The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-04-27

child and the mother was pro-
tected from many conditions after
the birth of the child had taken
place.
Obstetricians have been saying
for some years that it is not neces-
sary to observe the old slogan that
the prospective mother must "eat
for two" This, however, applies
more to the upper income groups
where 1t is quite possible that the
mother attempting to increase the
nutritional needs of the condition
becomes overweight, which may
lead to permanent obesity.
There is no doubt that preg-
nancy imposes certain extra nutri-
.tional demands on the mothers or
ganism, but it appears from a
number of careful studies that
this applies to the quality rather
than the quantity of food.
In Philadelphia it was found
that the mothers of congenitally
deformed children had marked de-
ficiencies in the way of protective
foods in the diet. In a district in
Maryland Z was found that twenty
per cent - prenatal cases showed
anemia on food intake of which
the main articles were pork, white
bread. potatoes. corn syrup and
dried beans. Milk, butter, eggs,
green vegetables and fruit were
notably absent from the diet.
In prenatal cases studied in Bos-
ton it was noted that only one
fifth met the optimal requirements
for calcium and none had an es-
sential protein intake. This is
largely due to ignorance because
the recommended diets Of public
health authorities can be supplied
on a very moderate wage scale.
Diets of Expectant Mothers
DR.. Philip F. Williams, of Phila-
delphia, studied the diets of 514
expectant mothers and judged that
only 10 could be termed good; 209,
fair. and 295, poor. Most Of these
women were Of a quite good eco
nomic status. They were chosen
from the prenatal clinics Of the
Jewish Hospital, Presbyterian
Hospital and the Philadelphia
!. General Hospital and a number
were from the private practices Of
three Philadelphia obstetricians.
The total caloric, starch and fat
intakes were unaffected by income.
The intakes of vitamins A, B, c,
ETC., rose with the income. Protein,
calcium and iron showed a slight
rise with increased income.
This is obviously a matter Of
ignorance and poor selection of
food rather than economic status.
The recommendations of various
public health groups show that
the prospective mother should
have about the following diet
figures: protein, IS grams; cal
cries, $500; calcium, N grams;
iron, from 10 TO 20 milligrams; vi
tamin A, 6,000 units: vitamD b,
600 units; vitamin C, 100 units;
vitamin d, 400 to 800 units; vi
tamin G, 2l1 units.
This simply means that the
prospective mother, instead Of fill
ing up on starches and sweets,
should stick to the gold-standard
requirements Of the National Re-
search Council and this means get
ting a good daily supply Of milk,
butter, eggs, green vegetables,
fruit and meat.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
G. P.:-Does a gall bladder
which has a stone in it and which
is not functioning give gas? Would
a diet help this condition or is an
operation advisable?
Answer: The kind Of gall blad-
der you describe is very likely TO
cause gas and bloating. The die
tary treatment of this condition
consists of avoidance of fats. An
operation is a satisfactory way TO
terminate the symptoms if they be-
come sufficiently troublesome to
justify this measure.
+. J. M.:-Could you tell me
whether or not tangerines are
equal in vitamins to oranges.
Answer: Tangerines have q
ration of 700 units Of vitamin C
TO oranges 760; tangerines have a
ratio of 305 units of vitamin A to
oranges 65; tangerines have
ratio Of about 80 units Of vitamin
81 To oranRes Is.