_The Fat of Meat._ This should be thoroughly cooked. All meats in the
process of baking or frying should be covered, in order to retain the
moisture. The fat in well-roasted beef is nutritious, but _to make fat
easily digestible it should be well masticated so as to break up the
tissue fibers which surround it_.
While fried foods are difficult of digestion (see page 192) because the
surface albumin is coagulated and the hot fat forms a coating around
it, making it difficult for the digestive juices to reach the tissue,
the fat of bacon is more easily dissolved because of the delicacy
of the fibers surrounding the fat cells. If thinly sliced and fully
immersed in its own grease in the process of frying, bacon is an easily
digested fat. The process of smoking the bacon renders it easier of
digestion.
Cooked bone-marrow is an easily digested form of fat which is usually
relished by those to whom any other fat is repulsive. It is useful in
some forms of anemia, as it contains considerable iron.
Eels, salmon, and mackerel contain much fat.
The Eskimos extensively use both whale and seal oil as a food.
The yolks of eggs are also rich in fat.
_Cod-Liver Oil_, pressed from the liver of the codfish, is easily
absorbed and assimilated by some. The odor is not pleasant and a little
lemon juice, salt, baking soda, or any flavoring substance may be added
to make it palatable. The pure oil taken in this way is, perhaps,
preferable to the prepared emulsions.
_Olive Oil_ is derived from ripe olives. It is often used when
cod-liver oil is not well borne. Many take olive oil for the purpose
of rounding out the figure with fat. If the system will assimilate
fat, taken in quantities, the fat may be stored; but, as a rule, one
is underweight because of a failure to assimilate the regular diet
and overloading the digestive organs with fat will not cause a better
assimilation. If the lack of flesh is due to sluggish assimilation
exercise should always accompany a diet for the building of flesh.
Olive oil, in moderation, is a good food when much heat and energy
are required, but if one’s occupation is sedentary, much fat is not
necessary.
_Cotton-seed Oil_ is often substituted or mixed with the cheaper grades
of olive oil. It is wholesome, if fresh, but has not the pleasing
flavor of the olive.
_Nut Oils_ are good, but, with the exception of peanut butter, are
not often used. English walnuts, hickory nuts, pecans, cocoanuts, and
Brazil nuts contain much oil. Nut oils are not well borne by some,
hence nuts must be sparingly used by them. If taken they should be used
with salt, and be thoroughly masticated.
Almond oil and olive oil are used in cooking, to some extent.
* * * * *
To summarize—digested sugar is called dextrose or glucose; digested
starch becomes first dextrin, then maltose (animal sugar); digested
protein is peptone; and digested fat is saponified fat.
_WATER_
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