| Show t WHAT to EAT and WHY 1 C. C C Houston Goudiss Describes Some of the Functions of Vitamin B Reports Reports Recent Discoveries of Its Relation to trie he t e Intestinal Gastro Tract By C. C HOUSTON GOUDISS PERHAPS no more dramatic chapter has ever been written A in the history of nutritional science than the discovery of the chemical structure of the vitamin now known as Bj and its artificial synthesis Inasmuch as a deficiency of this vitamin may have extremely ex ex- extremely reaching far-reaching effects upon human health and happi happi- happiness ness it is important that every homemaker should learn something of its functions its characteristics and its sources Tho Anti Anti Substance Vitamin Bi B is known to prevent and to cure a nerve disease called callec beriberi The disease was known in Ancient An An- Ancient Ancient times in fn the Orient It oc oc- occurred occurred oc- oc occurred in other countries during the Nineteenth cen cen- tury And even in inthe inthe inthe the Twentieth cen cen- century century tury fury some of the thea a British troops sta sta- stationed stationed tinned in Mesopotamia Mesopotamia pia tamia and the Dar Dar- Dardanelles Dardanelles Dardanelles during the World war came down with the dis dis- 1 ease Even before this vitamin was identified a Euro Euro- European European investigator was seeking to determine why a small portion o of milk added to a diet containing protein fats carbohydrates and ant minerals successfully nourished individuals who did not enjoy goot good health when the milk mill was omitted Chemical Identification Many investigators sought for years to fathom the secret of this mysterious substance After long research by many distinguished investigators two Americans reached a milestone in inthe inthe the history of nutritional science when they discovered the chemi chemi- chemical chemical chemical cal structure of vitamin Bt B anc and learned how to synthesize it A Regulator of Body Processes In the course of their work with vitamin B BI nutritional scientists have discovered many other im im- important important functions of this vitamin It has been determined that this substance is essential to growth and that it is also necessary to promote normal appetite Labora Labora- Laboratory Laboratory Laboratory tory experiments with animals re re- revealed revealed re- re revealed that when fed upon a diet die lacking vitamin B B. the animals lost their desire for or food and re re- refused refused refused fused to eat until the vitamin was restored to their diet There is also some evidence that vitamin Bt B is necessary for Cor forthe Corthe forthe the maintenance of normal muscular mus mus- muscular muscular cular tone of the large intestine Aids Intestinal Gastro Tract Chemical studies on 75 patients led one investigator to conclude that a continual slight shortage of vitamin B leads to definite changes in the motor and secre secre- secretory secretory tory mechanism of the in gastro-in- gastrointestinal gastrointestinal tract There is also evidence that the vitamin Bi B requirement increases with the rate of growth and with increased energy expenditure For this reason active working workingmen I men and women should be amply I supplied with this vitamin and I growing children should sho also have generous quantities Further investigations are now in progress and it is quite possible possible possible ble that many significant new facts will be unearthed in the near future In the meantime there Is enough evidence to warrant the belief that thit the absence of vitamin Bi B results in cellular alteration in inthe inthe inthe the nervous system intestine pancreas stomach salivary glands liver and aud other tissues The whole power of the body to resist infection appears to be de de- de- de creased This is especially true in the intestinal gastro-intestinal tract probably probably probably ably owing to the action of the bacteria on its passage through the impaired alimentary tract Some Peculiarities of This Vitamin Vitamin Bi B is soluble in water For this reason a large percent percent- percentage age of it may be lost if the water in which a food is soaked or cooked Is discarded Other Other- ways in which this precious vitamin is lost are through refining cereals too highly or when the natural acidity of a food is lowered by bythe bythe bythe the addition of an alkali Preventing Vitamin B Bt BI Deficiency It has been suggested that the health department of every village vil vil- village village lage town and city should not be content with protecting the local community against infectious dis dis- diseases diseases diseases eases but should be equally mil miI- militant milt in hi endeavoring to safeguard its people against the dietary de de- deficiency deficiency de- de deficiency diseases which have been discovered through the recent ad ad- advances advances advances vances in nutritional knowledge That is because many people who can easily afford the tho foods that fi r vitamin B 8 are arc con con- consuming consuming suming a diet deficient in hi this re re- re- re This unfortunate situation may nay arise because they believe i I k 0 i that their customary diet Is ade ade- quate Or they conclude that ap ap- appetite appetite ap- ap appetite petite is a reliable guide to the meals that should be consumed Sources of Vitamin Bj Bt Investigation has established that foods yielding a good amount of vitamin B B. B include bran milk eggs bananas orange juice car car- carrots carrots carrots rots spinach and cabbage One of Americas America's outstanding nutritional scientists has stated that foods can be made to provide the necessary daily requirement I of vitamin Bi if half hall of the needed calories are taken in the form of fruits vegetables milk and eggs and if at least half hall of the breads and cereals consumed are taken in tho the whole grain form Corm This suggests tho the advisability of add add- adding adding adding ing some bran to muffins waffles warnes and other quick breads when they are intended for Cor the dietary of normal individuals The same procedure can likewise be followed in serving hot or cold cereals Another distinguished authority 1 holds that adequate amounts of vitamin B Bt BI can be furnished at a alow alow alow low cost if the homemaker will utilize larger quantities of the whole grain cereals and legumes If the calories supplied by these foods are not desired desired desired-as as when one is endeavoring to t avoid gam gaming gain gain- gaining gaining ing weight weight vitamin vitamin Bi may be obtained from suitable quantities of bran and the germ of the grain Foods That Help Promote Regularity In addition to providing vitamin Bi B which helps to serve as a sort of intestinal tonic bran and many fruits and vegetables help to add cellulose or bulk to the diet Their I fibrous framework is a great aid aidin aidin aidin in promoting regular health hab hab- its Some foods are arc richer than oth oth- others others others ers in cellulose or bulk Good sources of this substance being notably bran whole grain cereals j most raw fruits dried fruits such as prunes figs and raisins raw vegetables such cooked cooked vegetables vegetables bles as onions and leafy greens and legumes that is dried beans and peas These foods therefore have a definite place in the diet of nor nor- normal normal normal mal individuals The homemaker should see to it that they are in in- included In- In Included included regularly in her daily menus If that task is performed faith faith- faithfully faithfully fully it should help to develop a I healthier and more vigorous race I Questions Answered I Mrs S. S T. T L. L Yes L.-Yes Yes you are cor cor- All kinds of flesh food fur fur- furnish furnish furnish nish protein and usually they also contain fat The amount of fat however varies with the cut and with the kind of animal from which it was obtained Many flesh foods have more fat than full fuU cream Mrs 1 T. T T A. A If A.-If If a year-old year infant receives a quart of milk daily he should obtain sufficient protein calcium phosphorus and vitamin A to meet his requirements He will likewise receive substantial amounts of vitamins B and G but buthe buthe buthe he needs a supplementary source f of vitamin C. C m C. C. C Houston 1938 1838 39 |
