The Coolidge examiner., 1939-04-13


losing weight is
concerned with an
increase or reduc-
ton in the total
fuel value of the diet.
Shortage or Surplus Of Fuel
Those who find it difficult, after
80, to avoid taking on excess
pounds must learn to reduce the
total fuel intake. Otherwise, they
may find themselves burdened
with a mounting surplus of fat,
which not only destroys beauty,
but impairs health, and tends to
decrease both mental and physi-
cal efficiency. On the other hand,
those who feel that they must
struggle to keep their weight up to
normal who declare that
they simply cannot gain, no mat
ter how much they eat, should
acquaint themselves with the
high-caloric foods and make per-
sistent effort each day to eat a
little more than enough to meet
their needs. If a gain is achieved,
the result will be we'll worth the
effort. For just as overweight is
handicap to health and efficien-
cy, so have nutritionists observed
that physical efficiency may be
definitely decreased when the
weight falls more than 10 per cent
below the average for ones height.
1t is often said that it is easier
to lose weight than to gain it, and
in many cases this is true. For
the overweight person who con-
sistently cuts down the fuel value
of the diet, should, under normal
circumstances, be able to reduce
gradually, comfortably and effec-
lively. But the individual who is
underweight often has a small ap-
petite and therefore has little de-
size to eat the increased quanti-
ties of food that are required in
order to gain.
Influence Of Body Build
Nutritionists have observed that
many people who find it difficult
to gain have a tall, slender type
of body build. 1t has been deter
mined that in people of this type,
the digestive tract is usually short
er than in those having stocky
build. Moreover, they tend to be
more tense, more active and of
more nervous temperament. AS a
result, the passage of food through
the digestive tract may be so rap
id that it leaves the body before
all the available nutrients can be
utilized. At the same time, these
active people tend to burn up more
of their food for energy, so it is
not surprising that they fail to
store body fat, unless the diet is
especially planned to meet their
needs.
Concentrated Foods Desirable
The we'll balanced diet, with its
full quota of minerals and vita
minis is basic to good health for
all. But in order to produce
gain in weight, the diet of indi-
viduals belonging to the slender
type should be composed of easily
digested foods, which can be utl-
lized by the body with minimum
of effort; and it should include
generous amounts of concentrated
and highly nourishing foods.
Included in this classification
are eggs, cheese, cream, butter
or margarine, bacon, bread, cere-
ais, cream soups, custards, ice
cream, rice and tapioca puddings.
The addition of two or three
glasses of milk to the regular
meals will be found useful in in
creasing the fuel value of the
diet Milk also belongs in the
reducing diet, but there it is used
to replace other high caloric foods.
Fruit juices will be found useful
in stimulating the appetite of those
who desire to gain; and the fuel
value of these beverages may be
increased by the addition of milk
or cream.
An Extra Meal
Very often it is possible to get
extra nourishment into the diet
by way of a light lunch in mid
morning, mid-afternoon or both
provided it does not interfere
with the appetite for the regular
meals. This may take the form of
fruit juice and crackers; matted
milk; cocoa, egg nog or plain
milk. A betweenmeal snack is
regarded as especially desirable