| Show In Instinct Is s Faulty Guide to Choice of Diet Doctors Say Selection of Best Foods Is Matter Iatter of Ex Experience MANY ANY a person resentful of modern dietary directions of being told to eat foods he docs does not like or to forego favorite items of diet because of their effect on his health has rev revived ed the old i idea ea that instinct or appetite is a good dietary guide The reason why one cannot rely on instinct in choosing foods is told by Dr Leslie J. J Harris of the Nutritional Nutritional Nutritional Nu Nu- Nu- Nu laboratory University of Cambridge and the Medical Research Research Research Re Re- search council in his book boole Vitamins Vitamins Vitamins Vita mins in Theory and Practice Pra As Dr Harris explains it the reason chiefly is a matter of time I You demand a hot drink when you are cold because of a subconscious subconscious sub sub- conscious recollection of having sUb sUb-I felt warmer after you had had one last time he points out Pains After Dumplings Similarly with wim the elementary feelings of hunger itself The sensation sensation sen sen- of well-being well following a hearty dinner will encourage you to repeat the treatment another time And again if f you have pains after eating dumplings you will soon learn to forego them granted ordinary intelligence But now compare this with the effects of foods which are less immediate immediate immediate im im- mediate and dramatic in action If you are getting rickety from insufficient insufficient insufficient in in- sufficient vitamin D or shall we say anemic from insufficient iron it is hard to see that instinct will I teach you which foods would cure you you for for the simple reason that they do not produce their good effect effect ef ef- feet quickly enough for you to notice notice notice no no- tice it But you would none the less suffer permanent damage from their lack and many thousands thousands thousands thou thou- sands do How Animals Choose Dr Harris and associates actually actual actual- ly tested the theory that animals can instinctively pick the correct foods After several years of research research research re re- search they found that animals were able to choose the right food if it made them feel better immediately immediately immediately imme imme- after eating it If it had a particular taste or smell or color by which they could recognize it they learned to take such foods quite easily Thus the matter of choosing foods that are good for you whether er you are a human animal or a dog is a matter of experience |
