Evening star., 1924-05-30

Answers TO renders questions regarding
diet will be given by Winifred Stuart Gibbs,
food specialist, writer and lecturer on nutri-
tion. Questions shoIld be accompanied by a
self-addressed. stamped envelope. as only those
of general interest will bc answered in this
column: others will be answered through the
mail. Every effort will be made to answer
questions promptly, but we bespeak the in
dulgencc of our readers for any unavoidable
delay. The number of letters received is large
fred Stuart Gibbs. 81 West seth street. New
York City.
Will you kindly inform me the
proper diet for rheumatism (arthri-
tis)? My knees are stiff and sore; can
walk very little. Any information
will be gratefully received. L am
very nervous also. Thanking you in
advance. Will appreciate any sug-
gestion you can give me in regard
to the above.-E. F. H.
Most authorities agree that one of
the chief primary causes OF this dis
ease is an infection of the intestines,
particularly the colon or the lower
bowel. This being the case, very
naturally one of the first things to do
Is to see that the diet is not only
laxative, but is also of such nature
as will keep the bowels absolutely
regular. Some authorities even go
so far as to say that it is advisable
to have two or three movements a
day.
Ii at first it is not possible to Sc
cure this result by means of food a
warm enema may be used as a tenn
porary eXpedient. Other mechanical
helps are the addition of bran and
agar or vegetable gelatin to the diet.
Bran should be used with every meal
and in various ways. For instance. it
may be shredded and added to the
breakfast cereal, or you may pur-
chase one of the very palatable prep
arations of bran now on the market.
One advantage of adding this to the
diet lies in the fact that bran is not
only a mechanical stimulant to the
intestines, but Is also a food in itself,
containing many valuable mineral
salts that are quite necessary to the
diet.
Finally, in this connection it may be
temporarily necessary to use a prep
aration of paraffin oil by way of a
laxative.
These things out of the way, we
are ready to discuss the actual food
The diet should be of a nature to COM
bat the poisons formed in the system.
Acid fruits need not be avoided. as the
popular notion once had 1t, since fruit
acids do not increase the formation OF
harmful acids in the body, but, on the
other hand, help to neutralize these
acids.
Among the most valuable foods for
chronic rheumatism are melons, partic-
ularly muskmelons or cantaloupeS. Po-
tatoes, either in the form of soup, or
puree, or mashed, or baked, are very
valuable for the rheumatic person, since
the potato is very rich storehouse OF
what we call a basic food material
that Is, the opposite of acid. Root
vegetables and potatoes are very largely
taking the place of breads. -
If you are normally strong, you will
find that temporary reduction of all
foods eaten will help. This naturally
must not be carried to an extreme, but
a decrease in the size of the portions
is found a great help in the early part
of the dietary treatment.
Now as to diet list. This may
include vegetable soups, such crisp
vegetables as celery, lettuce, endive,
eucumbers, radishes, sliced cabbage,
shredded carrots and turnips. Tomatoes
and salads without eggs are also valu-
able.
The ready prepared cereals, such as
fakes, shreds and puffs, are preferable
to the home-cooked mushy ones. Bread
should be limited to dry toast, bran
mullins or gluten bread.
Fruit. juices, cereal conees, matted