Too much or too little protein is often harmful and pro-
duces serious results. Beside other harmful effects, too
much protein may cause intestinal disturbances, an excess of
acid in the body, and an overtaxing of the excretory organs.
On the other hand, the use of too little protein may produce
imperfect nourishment. Concerning the quantity of protein
used in diet, there has been much difference of opinion.
Atwater, an American authority, thought that there should
be a generous supply, i.e. a surplus of protein, to supply the
demands of body building. Chittenden, another American
authority, believes in just enough protein to meet the de-
mands of the body. However, the use of sufficient protein
food to produce from ten to fifteen per cent of the total Calories
has been found both practical and satisfactory.
Nutritive Ratio. — The ratio of the fuel value of protein or
nitrogenous food to the fuel value of fat and carbohydrates or
non-nitrogenous food is termed nutritive ratio. In formulat-
ing diets, it is helpful to have the nutritive ratio given with
the total energy requirement. Expressing ratio in the form
of a fraction and using 1 as the numerator, the above
protein requirement may be expressed as : ^ to -£-= nutritive
ratio, i.e. for every Calorie produced by protein nine to five
and seven tenths Calories should be produced by fat and
carbohydrates.
Daily Carbohydrate and Fat Requirement. — Although pro-
tein may furnish the body with energy, its more important
function is to build the body. If carbohydrates and fat are
present with protein, the former supply energy and allow
the protein to perform its more important function of build-
ing the body. For this reason, carbohydrates and fat are
372 THE PLANNING AND SERVING OF MEALS
termed proteiyi-sparing food. There should always be
enough carbohydrates and fat to furnish energy to the body,
so that the protein can be used exclusively for body build-
ing. In the growing period of youth or after a wasting
disease, it might seem that u flesh " could be " put on " by
increasing the quantity of body-building food. But such is
not the case. The most effective work in building the body
can be accomplished by using a normal amount of protein and
a generous supply of ash, carbohydrates, and fat. With
such a combination, the protein can be used exclusively for
body-building.
For practical purposes, the following general statement
concerning the carbohydrates and fat requirement is believed
to be adequate : If the total Calories and the number of Calories
yielded by protein meet the requirement of a dietary standard
and the food composing the diet is varied in composition, the
carbohydrates and fat will exist in satisfactory proportion.
Daily Ash Requirement. — Since ash is not a combustible
foodstuff, it cannot be included in the foodstuffs whose
energy requirement can be measured. Although ash exists
in small quantity in food, the use of certain ash con-
stituents is considered as necessary as the use of protein.
A diet may meet the total energy, the protein, the carbohy-
drate, and the fat requirements, yet may be lacking in certain
essential mineral materials. It is especially necessary to
include food containing phosphorus, iron, and calcium in
one's diet. Fruits, green vegetables, whole grains, milk,
and eggs are common foods which should be used generally.
(See lists of foods containing ash, pp. 322 and 323.)
QUESTIONS
Compute (from the table on p. 368) the energy requirement of at
least two members of your family. Compute your own energy re-
quirement from this table. Compare it with the table on p. 369.
Compute the nutritive ratio of the energy requirements calculated
above.
CHAPTER IX
Measurement op the Fuel Value op Food applied
to Daily Food Requirement
Page 149
Presented as published in 1915. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Too much or too little protein is often harmful and produces serious results. Beside other harmful effects, too much protein may cause intestinal disturbances, an excess of acid in the body, and an overtaxing of the excretory organs. On the other hand, the use of too little protein may produce imperfect nourishment. Concerning the quantity of protein used in diet, there has been much difference of opinion. Atwater, an American authority, thought that there should be a generous supply, i.e. a surplus of protein, to supply the demands of body building. Chittenden, another American authority, believes in just enough protein to meet the demands of the body. However, the use of sufficient protein food to produce from ten to fifteen per cent of the total Calories has been found both practical and satisfactory.
Nutritive Ratio. — The ratio of the fuel value of protein or nitrogenous food to the fuel value of fat and carbohydrates or non-nitrogenous food is termed nutritive ratio. In formulating diets, it is helpful to have the nutritive ratio given with the total energy requirement. Expressing ratio in the form of a fraction and using 1 as the numerator, the above protein requirement may be expressed as : 1 to 5.7 = nutritive
ratio, i.e. for every Calorie produced by protein nine to five and seven tenths Calories should be produced by fat and carbohydrates.
Daily Carbohydrate and Fat Requirement. — Although protein may furnish the body with energy, its more important function is to build the body. If carbohydrates and fat are present with protein, the former supply energy and allow the protein to perform its more important function of building the body. For this reason, carbohydrates and fat are
termed protein-sparing food. There should always be enough carbohydrates and fat to furnish energy to the body, so that the protein can be used exclusively for body building. In the growing period of youth or after a wasting disease, it might seem that u flesh " could be " put on " by increasing the quantity of body-building food. But such is not the case. The most effective work in building the body can be accomplished by using a normal amount of protein and a generous supply of ash, carbohydrates, and fat. With such a combination, the protein can be used exclusively for body-building.
For practical purposes, the following general statement concerning the carbohydrates and fat requirement is believed to be adequate : If the total Calories and the number of Calories yielded by protein meet the requirement of a dietary standard and the food composing the diet is varied in composition, the carbohydrates and fat will exist in satisfactory proportion.
Daily Ash Requirement. — Since ash is not a combustible foodstuff, it cannot be included in the foodstuffs whose energy requirement can be measured. Although ash exists in small quantity in food, the use of certain ash constituents is considered as necessary as the use of protein. A diet may meet the total energy, the protein, the carbohydrate, and the fat requirements, yet may be lacking in certain essential mineral materials. It is especially necessary to include food containing phosphorus, iron, and calcium in one's diet. Fruits, green vegetables, whole grains, milk, and eggs are common foods which should be used generally. (See lists of foods containing ash, pp. 322 and 323.)
Compute (from the table on p. 368) the energy requirement of at least two members of your family. Compute your own energy requirement from this table. Compare it with the table on p. 369.
Compute the nutritive ratio of the energy requirements calculated above.
CHAPTER IX
Measurement op the Fuel Value op Food applied
to Daily Food Requirement