FoodNet

Food and freedom

1918

Page 24

Presented as published in 1918. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
During the normal processes of life and living, however, these elements are continually spent, or lost, or used in some way, and must be replaced as they are needed, or the health of the body suffers and its activities and life will cease. It is the mission of food to supply these elements as they may be required, and in such form as the body can use to advantage; the nutritive value of a food is measured by its ability to fulfil this mission. To simplify the more or less complex relationship existing between the body and its food, food scien- tists compare the living body to a working engine or machine, although the human engine is far more perfect, ingenious, self-contained, and self- sustaining than any mechanical engine.^ In order to live: I. The body must continue to work, and a normal body temperature must be main- tained. The work of the body is of two kinds: That which goes on continuously and in- voluntarily inside the body, such as the action of the heart, lungs, and organs of digestion; that which the body does 1 Credit References listed on page 73. 54 FOOD AND FREEDOM voluntarily, any form of muscular ef- fort or exercise, such as walking, wash- ing, playing — in other words, *' doing things." Body heat or temperature is largely a result, or a left-over product, of the work done by the body. 2. The body structure must be kept sound and in repair. 3. The body functions must be properly regulated. Food must serve these three great needs; the body requires, therefore: 1 . Food for fuel, or as a source of energy or power to keep the body working, and of the required normal temperature — just as any engine or motor, whether steam or gasolene or electric, requires fuel of some kind to make it operate. 2. Food for body growth and repair — just as any engine requires basic material for its construction and repair. 3. Food for body regulation — just as any en- gine requires lubrication, special adjust- ment, and control. In order to keep the body working properly and in good condition it is important that the food should be right in kind and quantity, just as any other type of engine requires its particular fuel in the right quantity, as well as proper materials for construction, repair, and regulation. IMPORTANT FOOD FACTS 55 Technically, in the food consumed, the body must find: 1. Elements which it can utilize as a source of energy. 2. Elements which it can utilize as building material. 3. Elements which it can utilize for regulat- ing purposes. Kinds of Food: But these elements can only be used by the body "in the form of certain definite compounds," ^ compounds similar to those materials which enter into the construction of the body itself. These compounds are known as Proteins. Fats. Carbohydrates. Ash Constituents (or mineral matter). Water. In addition to these essential principles, the body also requires Minute but significant amounts of accessory factors, of which as yet little is known except that they are definitely needed by the bod}' to sustain life, maintain health, and promote growth. There are, apparently, different kinds or types of these so-called *' accessory factors," "vitamines," and "growth determinants^" each 1 Rose, Laboratory Manual of Faads, p. x. 56 FOOD AND FREEDOM serving some different and specific purpose in body growth and regulation.^