HOME HEALTH GUIDE

Chronicle (Levin), 27 May 1946, Page 2

HOME HEALTH GUIDE

AVOIDING RICKETS (By Ihe Dcpartment of- Health.) • Rickets show up in children wlien they are growing fast, and if niotlier's and bnbv's diet has been short in vilaniin I), it will becoiue obvious probably between nine and 12 mouths of ago. in Kngland, according to sonie medical writers, about lialf the babies show some early signs of rickets. This happeus to tally with the fact that only about lialf the expeetant mothers collected their vitaiuin A and D tablet and their fruit juice ration, even in the iatter years of the war. Rickets is preventable. It follows where there's insutiicient vitaiuin H in the mother's diet, before 'birth, and while slie is brcast feeding the baby. To avoid rickets mothers should be fujly f'ed during pregnancy and lactation. The babies get all they requiro tlien, from their mothers. The expcctant and nursing niyfher has to set herself the deliberato task of eating that diet which will buiid baby correctly and give a good supply of milk. Dairy products come lirst ; pints of milk, I oz. buttcr, I oz. clreeso and 1 egg a day. Fisli and liver each should be eaten once a weelc and meat the other iive days, taking about a 4 oz. heiping. A similar (piautity of green vegetables, or cauliflower or swedc; 5-10 ozs. of potato, with other root. vegetables as fancied. Fruit should Ijo taken dailyr or else rose liip rsyrup, f tablespoon. Of wholegrain .cercals — whoJemeal bread and oatmeal — euough should be- taken to satisfy aj)petite. All salt used should be iodised. Additions to mahe sure of sufificieiit vitamins are wheat gcriu, 2 tablcspoons daily, and eod liver oil, 2 teaspoons daily (or substitute). That 'diet will buiid a good' baby, will give a good supply .of b'reast milk and avoid rickets-' in'. the baby. It takes some eating, and as it is dillicult lo- be su're that mother does take* the whole issue daily, vitamiu additions are recommended thfoughout..