Eat More Fruit and Less Meat
An eminent authority says, “If you want to live long, retain your youth, and increase your brain tissues, eat plenty of apples. They are rich in phosphates. Phosphoric acid is probably the nearest approach to the ‘elixir of life’ known to the scientific world.” Ripe, raw apples contain more phosphates in proportion to their bulk than any article of food, fish not excepted. They are also a sedative, and when eaten in the evening, have a tendency to induce sleep. The apple eater’s brain is clearer and his nerves steadier than the beef eater’s. A physician of many years’ experience and observation, states that he doubts if a healthy adult, or a normal child past infancy, could eat enough fresh, ripe peaches to produce illness. He explains that they act directly upon the liver and kidneys, carrying off dangerous secretions by exciting these organs gently to the discharge of their proper functions. They cool the blood and nourish the whole system. The grape is another nutritious food. Its digestibility and value can be estimated by the fact that physicians order unfermented grape juices in cases of typhoid fever. It is a common occurrence to see farmers’ wives who are “tired out” and “run down” by the hard work of summer, regain their vigor when the grapes are ripe. “Wait till the grapes ripen,” as one farmer’s wife replied, “and I will be myself again.” She knew by experience that the grapes were her cure. We read about the “grape-cure” in some European countries. In some parts of Germany, France, and Switzerland, schools are dismissed for ten days or a fortnight, and the larger part of the population lives in the vineyards. They eat all the grapes they can devour, the only accompaniment being bread. This diet for a few weeks would surely do the average family good. Good white or brown bread, with butter and grapes, would supply all the needs of the body. I imagine that I hear some one remark, “How does it come that most of the sickness comes when fruit is ripe, more especially among children who are always eating fruit?” This sickness is not caused by eating fresh, ripe fruit, but green apples, spotted peaches, stale plums, and unripe pears. For example, oranges are wholesome and very easily digested, but an unsound orange contains absolute poison. There are cases of death caused by eating rotten oranges. Fruit cooked wholly without sugar, and sweetened while hot, makes a very palatable dessert. Fruit desserts are more economical than pies and puddings, even without taking doctors’ bills and drugs into account.—Ohio Farmer.