CHAPTER XI 



BUILDING MATERIALS FOR JACK'S HOUSE BEVERAGES 



WE have found out how most foods commonly served 

 at the table may help keep our bodies in healthful 

 condition. What about the familiar acquaint ances, 

 coffee and tea? Of what use are they to our bodies? 

 No one claims that they furnish food materials, ex- 

 cept in the cream and sugar used in their seasoning. 

 Though tea is made from the leaves of one plant, and 

 coffee from the seeds of another, both contain a sub- 

 stance that acts as a stimulant. 



When properly prepared, they are possibly healthful 

 stimulants to many people, especially when sufficient 

 nutriment is supplied by other foods. Some have 

 stopped using tea or coffee, because they found it made 

 them sleepless, or injured their digestion. Others are 

 strong in the belief that the use of one or both is very 

 beneficial to them. The greatest difficulty, no doubt, 

 is that many use them to excess, and, forgetting that 

 they are only stimulants, get into the habit of depend- 

 ing on the cup of coffee or tea and some food not rich 

 in nutrition to furnish strength for hours of work. 

 Like other food questions, this is something each 

 adult should settle for himself, being governed not by 



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