Milford chronicle., 1939-02-24
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The Food You Eat Greatly
Affects Your Appearance
BY CHARLOTTE SPENCER
Nutritionist for the State Board
of Health.

Good bone structure is one Of the
best legacies any child can receive.
Parents have a right to be proud OF
a child with a straight sturdy body.
| Bone defOrmitieS such as bOwlegs,
knock-knees, rachitic chests and
pelves are not due to heredity or to
! a special dispensation from Provi-
dence but are definite sign of min
eral starvation. Bones without mill
erals are soft and fiabby but depos-
its of calcium and phosphorus make
them stiff and strong. We see signs
of calcium and phosphorus starva-
tion every day, even here in Della
ware where we are particularly for
tunate in having available locally
high mineral foods.
Good food throughout the prenatal
period is of the utmost Importance
in giving a baby's bones the right
start. The other day l met a woman
whose family show too well the dis
astrous result of poor prenatal care.
In her family there we're three chill
dren, all Of whom suffered from
curvature of the spine in adult life
and were seriously incapacitated by
It. These three people consulted out
standing physicians of this country
and we're told that all their difficult
ty probably started with the poor
food which their mother had eaten
during pregnancy.
Every prospective mother should
pay particular attention to the min
eral content of her diet. A quart of
milk day for every pregnant wo-
man will not only supply the min
erals necessary for the growing
child but it will also protect the
mothers bones and teeth from too
great a mineral drain.
Every mother should follow impli-
city the directions of her physician
when he orders cod liver oil or Wit
amin d concentrate for her baby.
Vitamin d aids in the absorption and
the utilization of calcium and phOs-
phorus. During the period of rapid
bone formation from birth up to two
years, it is essential that Vitamin d
be supplied to ensure the best poss-
ible hardening of the bone. Few
foods supply any appreciable
amount of this vitamln and so we
must rely on plain or concentrated
liver oils. Vitamin d concentrates
should never be used without a doc
tors supervision since only few
drops a day are needed and an over
dose may be very harmful. Plain
unfavored cod liver oil is favored
by many physicians as the cheapest
and best source of vltamin d.
The baby will not dislike cod liver
oil IL the feeding is done in the
right way. The mother should not
indicate by her expression, the tone
of her voice or the tension of her
arms that the baby may not like the
oil. Many mothers prefer to give
the oil just before the bath when
any that is spilled can be easily
washed off. Then, too. most babies
are I'm the mood to like their bath
and so are in the mood to like any
thing else which appears just then.
II is much easier to accustom the
baby to cod liver oil gradually, a
few drops at time, than to insist
upon the full dosage with the first
attempt. AT the first feeding a few
drops should be placed on the back
of the tongue where 1t can be swat
lowed more easily than 1t can be re-
fused. A baby instinctively rejects
new tastes. but with patience and
understanding he will learn to like
the different foods, cod liver oil in /
cluded.
There is considerable evidence
that Vitamin ID supplements
throughout the entire period of
growth would be advantageous. par
tlcularly in promoting sound bone
development and good teeth Ger
tainly throughout growth we need
to continue to supply the calcium
and phosphorus necessary for good
bone development. One quart of milk
a day will supply this mineral re-
quirement. In adult life we can
prevent mineral losses and result
ing degeneration IL we supply the
minerals necessary for maintenance
and replacement. A pint of milk
VIII supply this normally lower
adult requirement.
Furnishing the right material for
good bones will prevent bowlegs and
and reduce our cripp-
ling. With we'll formed chests we
would have a greater resistance to
tuberculosis. With we'll formed pei
yes we would make childbirth easier
and safer. AS people we must pre-
fer the true economy of good bone
building to the false economy of
diets low in calcium, phosphorus
and Vitamin D.