TEETH AND DIET

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1932, Page 3

TEETH AND DIET

SOUTH SEA ISLAND natives.

LONDON, March 3:

Some weeks ago someone wrote a letter to “The Times” pointing on; that in spite of their simple diet of potatoes and fish, the inhabitants oi Tristan d’Aeunha had splendid t- h. The correspondent has continued eter since. Mrs F. A. Hornibrook now joins in, giving some details regarding the diet and teeth of South Sea Islanders She quotes a letter she lias received from Sir George 'Richardson. He says: In Samoa the natives cook thtir food as you describe. With the exception of natives near Apia, the Samoans eat very little European food, and they have a splendid physique. Their teeth are splendid, but the dentist tells me that those near Apia are now go* ting pyorrhoea. Evidently, this disease- has some connexion with modern food. In the Tokelau Islands the natives out nothing but coconuts, taro, and fish, and they are very healthy. The abler Samoans prefer taro to bread. In the Samoan schools the boys eat mining but taro, banana, and coconut, and they—the boys and the girls—are perfect in physique and health. All their food is cooked in the well-known pit oven (that is, first steamed and as the ovens become dry it is then roasted). 1 The natives of the New Hebrides are j poor in physique as compared with the ' Fijian or Polynesian. “It should be observed,” writes Mrs Hornibrook, “that the ma'n starch foods .consumed by the Polynesians j have an alkaline reaction in digestion, whereas the starches (cereals) consumed by Europeans have mi "arid reaction in digestion. It should also be noted that in Polynesian tribal life] there is no mechanical transport, no

machinery, practically no labour-saving devices ; hence the natives can safely

consume much larger quantities oi energy-foods (starch, etc.) than can Europeans living under modern civilisation. v