THE BATTLE OVER BREAD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 27 July 1929, Page 11

THE BATTLE OVER BREAD

WHQLIiMIiAL OR WHITE? REPORT OF RESEARCH COUNCIL Wholemeal bread or while bread? 'I he controversy over makes I lie more beneficial diet lias been waged fur 50 years, and the newest contribution is a report just issued by the Medical R«soarcTi Council.

Their conclusions lend to uphold the “whites” against (lie "browns ’ ; and they advocate caution in advising wholemeal bread until the results of further | dietetic experiments are available. The rival claims of these two forms of bread arc discussed in a section ot a report on the “Carbohydrate Content of Foods,” which lias been prepared by Dr. R. A. MeCanec and Dr. R. D. Lawrence. A number of medical reasons are adduced to show that white bread is the better source of energy. "In advocating wholemeal bread for general use Tt should be remembered that not only men, hut also women and children, are concerned, and that all the experiments on which tho arguments arc based have been carried out on animals or adult males. “Children arc very intolerant of high cellulose diets, and for some brown bread is far 100 irritating, even if given with tho idea of relieving constipation. “Appetite is such an important factor in all digestive considerations that no one whq dislikes a- food of improved value should be forced to eat it. if it can be avoided,” and Dr. McCaucc warns parents not to force wholemeal bread 'on their children, in the belief that they are doing them good. “One should, therefore, be cautious in advising wholemeal bread generally, and wait until careful, unbiassed experiments have been done oil sufficient numbers of men. women and children. rTlius only can accurate conclusions be drawn.”