DIET AND HEALTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1936, Page 6

DIET AND HEALTH.

CAUSES OF DISEASE. (To the Editor.) My denunciation of institutional dietetics has produced a gratifying reaction; negative, of course, at this stage, on the part of those responsible, but the public would hardly expect them to plead guilty. They couldn't. They have the same confidence in their beliefs as the sponsors of orthodox religion or economics. To read the indignant replies, one would 'suppose that the public had never lived in boardingliouscs, schools or hotels, or existed upon hospital diet; or that they were all ignorant of the essentials of right feeding. Perusal of some of my mail might prove a shock to complacency. The actual quality of ooods supplied, or of standard or preparation, defective as these often are, are not the main points at issue. The danger lies in the almost invariable excess of denatured, acid-forming rr o ods, such as meat, starch and sugar; and the orave deficiency of vitamins and mineral salts. Destructive sooner or later as is the conventional diet for those still comparativelyhealthy, it may become fatal to thli sick; large numbers of whom can be cured by fasting and rioht use of goods. One doctor is reported as sa'ving "modern medical opinion is that the ordinary mixed diet as served in hospitals, hotels and homes is quite satisfactory." He lias committed himself, anyway, and so have the matrons and schoolmasters who agree with him. The same doctor says: "As far as fasting is concerned, the body needs more food than the normal amount in prolonged fevers." This is an astonishing admission of ignorance of the significance of Nature's cleansing efforts that may be countered by a reminder that the usual reason for fevers being prolonged is that man is the only animal who hasn't enough Sense to stop eating when he's sick. Moreover, if he fed as he should there wouldn't be any fevers. Much disease is in the nature of a degenerative process; and one of the most prolific causes is faulty employment of food. So many people are becoming conscious of this truth that the indignant official disclaimers are likely to he completely unconvincing. Is there a conspiracy to prevent the truth from becoming generally realised, that a tremendous amount of disease is dietetic in origin, and that the conventional diet is to lilame? 170. Those responsible simply aren't aware of it. That's all. And that is why I speak. ULRIC WILLIAMS.