Whether awake or
asleep, some parts of the body are always in motion and wearing out
continuously. The wear and waste need to be repaired by material found in the
food we eat. Various parts of the body need some nutritious substances and
energy to make their functions effective. Our bodies are always warm regardless
of hot or cold weather. The heat that keeps the body warm is also derived from
foodstuff. Therefore, our food-intake serves two main purposes by supplying the
body with heat and energy, and material for the repair and growth of the body.
“Food is for eating, and good food is to be enjoyed…” DELIA SMITH.
There
should be at least a five hours interval between meals. This gives time for the
stomach to clear itself of the previous meal before other food is taken. Some
people would be benefited by taking only two meals a day; if three meals are
eaten, the evening meal should be lightest. The third or evening meal should
consist of simple articles of food, such as fruits. In this connection, it is
also important to consider the time spent in eating a meal. The rush and press
of daily work or business prevent average individual from spending sufficient
time to get the best results from the food eaten. If thirty minutes could be
taken for a meal, better results would be seen in the utilization of food with
less digestive trouble.
According
to the scientists, laboratory and practical experiences have shown that when a
person eats food while under stress or strain of work and worry, the digestive
process is hindered; hence, it is unwisely healthy to carry business and other
troubles to the dinner table. To read and study while eating is not the best
for the digestive system. Favorable conditions for eating are cheerfulness, and
freedom from worry. The manner in which food is served has an effect upon the
way the body handles the material. In other words, when the food is put up in a
neat and appetizing form, it appeals to the appetite more keenly; and when thus
stimulated, the digestive system is at its best.
In
summary, it is imperative to have fixed times for eating, whether twice or
trice per day. The evening meal should be light and not eating later than 7
p.m., as a general rule. At night, the digestive organs are tired and need rest,
just as the other parts of the body also need rest. A large amount of dyspepsia
(pain in the stomach or indigestion) and disorders of the digestive organs are
due to the common tradition of eating late at night and then going to bed
immediately after eating. Hence, health is wealth. Without health, life is
derived not only of its usefulness, but also of its joys and pleasures. If the
body is not in good health, one cannot go about at will; he cannot do what he
would enjoy doing; he cannot eat the food he would enjoy eating.
