Diet And Corpulence
Sources:
Papers On Health
A tendency to obesity should always be carefully
checked by attention to diet and exercise (see Exercise). The
fattening foods are those which contain either fat or carbonaceous
substances. Carbonaceous substances are found in bread, sugar,
arrowroot, puddings in general, pastry, potatoes. The fats, such as
butter, cream, and animal fat, should be much restricted in their use.
As we have above indicated, however, it is
not wise, as many corpulent
people do in their efforts to get rid of this superabundance of fat, to
make up for their restriction by an increase in the quantity of meat
consumed. Cheese, peas, beans, buttermilk, and oatmeal might with
advantage be drawn upon instead. At the same time, if the circulation
is good it is well with such proteid diet to increase the amount of
water drunk during the day, as this helps to eliminate the waste which
would otherwise overtax the kidneys. Green vegetables and fruits should
form a large part of the diet.
It must be remembered that it is dangerous to strike out at once all
fattening foods from the diet; many have injured their health
permanently by such injudicious haste, and brought on floating kidneys,
etc. Remember, also, that exercise is a much safer reducer of fat than
a very great reduction in diet, unless there has been a decided
tendency to continually overeat. All alcoholic beverages must be
strictly forbidden.