NUTRITION PROBLEM

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20510, 28 May 1938, Page 11

NUTRITION PROBLEM

POSITION' IN NEW ZEALAND IMPORTANCE OF PROPER DIET education of children needed r,-,3 Utrltlon vvork has come into prominence recently because of the problems of the economic depression when people all over the world were ul- r ,'K oUrlShedl " hlle al the same time there was a surplus of foodstuffs ,ai d Dr . Elizabeth Gregory J« c * ur < n * in the Hamilton Technical High School hall last evening on Nutrition for Optimum Health.” With Professor A. C. Strong, Dr Gregory is I*l ting Hamilton before returning to Dunedin, where the former is dean of the home science school and the latter a lecturer. While in Hamilton thev are attempting to arouse interest In trie Studholme House Hostel as It Is proposed to connect with it another budding at a cost of about £23,000 <.n l subscriptions are necessarv to complete the plan. Last night’s adwas accompanied with lantern slides.

As a .-esult of the nutrition problem, jaid Dr. Gregory, the League of Nations took the matter up and investigated the requirements of the various people. Protective foods, which supplied the essential substances for growth in the young and the maintenance of health in the adult were necessary, while supplementary energy-yielding foods had also to be Included in the complete diet.

“At the head of every diet comes milk and milk in large quantities,” said Dr Gregory. “If we consider the function of milk in the animal kingdom it will give us an indication of its value. Milk is the sole source of food for the young calf for a considerable period of time and therefore It must contain all the essential constituents for the growth of the young calf. Thus it must he a valuable food for all ages. The same applies to eggs.” The New Zealand Diet “If we compare what the average New Zealander does eat with what nutrition experts consider the optimum diet should be, we see partly why New Zealand, though a country with plenty of fresh air and sunshine, haa not a better health record,” stated Dr. Gregory. “This state has been the cause of the high incidence of dental carles.” The average New Zealander ate an excess of meat, flsh and dairy produce except milk. Although they did not take milk they took a considerable amount of other dairy produce especially butter. However, butter could not replace milk in the diet. In the making of butter a considerable proportion of the valuable constituents were left in the aklmmed milk, which was not used. Dr. Gregory contended that proper diet would bring health and happiness to the community as well as diminish hospital rates to the taxpayer. The history of the Studholme hostel and the school was traced by Professor Strong. Preventing Disease “Only within recent years has the concept developed that we might be able to prevent certain diseases by proper diet,” said Professor Strong. “Instead of defending the people against Illness we are striving to build a strong and healthy population with the highest resistance to disease. Our physical development Is determined to a considerable extent by what we eat and in my opinion, if necessary, it would be far better to neglect some of the more spectacular activities in public health than fail to develop a nutrition programme.” The speaker maintained that to perfect a nutrition programme the scheme would have to be conducted on a community basis. It called for individuals with sufficient training and ability to be the recognised leaders in the field, women with ttic ability to organise and carry out a difficult and varied programme and the personality and traits of character, which inspired confidence in their associates. Teaching In Bchools Professor Strong was of the opinion that nutrition should be taught to both boys and girls in the primary and secondary schools, to be explained in a practical way in order that they might understand that food made a difference to both health and growth. The child should be considered a responsible member of the community not disciplined by something from without, but by self discipline. This was often difficult because they came from homes which were governed by adult-imposed control. Yesterday afternoon Dr. Gregory and Professor Strong gave an address to the Hamilton Lyceum Club at which there was a good attendance.