The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-05-11

MS NOAuulUs
blood pressure. People who lived
on vegetables we're the ones who
were healthy.
Now, 10 and behold, when we
are threatened with a forced re-
duction in our meat consumption,
it turns out that everybody has
been eating meat and everybody
likes meat better than anything
else.
Meat is valuable for its protein.
Protein is an absolutely essential
element in the diet The physiolo-
gists say: Protein is unques-
tionably the most important of all
known substances in the organic
kingdom. Without it no life ap-
pears possible on our planet"
The questions naturally arise as
TO how much protein a human be-
ing requires and what form of pro-
tein-containing food is best.
Minimal Protein Requirements
As to minimal protein require
ments, there is some difference of
opinion. Professor Chittenden, of
Yale. lived for a long time on 60
grams Of protein a day, and said
he felt much better than with a
larger allowance. But he was an
enthusiast.
Allen put the figure Of protein
requirement at IL grams per kilo
OF body weight. Newberger and
March put it at Is gram per kilo
of body weight per day. Wilder
put it at gram per kilo Of body
weight per day Taking the last
figure as an average, this would
mean for a 150-pound man that
he needs 70 grams of protein a
day, which is q of a pound.
The trouble is that the arbitrary
figure of gram per kilo of body
weight represents almost a mini
mum, rather than the average of
what people are used to. Such re-
striction would suit very few peo-
pie; they would not be comfort
able at that level.
Protein requirement is TO a GER
tain extent matter Of habit. We
can get adjusted gradually to
nearly any level Of protein intake.
Most Americans, | believe, eat
pretty close to 2 grams of protein
a day, which is nearly half a
pound which would indicate a
weekly habituated requirement of
Si2 pounds.
If we depend on meat alone for
our protein, the ration figure of
2 pounds a week is inadequate.
When you get two pounds of meat.
you do not get two pounds Of pro-
TEN. There is bone, gristle and
fat. Even the pure lean part Of
meat contains from so TO go per
cent water. But we obtain our
extra animal protein, if meat is
scarce, from milk and eggs.
Children Need More
Children have a higher require
ment-2ia to 8 grams per kilo.
This would mean in a child who
weighs 80 pounds, IS grams of
protein day or 40 of a pound.
The final question which arises
is; What form Of protein is best?
About this there is very little de-
bate. The animal proteins are GER
tainly the best, most valuable and
the only ones which can be guar
anteed to be complete. BY COM
plete protein we mean one in
which all the essential amino acids
are present.
Animals fed on partial protein
one which does not contain all
the essential amino acids-quickly
sicken and lose weight.
Some Of the vegetables contain
nearly complete proteins. Among
these are the legumes, but there is
good deal of waste in the absorp-
ton and utilization Of their pro-
TEN contents. Of course, milk and
eggs contain animal protein and
could be relied on to furnish all
protein-if they are available.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
V. W.:-What does it mean if
young man breaks out at night in
TO severe sweat so that his bed
clothes are all wet and he gets up
in the mornings weak and tired?
Answer: This indicates a chron-
ic infection, most frequently tu-
berculosis.