Among the blood and digestive disturbances which may result from
anxiety, worry, fear, or disagreeable thoughts, are anemia,
neurasthenia, indigestion, constipation, prolapsed viscera, and, in
fact, all diseases which result from faulty nutrition and resultant
weakened tissues.
Disagreeable thoughts affect the appetite, in fact they sometimes cause
it to be entirely lost.
All so-called “new thought,” “ologies,” or “isms,” conducive to the
formation of the habit of looking on the bright side of life, or of
looking for good and joy in life, of kindness, love, and helpfulness,
favorably affect the digestion and consequently the health. The
practice is Christian _Sense_.
The nerves control the peristaltic movements of the stomach and the
action of the absorptive cells, as well as the cells which secrete the
digestive juices. Thus it is that a food which one likes is not only
more palatable, but it will also digest more readily, the digestive
juices flowing more freely because of the mental stimulus.
It is well, therefore, to begin the meal with something especially
appetizing, that the flow of the digestive juices may be incited. For
this reason, if one cares for fruit, it is an excellent custom to begin
the meal with fruit, or with a well-made soup, containing protein
extractives, which will stimulate the flow of digestive juices.
The habit of finishing a meal with some tasty dessert is based on the
scientific principle that its palatability will cause the gastric
juices to flow more freely after the meal, thus aiding in its digestion.
Dainty service in a sick-room, because of the psychic effect of a meal
daintily served, is of utmost importance. Because of the effect on the
mind, the sight of a meal served on soiled linen will almost stop the
flow of gastric juice and will destroy the desire for food, while a
meal well served on dainty linen, with garnishings and tasteful table
decorations, incites the flow of gastric juices.
The careful wife and mother, who notes any failure of appetite in
members of her family, should attend carefully to the garnishing of
her dishes and to serving them in a neat, attractive manner; also to
changing her table decorations, so far as may be consistent that the
eye as well as the sense of smell and taste may be pleased and the
effect of the mind on digestion be exerted.
It is strange, but it is true, that a fresh flower, or a new table
decoration, may so pleasantly affect one afflicted with nervous
indigestion that the meal more readily digests, while an untidy table,
or a lot of food served untidily will retard digestion.
The custom, among hearty eaters, of serving a plate too plentifully,
destroys the appetite of one whose digestion is not so active. Our
grandmother’s overloaded table, with sufficient food of various kinds
to serve many times the number of participants, might stimulate the
appetite of hearty, strong men, but the very sight of so much might
turn the appetite of one more delicate.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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