The Wilmington morning star., 1946-11-22
Doctor Says
FAT FOODS DIGEST
EASILY AS OTHER,
BY WILLIAM A. O'BRIFN NJ ,

rat'y looos are oigested just .,
efficiently as are other foods t a.
the process takes a little }o, W.
The old idea that fatty food s''
indigestible is not borne ont %e
reliable investigation.
According to the Journal =, q
American Medical Ass5ci.d4s
more than 95 per cent of t5s w.
consumed in the diet Of the AVA. :"
age person is digested and W
sorbed by the body, for cbeoi az
examination reveals that les, +S'l
. per cent passes through I ,,
changed. S'
After a meal containing -,
fatty food, there is a feeIiYr
fullness and satisfaction w5,. "
lasts longer than does that w..
duced by any other food coS NV
nation, but this has nothing n ".
with digestive failure. ~
Animal and vegetable fat, -,
both highly digestible, Hydyoos,.
ated fats are as easily digestoS
are others, and the amount w5ias
is absorbed can be regulated W.
adjusting the citing n,,s.
through blending Or by cnemi,,i
means.
Infants also have the abilitv =,
digest fats, especially certai, W.
rieties.
Heating fats, as in deep tryjp,
does not change their digestibjlitvS
The digestibility of the fats in IN,
new vegetable-oil margarine ccn,
binations is said to be the sam.
as that of butter.
Fat is the richest source Of tO,,
energy provided for man. II cor.
tains twice as many Galleries 8,
does an equivalent amount n
sugar, and persons deprived Of At
over long periods of time crave
1t more than they do any oths,
food they are denied.
Fats play an important role i,
helping the body absorb certain
vitamins, notably A and D. Bvt.
ter and cream not only contain
fat but also are good sources n
Vitamin A, while nuts are rich in
fat and are a good source Of Vita.
min B.
The presence OF a large amount
Of fatty food in the iatestns
stimulates the flow Of bile from
the gallbladder, for bile is nece,.
sary for the absorption Of fat.
Persons suffering with inflanei
gallbladders or gallstones NAV be
distressed by eating a fatty meal.
but they learn by experience 10
avoid such combinations.
It is apparent that some ind.
viduals whose gallbladder tunc.
ton is normal may also be dis.
tressed by the presence Of a large
amount of fat in the stomach and
intestiaes. They too should avoid
heavy, fatty meals.
The amount of fat, as well as
the amount of sugar in the diet
should vary with the energy needs
Of the body. Excessive amounts Of
fat tend to be stored as body fat
The manner in which food is
prepared has less effect on its d..
gestibility than we formerly be.
lieved. Studies show that fried pc.
tatoes are just as digestible as are
boiled, baked, or mashed potatoes
You may be distressed after
eating a heavy meal topped with
a rich, fatty dessert, but that is
because you ate too much and the
full feeling consequently persisted
longer than usual.
QUESTION: My daughter has
had psoriasis since she was 7. She
is now 10, and she is still having
difficulty. She seems to be in good
health otherwise. What do you sd'
wise?
ANSWER: Most patients with
psoriasis are well in every other
respect, except that the disease
seems to get worse at times Of
nervous tension. Psoriasis re-
spends to many forms of treat
ment, but it has a tendency 10
recur. Patients should try to Sc
cure relief from their symptoms
but they should not be disappoln'
ed if permanent cure is not Oh
tanned.