Evening star., 1926-02-15
OLD APPLE ADACE
BY WINIFRED STUART GIBBS.
Food Specialist.

Half truths are so unsatisfactory
The old adage, 'An apple day keeps
the doctor away" was, perhaps, serv.
iceable in the dGy of incomplete die
| tary knowledge. Probably it IL bet.
ter to make unintelligent use of a food
! that is essentially wholesome than not
to use it at all, but times have
changed. Today the up-to-date home
! maker and dietary dispenser demands
accurate Information about our com
| mon foodstuffs, and she is quite justi-
fled in her demand.
What are the facts about apples, and
how shall they best be stated?
First of all. the apple has such an
honorable place in history! Since the
first Of our recorded events it has held
Its own as a valuable food.
Fact. No. l: All claims as to the
apples food value may be substan-
| tiated by unlimited evidence. No need
for special dietary studies such as are
Undertaken in the case of foods which
have never been completely tested.
Then as to it's place in the popular
regard. The most wholesome food in
the world will do very little good If
people do not like it, or if they can
not be coaxed to eat 1t.
An apple census would disclose a
very small percentage Of individuals
Fact No. :: Mothers who are con-
fronted with poor appetites on the
part of their youngsters will usually
have no trouble in making them eat
apples.
Next, our complicated civilization,
with its equally complex diet, has
brought about certain conditions of
acidity in the body, conditions that are
apt to prevail in any so-called pros
porous community. One cause is the
general popularity of acid-forming
foods. To stop by the way for a bit
OF explanation, practically all students
Of nutrition know that food is, in a
quite literal sense, fuel, and that it is
burned in the body. Foods that leave
an acid residue WILL when burned in
the body, cause decrease in the aka
Unity Of the blood, it's natural and nor
NAL state. The sequel is often kidney
and liver disorders, since this state of
affairs places on these organs an in
creased strain. In a similar manner,
the foods with an alkaline ash will en-
ter into Natures plans, with the diff
ference that they will help instead of
hinderins the alkaline balance. Re-
suit, increased powers of resistance
against disease, to say nothing of con-
tfnous daily health.
Apples give an alkaline ash
Fact No. 3: The apple is one of the
important foods in warding off kidney
trouble, liver disorders, high blood
pressure, rheumatism, gout and con-
Stipation.
Does this mean that the apple is a
complete food and one which may be
counted upon to nourish the body com
pletely?
Not at all.
Probably if every one could be made
to take a balanced view of the food
stuffs which go to make up our bal
anced dietaries, most of the prevail
ing misunderstanding in regard to di-
etary and nutritional questions would
be cleared up. There would be fewer
individuals resting content with half
truths.
Apples. for example. are deficient in
body building material. Let them do
the important work of helping to pre-
serve the alkalinity of the blood, and
depend on milk, on eggs and on nuts
for protein.
After the acid condition has been
cleared up and-this is most impor-
tant-when this condition has main
tanned for a considerable period. then
1t Is allowable to return to moderate
amount of meat and other acid-form-
ing foods.
So let us revise the adage and
phrase it thus, AN apple a day helps
to keep acidity away"