j62 THE VITAL PROCESSES 



digesting without delay. Since these are the main substances acted on 

 in the stomach, the time required for their digestion is shortened by 

 eating them first. 



2. Sugar, being of the nature of predigested starch, quickly gets into 

 the blood and satisfies the relish for food. The result of taking sugar 

 first may be to cause one to eat less than he needs and to diminish the 

 activity of the glands. 



3. Fat or grease, if taken first, tends to form a coating over the 

 walls of the stomach and around the material to be digested. This 

 prevents the juices from getting to and mixing with the foods upon 

 which they are to act. 



4. Starch following the proteids, for the most part, does not so 

 quickly come in contact with the gastric juice. This enables the 

 ptyalin of the saliva to continue its action for a longer time than if 

 the starch were eaten first. 



Liquids during the Meal. Liquids as ordinarily taken 

 during the meal are objectionable. They tend to diminish 

 the secretion of the saliva and to cause rapid eating. 

 Instead of eating slowly and swallowing the food only so 

 fast as the glands can supply the necessary saliva, the 

 liquid is used to wash the food down. Water or other 

 drinks should be taken after the completion of the meal 

 or when the mouth is completely free from food. Even 

 then it should be taken in small sips. While the taking of 

 a small amount of water in this way does no harm, a large 

 volume has the effect of weakening the gastric juice. 

 Most of the water needed by the body should be taken 

 between meals. 



The State of Mind has much to do with the proper diges- 

 tion of the food. Worry, anger, fear, and other disturbed 

 mental states are known to check the secretion of fluids 

 and to interfere with the digestive processes. While the 

 cultivation of cheerfulness is important for its general 

 hygienic effects, it is of especial value in relation to diges- 

 tion. Intense emotions, either during or following the 



