Things to Eat.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 76

Things to Eat.

Those who do not want to rank as extremist* will do well to eschew the glandular organs, such as sweetbreads and liver, to pin their faith to mutton and one or two kinds of fish, to give up coffee and drink weak China tea. Those who wish to go further should reflect first .that man is nither carnivorous nor herbivorous. For long scientists have obscured the view by useless arguments as to whether or not a man was meant) to live like a cow. There are other species than the flesh and grass eatpg animals. All students of comparative anatomy (says the Lancet) know that the teeth of human beings are identical with those of the frugivorous apes, who live on fruits and nuts. Not only so, but the proportion of bowel length to body length in man corresponds exactly with that in the same species, in -marked contrast to what obtains in all carnivorous animals, where the ' bowel is proportionately short. A study of anatomy therefore suggests a fruit diet as the most suitable. Further confirmation is afforded by the obvious predilection of nearly all children for eucfl food The best fruits for food are apples, bananas, grapes, nuts, dates, raisins, and figs. Nuts are especially valuable owing to the large amount of fat they contain. The , old-fashioned idea that they are indigestible is due partly to the error in taking them ,at the end oi an already more than ample meat meal, and partly to insufficient mastication. Chestnuts are the easiest to digest, and make an excellent food. Many other fruits may be taken, always remembering that stone fruits sometimes disagree, and that aoid fruits should be taken in moderation. Strawberries contain a considerable amount of purins, and should be avoided by all with a gouty or rheumatic tendency. 'Among fruits we include those oi_the cereals, suoh as wheat and rice. White bread is free from purin, but brown bread contains a varying amount derived from the husk. The most wholesome form of bread is unleavened.

Dr W. T. Moffett says:— "The daily consumption of water should be from four to five pints. The functions of the body are carried on only in the presence of and by the aid of water; digestion, assimilation, ■tissue changes, and elimination are dependent on a sufficient supply of water, and any airount less than norjnal impairs these functions. Without free drinking of water there car. be no free removal of objectionable material from the body. With the free use of water the removal will often take care of itself. Drinking cold water inoreases arterial tension, reduces bodily temperature, increases the action of the intestines, biliary secretion, and aids diges.tion. There is a large class of chronic troubles, such as migraine, neuralgia, mus

cuUr rheumatism, epilepsy, insanity^ hy9j teria, chlorosis, asthma, and female diseases; due 'to di inking water too sparingly. These* sufferers xdrink 20oz to 250z of liquid a day, where they should drink 60 to 80. Everj; organ and tissue in the body struggles fojc water, and retains water loaded with pot* sons that .should.be, removed- .The normal amount . of body exqrejjons, .such as sweaife expired iir, and - ' others, contain poisons .sufficient- to kill the"i ndividual. if they hadl npt been^r.emoved.vKTis not 'good io^flrinlc too, "much at one time. . Tt iB-^best -tb^drink. water, 'especially during, warttt- weather, als frequent intervals,; jmd^ ft ».shouldv.be •'eineni-' * bered that \he ordinary beVei'idges,. Biwjsb as? cofee, tea, etc., as well, as juicy fruits, all contain' 90 per 'cent. ' .of water." ,