HEALTH NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 16 March 1928, Page 8

HEALTH NOTES.

FOOD. HUMAN ENGINE AND ITS FUEL. (Contributed by the Department, of Health.) The uses of food are threefold, viz., to provide for growth, energy, and maintenance. An illustration' from the uow familiar motor car will perhaps make these terms' clear. A motor engine in course of construction requires the supply of iron, steel, copper, porcelain, insulation material, etc. In the same way the body, during growth, must be provided with certain building materials. When the engine is completed fuel must bo given in ordej; that work/may be done by it.. The fuel does. not enter as a constituent of the fabric, and corresponds to that part, of our food which is used for the giving of energy. If the motor’ is l kept at work certain parts require renewal and replacement. In the same way a fraction of the food is needed for maintenance of the human engine, or for repair of tissue waste resulting from- the wear and tear of ordinary life.

Before leaving this .analogy let us see if w© can .find any further resemblances between the human engine and the petrol .motor. There are certain very necessary constituents of a dietary known, as vitamins. If these are :absent or in any way deficient, diseases such as scurvy, rickets, and beriberi may result, going on in extreme eases to death. The vitamins have been .likened' to the spark which explodes the mixture in the cylinder of the motor. Water and salts again are indispensable for the proper working of the human machine, although they afford no energy. Their function may be likened perhaps to that of a lubricant.

There is one great difference between the petrol motor and the; human engine. The human body is doing some work all the time, even when resting or asleep. The muscles concerned with breathing and circulation of the blood, for instance-, are never at rest. It is obvious then that full health and vigour cannot be maintained without proper food. Food falls into certain groups, each •of which lias its own special functions. We .will now look at each of these- in turn. It must be realised, however, that these groups occur in many natural foods in combination. Milk, for instance, is an example of a food which is complete in itself, although it is not to be recommended as the sole food: for adult use.

•BUILDING AND HEP AIR FOODS. J Proteins have been compared to ' building bricks. They build up broken down tissues, form new tissues-, and ■ can-also be- used as a some© of heat > and muscular energy. Examples of ’ protein foods are:—From the animal kingdom: Meat, fish, .eggs, cheese, unci! milk ,and from the vegetable [ kingdom, wheat, .peas, beams, .lentils, etc. Proteins are not of equal value, those in" mik, meat, and eggs -being ; the best. , ..Carbohydrates and fate are fuel foods, that is, they cannot.be used to i build up the tissues, but merely as a - source of heat and .muscular energy. • For this reason carbohydrates and fats i will not maintain life alone, but must always- be used in combination with l proteins. < Carbohydrates include starchy foods, such as potatoes, rice, : bread, cereals, etc., and sugars such , as ordinary cane sugar, honey, sugar of fruits, etc. Examples of fats are r butter, cream, fat of meat, olive oil, > etc. Carbohydrates and fats are more or less interchangeable. Fate give more heat than carbohydrates, and- for 1 this reason we find a natural desire ■ for. more fat? to be- included in the diet : during the- winter months, and in the I diet of, people -living in oold- climates. Mineral Salts. —Mineral matter is essential for health. It is absolutely - necessary in the blood, and- is needed ■ also to build up strong bones and 1 teeth. Minerals are- found- in varying ‘ amounts in many foods, but more par--1 ticularly in milk, eggs, green vege tables, fresh fruits, and cereals mad* from whole grain (oatmeal, brown bread, etc.). These foods arc important constituents of the diet, particularly in the growing child. Water.—Water .is- - most important. It regulates the temperature, .aids digestion, and, indeed, is needed .by the blood and every tissue of - the bod 3-. It is also the vehicle for carrying off certain of the waste- products of the body. Few people drink too much water, but many fail to drink enough. A glass- in the- morning on rising, one before or at each meal, and another on going to bed is a good health rule. Ballast, or Bulk.—So far we have been dealing with foods- only from- the point of view of growth, energy, and maintenance. Something should be said about the laxative quality of food. Often the diet, does not contain enough bulky or indigestible fibrous substances to stimulate the- muscular movement- of the intestines, constipation being the result. This- will be avoided bj- the free use of vegetables, especially green vegetables, coarse (brown breads), and fruits, which furnish. the necessary ballast or bulk. The use of these articles, of diet also serves the- additional purpose of giving adequate work to- teeth and- jaws. Some Simple Rules. —Eat foods with a high protein content (meat. fish, fowl and eggs) only once a day, in moderate amount. Have some green vegetables, some fruit, and some milk in jx>ur diet- each day. Drink plenty of water.