Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-18
FOOD AND HEALTH
~ wINIFKED STUART GIBBS.
Fs0d Specialist.

What is the relation between diet
and long life?
Probably scientifically accurate
answer to this question can never be
given, for II, would be almost impos-
sible TO stage the requisite tests. so
, many factors enter into the deter
mination Of longevity that one must
| discuss the place of diet in the pic
! ture with reservations and Qualifica-
lions of most of the statements made.
| A recent editorial in a Pittsburgh
| paper makes amusing comment on
.'OId Parr,'' the Englishman who al.
tained the ripe age of 1872, only to die
| OF Indigestion induced by overindul
genoe in the flesh pots. The writer
! of the editorial in question puts his
| finger on the crux Of the whole matter
when he says: The emphasis.
! strange to relate, IL laid on gas
, tronomic indiscretion which was re-
| sponsible for his passing, rather than
| on the hygienic habits OF lifetime
| which enabled him to live under the
! reign Of 10 English soyereigns.
! There IL food for thought. We are
| fairly safe in asserting that had Old
parr INDUCED to any great extent in
! dietary Indiscretions he could not
! have reached such ripe age. On the
! other hand, it IL equally certain that
| he was without benefit Of the scien-
! tific diet information possessed ny
those OF US who are living in the pres
| ent age Of science. 1t is not very pro-
found, but nevertheless true, that
| seneralities are unsafe to dietetics as
| in all other branches Of science.
Those who wish to achieve long life
| may res, assured that attention to the
! laws OF diet and nutrition will help.
| The bodily tissues are like all other
! fabrics. subject To the laws OF nature
| Ii fabric is continuously frayed and
! worn 1t stands far smaller chance
! Of continuing its usefulness over a
| long period than does the one which
! has been cared for. A chain IL no
| stronger than It's weakest link: b.t
| of woven silk is no more serNicedbl
than its weakest thread: huma n
body IL no stronger than Its weakest
| hit of tissue-that il, in the last
. ANALYSIS Chain, fabric. body, all ma
go on with apparent efficiency until
sudden strain and crisis, when snap
The mischief is done.
/, requires but superficial knowi
/ edge of foods and nutrition TO con
| vince us that the person who is con
| tinuously making inroads on his
| strength il likely to shuttle OF this
/ mortal coil at an earlier date than
/ the one who is consistently careful
| in regard to his body building mate
! rial-namely. food.
| On the other and. a word of warn
ing,
The counting OF every mouthful
| the worrying over every slightest
| deviation from the everyday diet; in
short. the allowing oneself TO become
I a slave TO diet rules will defeat the
| very purpose for which he is working
/ Long life will never come TO The
! ''fussy" person, the one who fritters
| away his nervous energy in unneces
! sarN attention To the details OF diet
| or TO each symptom of indigestion
! Nor should the seeker after long life
! strive to attain il through food "sys
| TENS or fads. Most of us remembel
! the popular furry in regard to The
supposedly life lengthening powers
Of a certain form of fermented milk
| Instead of bIindly swallowing some
| one article OF diet. supposed TO possess
| mira culouS attributes. why not study
! the entire subject Of food and nutri
| ton with an open mind? The Yer.
preparation of milk to which there has
| been allusion. is in itself valuable
| food and will repay study. But such
study should consider the article IT
question in relation TO the other
| items of the diet not as an agent fol-
lengthcninc life.
! 4 calm mind in we'll body is the
hes, basis for life-Iengthenins plan
since it presupposes an informed mind
and a healthy body.
tCopyriEht. 1885,