WHOLE MEAL AND HEALTH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21365, 19 June 1931, Page 6

WHOLE MEAL AND HEALTH

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —There are doubtless many peoplewho are wedded to the use of extra super-* fine demineralised white flour, first, because they like it, and, secondly, because, they have read that it is quite good and more economical in that it is wholly as-, simiiated in the digestive process, whereas,., when the whole grain is' used, the outer part is not completely assimiliated. One must sympathise to some extent with public' opinion in the matter of preference. The white loaf, perhaps, looks better; it is nice enough to eat, and much more convenient for cutting and spread-, ing than any coarser form; but if it can be shown that whole meal is really much: better for us, if it will build stronger,healthier men and women, then-it is not unreasonable to ask the public to use it and to do so, not occasionally only, but always. White flour, being very fine and delightfully smooth and soft, is very easilydigested. So far, so good. But is it good? I suggest that if any mother wishes to build “ buirdly chiels and clever hizzies,” who, as Burns tells us, “ are built on sic as this is”—on oatmeal to wit—she had better not try and do it:; on Benger’s Food. The general practice is to feed on just that sort of fine ground “pap” and plenty of it, backed by other equally fine, soft, tempting, varied foods. Now, what does Nature tell us? How are the finest races in the world reared? Is it not invariably on food which is coarse and hai-d and plain and spare—the very exact opposite of our senseless practice? It does not by any means follow thaj;, because the branny part of wheat cannot be wholly digested and assimilated, therefore it is of no use to us. It is cheaper than purgatives, and infinitely less dangerous. But there is a great deal more in this health business than just whole meal. We do not live by bread alone, and only one woman in a hundred will bake it sufiiciently, anyhow.. “All cereals require long cooking,” as a. Home Science University leaflet very properly puts it. Patent breakfast foods; are sold which are guaranteed cookableL in two or three minutes, and women arei thereby induced to buy them, but I am not aware that even the Health Depart-, ment has ever informed the public that the statement is merely a trick to induce lazy people to buy.—l am, etc., • Ivon A- Boston.