Chemically Speaking - Part I

The following is from an article which appeared in The Red+Cross War-time Rationing Cookery Book
which was printed around 1944.

I will be posting it in parts over the next few days.  There is a lot to type out.
It gives a good outline of chemicals which the body needs for health and how to get them.
As meat was heavily rationed, it gives mainly vegetable sources as a way to get these nutrients especially for iron.



16 Elements for Health and Beauty Part I

Today more than ever it is incumbent on each one of us to endeavour to maintain as high a standard of health as possible.  One feels that it is almost criminal to ask a hard worked doctor to attend any call less urgent than a broken limb or a birth!

The maintenance of health entails a brood general knowledge of what we are - and what we need!

Eccentricities .... extremes in diet .... over exposure to sun and air .... fadism of any kind is best avoided.  Rationing restrictions must be taken into account.

Know what you are chemically.  Know what you need, in food and it's vitamin content, in air, sun and exercise to maintain the necessary chemical constituents in the body.  Be sensible ... and you should be healthy!

Here is a brief outline of the 16 chemicals necessary in every healthy human body :-

Oxygen
This, of course, comes from the fresh air we breathe, and depends very largely on outdoor exercise, walking or games or gardening, according to your bent, and one or other should have it's place in your daily programme.

Take some really conscious deep breaths several times a day, and start and end your day with them, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth, and so really fill and oxygenate your lungs.
This not only makes for good health, but it is a real natural vitaliser, bringing that coveted sense of well-being (just think of yoga today).

Oxygen may also be taken with food, by including a reasonable amount of fruits and vegetables - grape juice, apples and water.

Carbon
Carbon foods should be eaten sparingly, as an excess of these destroys mental alertness, and will increase weight.

Try to have the best carbon foods in wheat bread, whole rice, baked potato, brown sugar, honey, rye bread and figs.

Pale, flabby faces and bodies denote an excess of carbon, so these people should cut down over-refined foods and increase the intake of vitamins in fruit and vegetables.

Part II will be posted tomorrow.