Evening star., 1925-11-12
FOOD AND HEALTH
BY WINIFRED STUART GIBBS
Food Specialist.
Diet for Rickets.

There is a good practical reason for
| thinking about the disease known as
ricketts, during the coming weeks, for
1t is known among physicians as a
seasonal disease" In other words,
there are more cases Of ricketts, In the
Autumn and Winter than in Summer.
The reason has been definitely estab-
lished for only a comparatively short
time, and that reason is this: The rays
Of the sun. ultraviolet rays. as they
are called, in some mysterious manner
| produce the same effect as certain
foods.
The rickets-preventing element is
now known to be present in the suns
| rays. Children suffering from ricketts,
are first OF all given sun baths. the
bare skin being exposed directly to
/ the sun for short time at first. the
period to be increased gradually, un-
der the physicians guidance.
1t should be remembered that the
ultraviolet rays lose their curative
properties If they are allowed to filter.
| through ordinary window glass. The
treatment must be carried on by
| means of first-hand contact.
The first article OF diet on the
rickety child's bill of fare, then, is
sunshine. One can easily picture our
foremothers' smiles Of derision at
such hifalutin' notions" In fact,
they might even have calculated
| "Moonshine!' But the moon has no
! such gifts to offer mortals as has Old
| Soil
The next most important item is the
| first Of the Vitamins. the one common
ly known as 'fat soluble A" This
| may be obtained in milk, cod liver oil.
spinach, egg yolk, butter. liver and
kidneys.
When planning the diets for chill
dren, care must be taken to prepare
the food in very digestible form. For
example. liver and kidneys, while good
food for older persons, are too hearty
for young children. They should be
given their anti-rachitic vitamin in the
form of milk, of egg yolk, cod liver Oil
and strained spinach.
Third on the diet list we find the
mineral salts, particularly phosphorus.
The list of phosphorus-containin
foods includes whole wheat bread,
lean beef. barley, farina, raisins. peas.
several other items. Beef served to
young children should be first scraped
and then made into tiny cakes and
broiled over a quick fire. Not more
than two tablespoonfuls should be
given to youngsters under the school
age.
The very best possible diet for
rlCketS is a preventive one. Chlldren
who have normal mixed diet, in
Guiding milk, butter. cereals. bread
(white or broWn), leafy vegetables,
oranges and other suitable fruits. will
rarely have ricketts,. provided they get
plenty of sunshine besides.
Isn't 1t easier and pleasanter for
both child and mother, to see to ii
that the child gets his sunshine while
frisking around on roller skates or
scooters and romping in the school
yard, instead OF waiting until the dis
ease is established? In the latter case
he must have the annoyance OF
especially planned sun baths. and even
these will lack the health promoting
element Of play in a sunshiny place.
If 1t is a question Of paying a few
extra dollars rent for a sunshiny fat
or house, add these dollars to your
food allowance. They will be well
spent, even II one or two somewhat
worn Winter coats must be made to
do duty for another season, in order to
save the added rent.
If cod liver oil is to be used for q
baby at least months old. the dose
is one-half to one teaspoonful daily.
Younger babies are not to have the oil
unless on direct order from the ply
sician. Like sunlight, cod liver oil Is
! to be ranked as a food, not as Q
| medicine.
| 'H..-. Copyright. 1925)