Homely Hints on Health (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884. Excerpt: ... to its general wholesomeness, and its appropriateness to our individual requirements. Since the various tissues of the body--bone, flesh, fat, muscle, &c.--are made up of so many different constituents, all of which must be supplied by the food we eat, it needs no further argument to prove that our daily diet should be a mixed one. It should contain nitrogenous, or, more simply speaking, fleshforming food; carbonaceous, or heat-giving food; and also the mineral matters that are found in the blood. Amongst our common flesh-forming foods we have--Lean meat, poultry, and game. Cheese. Eggs. Fish. Peas, beans, and lentils. Heat-giving foods are supplied by the following common articles: --Fat meat. Dripping. Butter. Sugar. Treacle. The mineral matters are supplied by--Potatoes. All green vegetables. Bread. Oatmeal. Fresh fruits. Milk is the only food which in itself combines the three kinds above mentioned. The curd of milk is flesh-forming, the cream warmth-giving, whilst the whey contains the necessary mineral matters. If we were to deny ourselves flesh-forming foods, the muscles would soon relax, and become useless; to abstain from heat-giving foods would be like attempting to drive an engine without steam, for it is the heat within itself which gives force to the body. A lack of mineral foods would render the bones soft, and the blood impure. Phosphate of lime forms the hardening matter of bones. Salts of potash, soda, and iron are all found in the blood, which they help to purify. Formerly, our sailors used to suffer dreadfully from scurvy during long voyages. Their chief diet at that time consisted of salt meat and hard biscuits--they never tasted vegetables. Now, every ship takes out a good supply of potatoes, and other vegetables which may be stored, a..