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IV 



Nutrition 



THE kinds and amounts of foods that we consume determine to a 

 large extent our individual health and our fitness as a nation. This is 

 brought out forcefully, of course, when a person exhibits signs of some 

 specific deficiency in his diet or when a nation suffers from famine. 



There is probably no subject of biological interest which is con- 

 taminated with more misinformation than that of foods. Many people 

 seem to be obsessed with the idea that the normal diet contains an in- 

 adequate amount of vitamins and that they must perforce supplement 

 their diet with regular and expensive dosages of vitamins. It cannot be too 

 strongly urged that these products be taken only when the family physi- 

 cian recommends them for some specific condition. Another peculiarity 

 of our food problem is that processors remove some of the minerals 

 and vitamins and then add them with a great deal of unnecessary fanfare. 



Probably the largest percentage of misleading publicity revolves around 

 the packaged "health foods" for constipation, for ulcers, and for diabetes. 

 Then we have the various soaps and lotions which will, apparently with- 

 out any aid, bring the bloom of health to "tired" skins and, in the majority 

 of cases, assure one of a "successful love life." 



At the present time proper nutrition is one of the world's most pressing 

 problems since hundreds of thousands of people are feeling the effects of 

 the serious dislocation of the food raising and distribution activities of 

 their countries. A nation is never contented on an empty stomach. 



FOOD AND FITNESS * 



A. J. CARLSON 



Our country produces probably the greatest variety and quantity of 

 good foods. Are we making the most of this resource for optimum health? 

 For the last ten years we have been told that one third of the American 

 people are ill fed, that these forty -million American citizens suffer from 

 malnutrition. Is this true? And if it is true, what are the reasons for it, and 

 what can we do about it? In fact, very recently we were told much more. 



* Reprinted by permission of the Scientific Monthly, American Association for the 

 Advancement of Science. Copyright 1942. 



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