E. Each of these suggestions should be followed regularly and consistently. A disregard of any of these may prevent recovery. 4. The diet is important in the most common forms of constipation. A. Principles involved: (1) Foods containing an indigestible residue (fiber) give bulk to the feces and stimulate the action of the intestinal muscles. (2) Foods containing organic acids and salts have the last- named effect. (3) Some foods have a laxative effect and some foods have a constipating effect upon certain people. In studying the rela- tion of diet to constipation, such effects should be noted and the foods included in or omitted from the diet, according to their action in the specific case. (4) Cerain fats are laxative in their effects when taken in adequate quantities. B. Foods to avoid : (1) Foods that are concentrated or have little residue, such as milk, cheese, rice, or sago, should not be eaten in large USE AND PREPARATION OF FOOD. 233 quantities, but should be eaten with a mixed diet containing foods in (C) below. (2) Foods, such as meat, nuts, or legumes, that are likely to be decomposed by bacteria in the intestine, with the formation of poisonous products, should not be eaten at night or not at all in large amount until the constipated condition is under control. C. Foods to eat : (1) Fruit juices or fruits, sour milk, buttermilk, fermented milk, kumiss. (2) Coarse cereals and breads containing bran, coarse oatmeal, rye, buckwheat, dried legumes in moderation, figs, currants, and gingerbread. (3) Leaf and root vegetables, cellulose (fiber) vegetables, greens, cabbage, brussels sprouts, salad vegetables, carrots, tur- nips, squash, pumpkin, rutabaga, onions. (4) Bran or agar, ground up and eaten with cream or mixed with cereal ; bran is efficient partly because of its roughness and bulk and partly because of salts it contains ; agar chiefly because it absorbs water and so gives great bulk. D. Effect of the adoption of these suggestions on the whole dietary : (1) Most of the foods to be avoided are high in food value, and most of those advised are low in food value. The resulting dietary wdll therefore cause loss of weight unless care is taken. Either an actual increase can be made in the amount of these foods eaten or a small amount of concentrated food, such as butter, oil, or cream sauce, may be added to the regular amount of food to increase the calories. Example. — If an ordinar}^ generous serving of cabbage is substituted for an ordinary generous portion of rice, the actual energy the body can obtain may be reduced to one-half or even one-fourth. The cabbage may be served with butter or cream sauce or more eaten. METHOD OF DEVELOPIXG LABORATORY WORK. The class should plan a day's food for a person suffering from ordi- nary constipation. The teacher should estimate fuel value and criti- cise the plans on this score and on that of supph^ing the necessary food constituents. The class should plan or prepare several days' rations, giving enough food for an average adult and suitable for correcting an obstinate case of constipation of the common type. 234 USE AND PEEPARATIOI^ OF FOOD. Lesson G. Feeding in Overweight eor Weight Decrease. AIM. To show how the diet should be regulated when a reduction of body weight is desired. POINTS TO BE brought OUT. 1. Eate of reduction :

AI-modernized reading of the original text

E. Each of these suggestions should be followed regularly and consistently. A disregard of any of these may prevent recovery. 4. The diet is important in the most common forms of constipation. A. Principles involved: (1) Foods containing an indigestible residue (fiber) give bulk to the feces and stimulate the action of the intestinal muscles. (2) Foods containing organic acids and salts have the lastnamed effect. (3) Some foods have a laxative effect and some foods have a constipating effect upon certain people. In studying the relation of diet to constipation, such effects should be noted and the foods included in or omitted from the diet, according to their action in the specific case. (4) Certain fats are laxative in their effects when taken in adequate quantities. B. Foods to avoid : (1) Foods that are concentrated or have little residue, such as milk, cheese, rice, or sago, should not be eaten in large quantities, but should be eaten with a mixed diet containing foods in (C) below. (2) Foods, such as meat, nuts, or legumes, that are likely to be decomposed by bacteria in the intestine, with the formation of poisonous products, should not be eaten at night or not at all in large amount until the constipated condition is under control. C. Foods to eat : (1) Fruit juices or fruits, sour milk, buttermilk, fermented milk, kumiss. (2) Coarse cereals and breads containing bran, coarse oatmeal, rye, buckwheat, dried legumes in moderation, figs, currants, and gingerbread. (3) Leaf and root vegetables, cellulose (fiber) vegetables, greens, cabbage, brussels sprouts, salad vegetables, carrots, turnips, squash, pumpkin, rutabaga, onions. (4) Bran or agar, ground up and eaten with cream or mixed with cereal ; bran is efficient partly because of its roughness and bulk and partly because of salts it contains ; agar chiefly because it absorbs water and so gives great bulk. D. Effect of the adoption of these suggestions on the whole dietary : (1) Most of the foods to be avoided are high in food value, and most of those advised are low in food value. The resulting dietary will therefore cause loss of weight unless care is taken. Either an actual increase can be made in the amount of these foods eaten or a small amount of concentrated food, such as butter, oil, or cream sauce, may be added to the regular amount of food to increase the calories. Example. — If an ordinary generous serving of cabbage is substituted for an ordinary generous portion of rice, the actual energy the body can obtain may be reduced to one-half or even one-fourth. The cabbage may be served with butter or cream sauce or more eaten. The class should plan a day's food for a person suffering from ordinary constipation. The teacher should estimate fuel value and criticise the plans on this score and on that of supplying the necessary food constituents. The class should plan or prepare several days' rations, giving enough food for an average adult and suitable for correcting an obstinate case of constipation of the common type. Lesson G. Feeding in Overweight for Weight Decrease. AIM. To show how the diet should be regulated when a reduction of body weight is desired. POINTS TO BE brought OUT. 1. Eate of reduction :

Use and preparation of food