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INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY PUBLICATION NO. 13 



both 98 may have appreciable amounts of carotene, 

 neither is used as a food in Taj in. 



Of the vitamin B complex, thiamine presumably 

 is provided by tortillas and beans, supplemented 

 by chili seed, sesame, and, to a lesser extent, per- 

 haps by the pigeon pea and Leucaena." Riboflavin 

 deficiency apparently is general in Mexico (Ander- 

 son et al., p. 1130), and there is no indication that 

 the Totonac are better supplied than are other 

 local peoples. "Tortillas, though not high in ribo- 

 flavin, furnish the major proportion of this vita- 

 min . . . because of the large quantities consumed. 

 Beans rank next in importance" (Anderson et al., 

 p. 1130). Among the Totonac, dry chili should 

 be a useful source. 1 



Furthermore, it would appear that the Totonac 

 are not overly well supplied with niacin. Un- 

 doubtedly maize, beans, and dry chili are impor- 

 tant sources, supplemented by sesame and squash 

 seed. 2 If the pigeon pea grown in Taj in shares 

 the virtues of related forms from other parts 

 (Cravioto and Miranda, No. 211; Munsell et al., 

 table 2), it also might be useful. 



Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) presumably comes 

 from the local wild chili and tomato, 3 as well as 

 from fresh corn (Cravioto et al., table 1). The 

 Totonac appear to have a very considerable supply 

 within reach, but relatively little exploited; and 

 the intake could be increased materially through 

 a larger consumption of citrus fruits, mango, 



m Crotalaria (No. 91) (Cravioto and Miranda, No. 47) ; sweet- 

 potato and manioc leaves (Munsell et al., table 2). 



The following appear to be highly variable : sweetpotato 

 (Cravioto and Miranda, Nos. 16-19; Munsell et al., table 2) ; 

 Leucaena (Nos. 38, 196a) (Cravioto and Miranda, Nos. 212-214 ; 

 Cravito et al., table 3) ; and Inga (Nos. 181, 195) (Cravioto 

 and Miranda, No. 216 ; Munsell et al., table 2). Without specific 

 tests of local products ; it is impossible to guess how Tajin speci- 

 mens will run. 



99 Tortillas, beans (Anderson et al., p. 1130) ; chili seed (Cra- 

 vioto et al., table 4) ; sesame (Cravioto et al., table 3) ; pigeon 

 pea (Cajanus, No. 95) (Cravioto and Miranda, No. 211 ; evidently 

 variable; cf. Munsell et al., table 2) ; Leucaena (Nos. 38, 196a) 

 (Cravioto et al., table 3 ; also variable, cf. Cravioto and Miranda, 

 Nos. 212-214). 



'Dry chili (Cravioto et al., table 4). One sample of avocado 

 shows a low content (Cravioto et al., table 2), while another is 

 extraordinarily high (Cravioto and Miranda, No. 4). Again, 

 without assays of foods from the specific area in question, 

 generalization is impossible. 



2 Maize, beans (Anderson et al., p. 1130 ; Cravioto et al., table 

 3) ; dry chili (Cravioto et al., table 4) ; sesame, squash seed 

 (Cravioto et al., table 3). 



3 Tests of our wild, green chili (No. 214) indicated 54.2 mg. ; 

 semidry chili, 48.0 mg. per 100 gm. Since the latter sample 

 contained 61.6 percent water, it was by no means concentrated, 

 and local chili, thoroughly dry, presumably would test higher. 

 Our fresh, wild tomato (No. 24) yielded 54.7 mg. 



guava, and zapote negro. Vitamin D presents no 

 local problems, since exposure to solar radiation 

 presumably supplies a sufficient quantity. 



SUGGESTIONS 



The foregoing summary of Totonac diet is 

 offered somewhat hesitantly. Without specialized 

 training in nutrition, we feel far from competent 

 to discuss such problems; and the lack both of 

 assays of local foods and of concrete measures of 

 consumption makes judgment double difficult. It 

 has been necessary to assume arbitrarily that 

 plants grown in Tajin share, to a certain extent, 

 the qualities of related forms found elsewhere ; and 

 statements concerning the extent to which a given 

 food is used are largely impressionistic. 



It is clear that the Totonac are abundantly pro- 

 vided with carbohydrates, moderately so with oils 

 and fats. On the score of proteins, soybeans have 

 been distributed to half a dozen Tajin farmers, 

 for trial planting, and a larger scale exploitation 

 of the pigeon pea (Cajanus, No. 95) has been sug- 

 gested. However, the real need is for high quality 

 protein; the only suggestion we can make — 

 greater consumption of squash seed — manifestly 

 is inadequate. 



Of minerals, the calcium and phosphorus supply 

 evidently is abundant. Iron might be increased 

 through greater use of the pigeon pea, as well as of 

 Leucaena (Nos. 38, 196a) , which latter now is eaten 

 primarily by children. Greater exploitation of 

 Grotalaria (No. 91) would provide additional iron 

 and, at the same time, would increase the carotene 

 intake. Both the latter might be improved mate- 

 rially through the use of the sweetpotato leaf as 

 a green, provided the Totonac could be persuaded 

 to adopt such an innovation. 



Of the vitamin B complex, both thiamine and 

 niacin could be provided in larger quantities 

 through increased consumption of the pigeon pea ; 

 Leucaena also could contribute to larger thiamine 

 intake. Although Totonac diet almost certainly 

 is deficient in riboflavin, on this score, we are un- 

 able to offer any suggestion. However, for vita- 

 min C increase, a larger scale consumption of a 

 number of fruits (citrus fruits, mango, guava, 

 zapote negro) already at hand should be beneficial. 



In short, obvious suggestions, based on rather 

 insecure data, would include greater use of the 

 pigeon pea, Crotalaria, Leucaena, and assorted 



