Evening star., 1926-04-14
FOOD AND HEALTH
BY WINIFRED STUART GIBBS.
Food Specialist.

There goes John Brown. Too bad.
but he can't seem to stand prosperity"
How often is such an estimate made
when, in reality, the one who pro-
nounces judgment may have, uncon-
SciouSly, viewpoint seriously colored
by personal feeling! One fact stands
out. however even when the newly
prosperous John Brown merits judg'
nnent. that Judgment is we'll nigh In.
variably based on moral rather than
on physical grounds!
Suppose we let John Brown manage
his own character problems, We all
have need OF consideration from our
friends and of charitable interpreta
ton of our actions. But there Is an
other aspect of newly acquired or even
habitual prosperity with which we
may deal, in all charity and, in fact,
with positive help to the individual
involved, and that is the possible effect
OF prosperity on nutrition,
|. Other things being equal, Il is a fair
ly safe assumption that, except in
the case of an inherited fortune, pros
perity comes during middle life. just
az the time when even a normal sys-
tenn requires bit of overhauling, es-
pecially In regard to diet. Does pros
perity lead to intelligent overhauling?
It does not! Rather is 1t apt to re-
suit In an increase of luxurious living
that inevitably, in its turn. has an
aftermath Of govt or rheumatism. or
high blood pressure or auto-intoxica.
tion, to use a term that is popular, but
not particularly scientific.
After so there is TO be observed a
slight lessening OF activity through
out the body. Not that this necessari.
ly denotes what the scientists term
true old age. but it is Il signal for
reasonable modification OF the diet.
The fact that the middle-aCer often
boasts IAN appetite like that of Il boy"
should not be the deciding factor in
this same readjustment. This appetite
is good, provided one keeps it in check,
eating slightly smaller portions OF all
foods than has been his habit All
this on the assumption that one has
been eating sensibly up to this period.
A moderate quantity OF roast or
broiled beef. roast lamb or chicken,
with plenty OF fruits and vegetables.
with special attention To- those foods
that are alkaline, milk to drink and
a ban on made dishes, rich sauces, con-
diments and the like dainties-such is
the program now, as in the past, al
wavs remembering the smaller por-
tons.
Weight? Indeed yes, very important
as sign and portent!
If one is 10 per cent or more above
normal weight. he might as we'll face
it--he is eating too much.
Does the connection between all this
and prosperity seem too remote?
Truly It is not! For augmented in
come Is fatally apt to lead to lazy
habits as to exercise and unWise in
diligence. The man or woman up
ward of so" has a goodly share OF use
ful years ahead if he will but heed
the principles of right living. In fact,
"the sos are in one sense the golden
age of humor and reason" as some
one has expressed II. and it is a pity
to let unwise diet habits interfere with
the accomplishments and pleasures Of
these mellow years.
These suggestions are obviously for
the individual who has not been reck.
less in his eating. Those who have
erred in this particular usually reach
middle life with a far more compli-
Gated problem. Theirs is the task of
repairing damage rather than the far
Dleasanter one of practicing reasona-
bic restraint. Kidneys, liver, blood
pressure, heart action--these are a
few of the bugaboos that lurk to
pounce on the unwary. Why not see
TO 1T that they never are given an op-
portunity, simply by doing preventive
diet work instead of remedial?
tCOpyriKht. 1920