Vegetables by David Paulson, M.D.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 24, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 43.

Vegetables

By David Paulson, M.D.

SOME POINTS REGARDING FOOD. No. 6.

Vegetables.

VEGETABLES are largely made up of water and woody substances. In some respects they resemble fruit, but they do not contain sugar, as fruit does. Potatoes are perhaps the most valuable vegetable we have. Vegetables are chiefly valuable for the fact that they furnish bulk to the food, and give variety. Those, however, who eat largely of grain products and fruits will secure abundance of bulk, and variety as well. The attempt to remove all the coarse elements of food is disastrous. It causes inactivity of the bowels, and is also rapidly producing a toothless race. Dr. Lauder Bronton, an eminent English authority, explains the reason that American dentists are more skilful than English dentists. He says that the American millers have discovered a process of removing all the coarse products from the flour, so there is no exercise for the teeth; therefore the dentists have such an enormous business that they have abundance of opportunity

for practise. Some one has suggested that the future gold mines of the world will be found in American cemeteries. It is probable that during the last three years more gold has been put into American teeth than has been dug up in the Klondike regions.

When vegetables are eaten, it is well to avoid the use of fruit at the same time; for if the digestion is weak, fermentation will result. Fruit digests in about an hour, while vegetables require from four to five; but the fruit has to be retained in the stomach until the vegetable fiber has been disintegrated, and by that time, in the stomach where the digestive powers are weak, fermentation has already begun.

There are many who think that too great stress is laid on the question of diet in health and disease; but there are really but few diseases that do not have their headquarters in the stomach. More diseases come from without than from within, and undoubtedly more of them come by the avenue of the stomach than all other sources combined. The adoption of correct habits in diet would shortly banish a large percentage of the diseases which are to-day afflicting mankind, and would so build up the system as to enable it far more successfully to cope with that class of diseases which do not naturally originate from this source. DAVID PAULSON, M.D.