Evening star., 1926-03-11
FOOD AND HEALTH
BY wINIFRED STUART GIBBS.
Food Specialist.

"F'or goodness sake, stand up
straight" How often do tired moth
ers, because of anxiety for their
health, speaking in a Querulous
tone. dine this advice into the
childrens ears: 1T is good adj
vice, but ono sometimes wonders
whether the same anxious mothers
know just how good 1t is! That 1t
lis good for children to stand up
straight" is about rs far as some of
them go when thinking about the
matter. Most of them probably have
vague ideas about round shoulders"
and consequent unattractiveness.
AS for the children themselves,
they are apt to wax impatient unless
the habit Of standing properly Is
made to seem attractive.
Next time we try to interest ono,
whether child or adult, In proper pos
ture, 1t will be helpful If we have
first taken pains to inform ourselves
as to what standing up straight will
help us to accomplish. Perhaps
there are some who have not realized
that this matter of posture directly
affects both digestion and assimila
ton. This means that the home die
titan will find 1t worth while to study
posture Systematically. Anything
that contributes to good digestion in
creases the power OF food to nourish
the body.
Without attempting to do more than
simply indicate the good that may re-
suit from systematic study of pos
ture. one can touch on the old rule
that includes SO much-'tRaise the
chest"
When the chest is held up pracu-
cally all the organs of the body seek
their natural places. The lungs are
free and ready TO make the most Of
good air while they strive to get rid
If impurities in contaminated air. The
heart can work at it's complicated
task with far greater ease. The
stomach, If 1t has shown a tendency
to drop, climbs up to where 1t be-
longs. and, in short, the entire bodily
machine feels the benefit OF this
simple measure.
Returning to the stomach, It does
not require any vast amount Of tech
nical knowledge to realize that when
this hard working organ is not COM
pressed and allowed to sag it's diges-
tive juices will be far more effective
and it's muscular movements increaS-
ingly strong.
Not that the adoption of this simple
rule in regard to posture will be all
that is required. It is merely set
forth by way Of an entering wedge
in the popular interest. The entire
subject is scientifically important and
as such should be studied under the
guidance Of some one who under.
stands both physiology and physiolog-
ical chemistry. 1t Is only by way Of
such an intelligent understanding of
the importance of posture as related
to nutrition that the home dietitian
can do justice to her task Of ade-
quately feeding and completely nour.
ishing the members of her family.
Finally, 1t Is not alone as a health
promoting measure that attention to
posture will give good results! It
may also serve as a corrective agent
for those who are suffering from
dilated stomach or from a deficiency
Of the gastric Juice. It will not work
mysterious healing, but it will help
to right certain physical conditions in
such an effective fashion as to cause
the chemical processes involved in
digestion to function more vigorously.
AS we all know, active muscular work
on the part of the digestive organs,
plus correct chemical processes. can
scarcely fail to improve. If they do
not actually cure digestive weak
neSses, Improved nutrition Is fairly
certain to be the final outcome.
So let us find out all we can about
what is implied in the words stand.
ing up straight"