the
stress of poverty, cannot obtain the
nutriment they really need, the ma
jority of people eat too much. For
tunately a moderate degree of over
eating does not appear TO be mark
eddy injurious. The digestive appara-
tus, though compelled to do more work
than Is really necessary, proves equal
to the demand made upon 1t, and does
not break down or get seriously out of
order. This is but one illustration out
| of many that might be given, showing
how the marvellous mechanism of the
human body adapts itself to conditions
more or less abnormal. 1t is lucky
for the average man that physiological
laws are not of Medio-Persic infiexi-
bility. He can violate them to limit
ed extent without mourning the penalty.
though he finds that, If he goes beyond
that point the punishment is swift and
sure. Careful Investigations prove
that the daily destructive metabolism,"
or, In plain English, the inevitable
waste and wear Of the body, which is
the measure of the work 1t does, varies
but little for different occupations. A
| diet of from IL to Ia ounces OF chem
| ically dry food, IL the ingredients are
in proper proportion and really diges-
tibIe, is sufficient to keep the average
worker in good health. One part Of
nitrogen to seven OF eight parts Of
non-nitrogenous food is found to be
fair combination.
A very small addition of stimulants
| appear to increase the amount of pos
sible work; but moderately free drink
ing diminishes 1t. Women eat less
than men, after making allowances for
differences in weight and work. Where
man eats 10 ounces woman of the
same weight and equally active habits
eats only ID or 15 ounces. This lat
ter allowance, as will be seen from
the figures above, is more than enough
for hard working man, even when all
meat is excluded from the diet. II is
no uncommon thing, however, for
man of average size and activity to
eat double this amount, or from 25 to
81 ounces of chemically dry food In
day. In fact, do not hesitate to say
that the majority of people eat liter
ally twice as much as they need.
If we do not s1ive to eat" we are
very far from making 1t the law OF
our diet to "eat to live" The palate
is tempted to intemperance by appe-
tizing dishes when 1t would be fully
satisfied with a normal amount Of
plain and wholesome food. Probably
there are few people who will not
have to confess that often the appear
ance of the pudding or pies revives the
appetite which had been completely
appeased by the meat and its concom-
itants In the preceding course at din
ner. We feel that we have had enough,
but the new and savory appeal to our
love for the good things of the table
is too much for us. We have been
eating because we enjoy doing 1t. It
is not necessary but it is mice" Let
us congratulate ourselves that, though
gIuttony and intemperance are bestial
sins and cannot escape their punish
ment, moderate over-indulgence In
eating is, as have said, apparently
venial offense against the laws Of
health; but let us beware of presum-
ing too much upon the mercy with
which nature tempers justice in the en-
forcement of these laws.
The high cost of beef has revived
| the question: do we eat too much
meat. for our own good?" and incident
ally do we eat too much food of all
kinds7 We are In the habit of smil-
ing benignly when we speak of our
friend the vegetarian, but scientific In
vestigation and experiment is coming
to his rescue and demonstrating that
while possibly 1t may not be wise for
all persons to cut meat out of their
diet, 1t unquestionably would be a
great benefit to the race, physically,
if the quantity of meat consumed
should be materially decreased, and,
too, IL considerably less food Of all
kinds were taken into the stomach. 1t
is quite surprising to those who have
never tried it before how well they can
get along without flesh food. Nature
never intended us to live as we do.
She has provided simple food, in the
shape of cereals, fruits, vegetables, and
lif we conform ourselves more closely
to her established order of diet we
should he happier and harder race.
LEARN HOW TO LIVE.