Th Fruits as a Health Food.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 21 March 1890, Page 4

Th Fruits as a Health Food.

Fruits aro almost as indispensable to a healthful dietary as the grains, particularly in the summer season, and in warm climates. They supply those delightful acids that are not only agreeable to the palate, but specially suit.nl to the needs of the rital organism. They cool and refresh us in the heat of summer ; they suppy organic fluids to the Bystem, replacing those that are lost in perspiration from day to day. Next to the grains, therefore, in dietetic importance, we must take the fruits ; they minister alike to the pleasures of the appetite, and to the actual wants of our bodies. The sour fruits, especially, are the best of " cholagosrnes," doing away with all need of "bilious remedies." so called ; they stimulate the liver to its normal activity, and prevent that " clogstfr.g up " of the organ which causes retention of bile, thickening of the blood, and other , derangements consequent upon nonperformance of functional action. And it will be observed that those which have been acids, come in great profusion just at the time we need them most ; after the long winter, when both fruits and vegetables are necessarily scarce. Fruits are the natural collectives for disordered digestion ; but the xray in which many persons eat them, converts them into a curse rather than abl essing. Instead of being taken on an empty stomach, or in combination with simple grain preparation, as bread, they are eaten with oily foods, with meat and vegetables, pungont seasonings or other unwholesome condiments ;or they aro taken at the end of the meal, after the stomach is already full, and perhaps the whol9 mass of food " washed down" with tea, coffee or other liquid ;or they are eaten at all hours of the day ;or lato at night, with ice*cream, cake, or other, rich desserts. Fruits, to do their best work, should be eaten on an empty stomach or simply with bread — never with vegetables. In the morning, before the fast of tho night his been broken, they are not only exceedingly re* freshing, but they serve as a natural stimulus to tho digestive organs. And to produce their fn'lest, fhmst effect, they should 'be rip°, sound, and every, way of good quality • moreover, they should be eaten raw, What is bettor than a bunch o f luscious grapr-s, or a plato of berries or cherries, on a sunnror .-morning the first thing on sitting down to breakfast ? Or a fine ripo npp'e, rich ar.d juicy, eaten in thn same way ? In our oMmnto apples should constitute m^ tlio finishing, but the bouinuing of the meal, particu'ar y thobiViikiV.*!, for at least six months in the ,yt nr ; and fruits raw or cooked should m.vfce apart of the' morning and evdnintf weal during tho entire yenr. * -■ • ■ *