DIET AND HEALTH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 November 1938, Page 9

DIET AND HEALTH

COMMONSENSE RULES.

For those who wish to improve their health by giving more attention to their diet there is no time like the summer. For one thing we do not eat so much in the summer time, and for another the fruit and vegetables which form the main part of any diet are then available in plenty. The chief difficulties in the way of a regulated diet during the winter, the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables, are therefore overcome. A New Zealander, Dr Ulric Williams, of Wanganui, has written a book entitled “Hints on Healthy living.” In the foreword he declares: “Broadly speaking, besides intemperance in eating and drinking and indulgence in extraneous poisons such as tobacco and alcohol, our fault lies chiefly in overindulgence in meat, refined starch and sugar; and in the insufficient use of fresh fruits and uncooked vegetables. A system of diet which provides a remedy for these defects will consist, in the order of their importance, of the following foodstuffs:—Fruits of all varieties, some dried but mostly fresh; vegetables, as many of them as possible uncooked; dairy products; and cereals, which must be unrefined. It is the object of this booklet to outline a method whereby such a system may be effectively carried out.” In “Food and Health,” the writer, A. B. Callow, states: “We eat meals that are chosen by some one who may (or may not) know how to cook, but who knows little or nothing about the relative values of different types of food. We do not seriously believe that it matters. Why should we trouble ourselves with what scientists say about food? Our grandparents knew nothing about calories or vitamins, yet they were fine healthy folk. But, although it is true that in the past many people have been perfectly hale and hearty without having any clear ideas about the science of nutrition, we must not overlook the further truth that in the good old days many others died of diseases that developed simply because of deficient or unsuitable diets —diseases that are now being rapidly stamped out. Moreover, the people who retained their strength in former generations had food that was very different from that generally eaten nowadays. The old fashioned • wholesome diet of fresh meht, milk, butter, eggs, fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread is now replaced by tinned or dried foods, margarine, egg substitutes, and white bread. Since these alterations are mainly for the worse, it is today more than ever necessary to have sound knowledge to guide us in our choice of food.”

Dr Hay in his book called “Weight Control.” says that the very same habits of food selection, preparation and combination so necessary for health are all the treatment necessary for those far from the proper or ideal weight for their build, height, temperament, and heredity, and all these play a part in determining the proper weight for each individual. “It may seem to those who have had no experience with the proper combination of foods a rather strong statement that the only rules necessary for health are those that have any effect on weight. Yet this is exactly true, and when you have learned to eat correctly you will be able to control exactly your weight even as your health,” he remarks.