Evening star., 1926-05-24

I am a semi-invalid with arthritis
Of sever al years development. l am
about so pounds underweight and 80
years of age. L. S.
Authorities do not always agree in
regard to diet for arthritis. At one
time this disease was thought to be
form Of rheumatism caused by an
infection. Others have pronounced 1t
form of gout, and still others say
that it comes from disturbed digestive
processes and an incomplete utiliza-
tion of food in the body.
The most serious thing about this
conflict of opinion Is that the differ
ent diets prescribed were totally un-
like each other. Diets prescribed for
gout were very low in iron and some
other elements needed to build up a
body depleted by disease.
No one can make an absolutely
hard and fast statement, since new
information may be brought to anect
this general thought that arthrlts
comes from an infection. For this
reason, the diet should be like that
advised for simple undernourishment.
1t may also be stimulating and con-
tain a good deal Of bodybuilding ma
terial, considerable fat and gener-
Gus proportion Of starch. Each or
these points must be decided accord
ing to the individuals digestive pow
ers, tastes and appetite. The danger
in such a diet would be that there
may be too much fat for the digestion
to take care of.
A theory underlying such a diet as
this Is simple and based on common
sense. Modern bacteriology has es-
tablished the fact that the body itself
can fight many forms of infection and
get rid of them. provided it is we'll
nourished. and the rheumatic infec-
tion may easily be gotten rid OF ac-
cordingly.
NV own experience makes me feel
that such diets must he used with
caution. l have found rheumatic dis
turbances that are best treated by
some old-fashioned dietary methods.
For example. one of the older theories
was that this disease was caused by
an acid within the blood. Before you
try buildingup diet, such as that
outlined above. therefore, l suggest
that you first experiment with a diet
calculated to cure the acidity. not OF
the stomach, but of the blood. This
would call for a large proportion of
base forming foods such as potatoes,
apples. green's, cabbage. celery.
olives. caulifiower, carrots, bananas
very ripe). beets, cucunlbers, grapes,
lettuce, onions. oranges. peaches.
pineapple. spinach, tomatoes and
lemons
OF course, whichever diet is fol-
lowed, you must be careful and watch
to see whether any one Of the foods
actually causes digestive disturbance.
The way to be on the safe side Is to
experiment very carefully with small
quantities Of any food that is SuS-
pected.
should take sweets only in the
form of fruit.
1 have high blood pressure. Will
you kindly prescribe a diet for me?-
B. S. G.
A diet for high blood pressure calls
for a complete absence of putrefac-
ton in the intestines. This may be
secured by a diet composed chiefly Of
fruits and vegetables. 1t is also ad-
visable to include in the diet starchy
foods such as cereals and potatoes.
preparations of milk and also easily
digested fat. Avoid all shell fish and
meats. Keep the bowels entirely open.
using a preparation of bran if neces-
sary and mineral oil if food alone
fails to accomplish this condition.
Will you kindly give me some ad
vice regarding. diet for acid of the
stomach? After each meal l suffer
from gas pains and bloating. and I