Maintaining Health (Formerly Health and Efficiency)Alsaker, Rasmus Larssen
Science
Maintaining Health (Formerly Health and Efficiency)
Alsaker, Rasmus Larssen
Diet; Hygiene
However, it is well to note that it is not the last part of life that is
being lengthened. We are allowing less and less infants to die as the
years roll on. The proportion of the adult population that reaches
advanced age is no greater than in the past. Our mode of life is so
wrong that tuberculosis, typhoid fever, cancer, kidney diseases,
pneumonia and circulatory degeneration carry off immense numbers of
those whom we call middle aged, but who are really young people. These
are diseases of degeneration. It is to our interest to reduce these
diseases. Proper living will do it.
The life expectancy of people over fifty is even less than it was thirty
years ago. Middle aged people die from diseases caused by bad habits,
extended over a period of years. Therefore, these people should learn to
live well if they would live longer.
The diet of the old can be about the same as that of an adult in the
prime of life, except that less should be eaten. Those who live
correctly have no digestive disturbances. It will be noted by those who
are normal that there is not a desire for as much food as earlier in
life, and this should be a guide. Old people get all the nourishment
they need in two moderate meals a day. If the three-meal-a-day plan is
preferred, it is all right, but then less should be taken at each meal.
White flour products are easier to digest than the whole wheat products,
but normal people can digest the latter very well and it is a better
food than white flour. I know one gentleman in his eighth decade of life
who has grown stronger and younger by abandoning the conventional eating
habits and living mostly on moderate meals of milk and whole wheat
biscuits. As Cornaro said, some need more than others, but all should be
moderate.
One meal a day of milk and biscuits is all right. These biscuits should
be well baked and well masticated. The milk should be taken slowly.
Another meal can be meat or eggs or fish with some of the cooked and raw
succulent vegetables.
If a third meal is taken, it may consist of clabbered milk or
buttermilk; or of one of the sweet fruits, and the sweet fruits may be
used any time in place of bread or biscuits. Cottage cheese is a good
food at any time, and may be taken with fruits, either acid or sweet.
As often as desired, in summer, take fruit. Because the very acid, juicy
fruits have a tendency to cause chilliness and to thin the blood, it is
well to take them in moderation during advanced years, but that does not
mean that those who like them should avoid them. In winter time the
sweet fruit is best. Mild apples and bananas may be used as often as
there is a desire for them. Oranges should be taken more rarely, as well
as grapefruit, pineapples and other fruits that are heavily charged with
acid.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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