The Importance of Eating Well

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"You are what you eat" a famous doctor once said. And he was so right. Eat well. Eat an abundance of high protein foods. Keep away from too much sugar, starches, and fats. Take plenty of liquids. Avoid intemperate drinks, creamy rich pastries, fried foods, etc. Remember that your body needs the proper amount and variety of vitamins. Vitamin deficiency often causes run-down conditions, makes you susceptible to colds and illness. A sufficiency of vitamin intake is one of nature's great safeguards against the premature aging process. Science has shown that vitamin deficiency robs you of vigor and energy. Let us quickly review some of the vitamins that are so important to the human body and list some foods containing these health-building vitamins.

Vitamin A

An early symptom of vitamin A deficiency is night blindness. Many motorists who find it difficult to drive at night may be suffering from vitamin A deficiency. Some times brittle, scaly skin indicates deficiency of vitamin A. You can get enough vitamin A in foods such as spinach, carrots, broccoli, oysters, peaches, chard, apples, cherries, lemons, oranges, prunes, peas, squash, asparagus, string beans, butter, eggs and cheese.

Vitamin B

A deficiency of vitamin B may lead to nervous conditions, poor appetite and malnutrition in children. You can get enough vitamin B in such foods as follows:

Vitamin B1, B2 and Niacin - beef liver and kidneys, fowl, brains, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, corn, peppers, spinach, onions.

Vitamin B1 alone - ham, pork, beef hearts, brown rice, nuts.

Niacin alone (Niacin was originally called vitamin G and is another vitamin in the B complex) - peanuts, pig liver, salmon, kidneys.

Vitamin C

Have you ever seen a person with bleeding gums or a person who feels depressed and tired all the time? He may lack enough vitamin C. Symptoms of vitamin C deficiency appear as swollen gums, sallow complexion, lack of pep. Foods containing vitamin C - citrus fruits, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, liver, bananas, etc.

Vitamin D

Everybody knows how important vitamin D is to proper bone function. A lack of vitamin D may cause soft and weak bones that might easily break or fracture in tough sports competition, or in defending yourself against an assailant. You can get plenty of vitamin D from sunshine, milk, fish, egg yolks, fish-liver oils, butter, and cream.

Fuel for the Human Machine

Just as an automobile needs gasoline to run, the human machine needs energy to operate. The foods fed into the body provide the energy to run the human machine. In addition to furnishing the fuel or human energy, food has another major purpose. It is used for the growth and repair of tissues. Chemical analyses of foods contain carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals and water. Carbohydrates consist of starches and sugars. They are the chief source of human energy. Sugars are digested fast and provide quick pep and energy. Ex-GI's of the Second World War will remember that chocolate bars were always included in their K and C rations for quick pick-up energy!

Starches are found in bread, potatoes, cakes, and macaroni. They certainly satisfy hunger pangs fast. But these foods don't contain enough vitamins, and a diet exclusively of starchy foods leads to overweight and should be shunned by people not engaged in heavy work. The proteins are used primarily for the repair and growth of tissues. Eat foods with high protein content - milk, fish, eggs, and lean meats.