CAUSES OF FATIGUE by Daniel H. Kress

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 26, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 42.

CAUSES OF FATIGUE

By Daniel H. Kress

Foods That Cause the Tired Feeling—Other Foods That Impart the Greatest Endurance

By D. H. KRESS, M. D.

In the human body, the wastes that are formed by the breaking down of tissue act as poison to muscles and tissues. The weariness experienced after severe exertion is due to the accumulation of these products. In old age, on account of the inability of the eliminative organs to carry off all the wastes, there is usually a sensation of weariness on exertion. The same is true in persons afflicted with Bright’s disease. The elimination by means of the kidneys being defective, the wastes accumulate rapidly, and constant weariness is experienced.

BEEF EXTRACT AND TISSUE POISON

Beef extract is tissue poison in solution. In the animal, as in man, these wastes are constantly forming, and life depends on their constant elimination. There are two streams of blood in the body,—one carrying to the tissues life gathered from food, air, and water; the other removing impurities from the body.

All the energy that sustains animal life is stored up by the vegetable kingdom,—fruits, nuts, seeds, and herbs. The animal does not store up energy, or life. It breaks it down. The dead products resulting from this tearing-down process necessitate a means by which they may be swept out of the system. This process of elimination is carried on by what is known as the venous circulation.

One blood stream carries life to the tissue. The other carries death from the tissue. When an animal is killed, the life is actually taken; for the life is in the blood that flows out, which is the bright red arterial blood. The venous blood, containing the dead matter, or tissue poison, is retained. In squeezing the juices out of flesh, we really extract the dead and effete products that were on their way to kidneys, lungs, skin, and liver, for elimination.

Beef extract contains more poison than the excretion from the kidneys, for it contains, in addition to the wastes thrown off through the kidneys, the wastes naturally eliminated by skin and lungs and liver . By experiments made upon animals, it has been discovered that an injection of beef extract causes death quicker than an injection of an equal amount of urine.

BEEF EXTRACT AND FROG MUSCLE

Muscles from the leg of a frog have been carefully dissected, and to one end of a muscle a thread has been attached, by which a weight is suspended. Upon stimulating the muscle by means of electrical currents, it contracts, and raises the weight. After several repetitions of this act, the muscle no longer responds to the stimulation. It is then really in a state of poisoning or fatigue. The tissue has been broken down by exercise; and there being no means of elimination, the accumulated waste causes paralysis of the muscle. After carefully bathing this muscle in a mild saline solution, thus washing out the wastes, we find, upon applying electricity, that the muscle contracts and lifts the weight as before.

Place upon a fresh muscle a few drops of beef extract, and it will not respond to stimulation by electricity. This is because the beef extract and the poisons formed by exercise of the muscle are identical. Beef extractive is therefore one of the worst substances that could possibly be taken by athletes. It is not a food, but as stated by one authority, “a veritable solution of poison.”

DEFEATING THE ATHLETE

The athlete who depends upon beef extract, or subsists on a flesh diet, has thrown into his circulation products that are responsible for his defeat; for the eliminative organs are not equal to the task of keeping the muscles freed from these wastes in addition to the wastes normally formed. Muscular fatigue must follow. Athletes have often observed that in running, or riding the wheel, the first hour is very difficult. After this, they obtain their “second wind,” as it is termed. The first stage of fatigue is due to the rapid accumulation of wastes; but after free perspiration has begun, and the doors allowing the escape of these wastes are thrown open, there is less fatigue, for the muscle poisons are then eliminated nearly as fast as formed.

It is evident that the future must be with the athlete who eschews a flesh diet,—beef extracts, etc.,—or with the one who keeps his system freed from these additional wastes by taking his food direct from the vegetable kingdom, and not at second-hand.

HE THAT STRIVETH FOR THE MASTERY

In referring to the Greek athletes, whose habits were most temperate, Paul said: “They which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize.” “Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” The same products that cause muscle fatigue, also cause brain fatigue. They lessen the endurance of the brain worker as truly as they do that of the athlete. Hence it is important for all who would be at their best mentally, and escape brain fog, to keep the blood freed from these wastes by exercise and diet. It is much more important for those whose habits are sedentary, to observe carefulness in diet than it is for those who have outdoor life and exercise.

The wastes that cause physical and mental fatigue also interfere with the spiritual life. There exists a very intimate relation between the physical and the spiritual in man. Paul evidently recognized this when he urged the Christian church to adopt the temperate habits of the Greek athletes. “They do it,” he said, “to obtain a corruptible crown; but we [as Christians practice the same temperance that we may obtain] an incorruptible.”

Many a man has fallen out by the way

mentally and spiritually because he has failed to eat and drink to the glory of God.

ENDURANCE NEEDED

Endurance is needed by the Christian as well as by the athlete, in order to succeed. “He that endureth to the end shall be saved.”

In His effort to make of the children of Israel a holy people, who would be able to show forth His virtues, God withheld from them the foods that would interfere with their spiritual development. Instead of this, He gave them manna to eat.

When they lusted for flesh, He granted it. “He gave them their own desire.” Ps. 78: 29. But with it came leanness of soul. “He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” Ps. 106: 15.

Leanness of soul can frequently be traced to a physical cause. For this reason, the prophet’s admonition is, “Eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” Isa. 55: 2. And Peter urged the members of the church in his day to “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” 1 Peter 2: 11.

The experiences of ancient Israel have been recorded, in a special sense, for the benefit of those living in the last days, whom God is preparing for the heavenly Canaan. “All these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Cor. 10: 11.