Evening star., 1926-03-12
FOOD AND HEALTH
BY WINIFRED STUART GIBBS.
Food Specialist.

Our use of words Is not always ac-
curate, and when we say of some
one: "He has a tendency to such and
such a disease we might often be
hard put to it if we were asked
to tell exactly what we mean.
TO say that one has, for example,
"a tendency to tuberculosis, Is not
strictly accurate. Either one has 1t
OF one has not, but there is. Of
course. such a thing as possessing
family history of an individual con
stitution that makes one more in
danger than his neiehbor of con
tracing tuberculosis. And here is
where diet may he made TO offer praC-
tical help.
Dependence on proper food as a
preventive measure is no now idea,
but 1t Is one that is capable of fire.
quent discussions and varying in
terpretations.
For the most part. the diseases
which may become chronic and which
call for care in selection of diet are
tuberculosis. diabetes, rheumatism.
gout. stomach and intestinal dis
orders, kidney and liver diseases and
anenia.
w lthcut GOiuB IIllO ucld4iS
one should remember. before trying
to plan preventive or curative diets
for these disorders, that some of
them are germ diseases and others
are caused by dlsarra fsEc tnefl. Of the
chemical processes of digestion.
Again, most Of these conditions may
he. at least In part. prevented by
proper diet.
In discussion that deals only with
general principles, it is obviously
impossible to mark out special diets
Tor individual cases. but broad lines
ol pre- VentiVe diet may usually he
5ketched.
lf there Is tendency to tuber-
culosis " for example. one is usually
conscious Of having a breathing ap-
paratus' that is not quite up To- leo
per cent efficiency. Colds seem
unusually frequent. the temperature
rises at the slightest exposure. ana
there is often a general condition of
being run down" All this may eX-
list before there Is any chronic cough
The slogan for individuals with these
'tendencies' should he: Normal di-
gestion, normal weight. sufficient
rest"
If dia betes is the word Of Democles
hanging over the head of the poten-
tial victim he should make it his
business to learn the principles gov
erning the chemistry Of digestion and
elimination. He should inform him
self in regard to the lately discovered
insulin and its place in the treat
ment, and then, still under his ply
scian's eye he should learn to con
stl'uct dietaries that will, if begun
when there is only a tendency" and
doggedly adhered to, often work won,
ders in control. If not in eradication
of the foe.
Those who glance over their shoul-
ders to see if the twin imps rheuma
tiSm and gout, are hot in pursuit. or
whether their cousin. kidney trouble,
IL the special ogre. should also learn
the simple facts relating to the chem
iStry of food digestion and eimina
tion, as well as the principles gov
erning "A normal diet. Then begins
a program of variation suited to in
dividual requirements
The first point to be impressed on
the minds of those who fear par
ticular disease is this If begun in
time. programs of prevention will
often cure a tendency" and always
help in winning the fight for improved
health.
The second point emphasizes the
importance of intelligent understand
ing of the nature of the disease to
which there may be a tendency. The
| third insists on the victim putting
| himself under the guidance of a ply
| siCian for diagnosis and medical
| treatment. and a nutrition specialist
| for the dietetic treatment that may
| he required.
iCopyright 1925