50 ADVANCED PHYSIOLOGY 



difficult to define what is meant by overeating. In general, 

 if one eats till he feels surfeited, or if he adds a dessert 

 after he has satisfied his appetite, he is overeating and will 

 probably suffer for it. A dessert is frequently a misfortune, 

 since it is added to a meal to please the sense of taste 

 rather than to satisfy the appetite. A growing boy or girl 

 needs more food than an adult, and overeating, though a 

 common fault with grown people, is not likely to occur with 

 children. 



Frequency of meals. Most Americans are in the habit of 

 taking three meals a day and regard this as necessary to health. 

 In reality frequency of eating is simply a matter of habit. 

 Some nations are in the habit of taking four or even five meals 

 in a day, others eat only two, while savage tribes eat very 

 irregularly, often only once in two or three days, without 

 suffering in health. No rule can be given as to the proper 

 time that should elapse between meals. It is unwise, however, 

 to eat too frequently. Breakfast, if eaten immediately after 

 the long sleep, should ordinarily be the lightest meal of the 

 day, since the digestive organs are not ready to begin work as 

 quickly as the brain. The hearty meal should be preferably 

 at the close of the day's work, and should be followed by rest for 

 an hour or more. Mental work immediately after eating seems 

 to interfere with digestion less than does muscular exercise. 

 A little food before going to bed may not be injurious, and is 

 frequently advantageous in enabling one to sleep more easily. 

 A hearty meal before retiring is, however, not advisable. 

 Among other bad effects it is likely to produce unpleasant 

 dreams. 



The Appetite as a Guide in Eating. The only guide which 

 nature has given us as to the amount and kind of food 

 should eat and the liquid we should drink is the appeti 

 Lack of food produces hunger which is felt in the stomac 

 and lack of water produces thirst which is felt in 

 throat. 



