Show WHAT to ito EAT EA and an WHY hy I 1 1 1 C houston goudiss describes some of the functions of vitamin bi reports recent discoveries of its relation to the gastrointestinal gastro intestinal tract I 1 by C HOUST HOUSTON GOUDISS no more dramatic chapter has ever been written P in the history of nutritional science than the discovery of the chemical structure of the vitamin now known as B and i artificial synthesis inasmuch inasmuch as a deficiency of this vitamin may have extremely far reaching effects upon human health and happiness it is important that every homemaker should learn something 2 of its functions its characteristics and its sources the anti substance vitamin B bi is known to prevent and to cure a nerve disease called beriberi the disease was known in ancient times in the orient it 0 occurred c in other countries during the nineteenth century and even in the twentieth century some of the british troops stationed in mesopotamia and the dar canelles da nelles during the world war came down with the disease even before this vitamin was identified a european investigator was seeking to determine why a small portion of milk added to a diet containing protein fats carbohydrates and minerals successfully nourished individuals who did not enjoy good health when the milk 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 the history of nutritional science when they discovered the chemical structure of vitamin B bi and learned how to cynt synthesize desize it A regulator of body processes in the course of their work with vitamin B bi nutritional scientists have discovered many other irn 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 laboratory experiments with animals revealed that when fed upon a diet lacking vitamin bi the animals lost their desire for food and refused to eat until the vitamin was restored to their diet there is also some evidence that vitamin B bi is necessary for the maintenance of normal muscular tone of the large intestine A i aids gastro intestinal tract helical he mical 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 secretory mechanism of the gastro in tes linal tract there is also evidence that the vitamin B bi requirement increases with the rate of growth and with increased energy expenditure for this reason active working men and women should be amply supplied with this vitamin and growing children should also have generous quantities further investigations are now in in progress and it is quite possible that many significant new facts will be unearthed in the near the meantime there is enough evidence to warrant the belief that the absence of vitamin Us bi results in cellular alteration in the nervous system intestine pancreas stomach salivary glands liver and other tissues the whole power of the body to resist infection appears to be decreased this is especially true in the gastrointestinal gastro intestinal tract probably owing to the action of the bacteria on its passage through the impaired alimentary tract some peculiarities of this vitamin vitamin BL bi is soluble in water for this reason a large percentage of it may be lost if the water in which a food is soaked or cooked is discarded other ways in which this precious vitamin is lost tire are through refining cereals too highly or when the natural acidity of a food is low lowered e red by the addition of an alkali preventing vitamin B deficiency it has been suggested that the health department of every village town and city should not be content with protecting the local community against infectious diseases but should be equally militant in endeavoring to safeguard its people against the dietary deficiency fici ency diseases which have been discovered through the recent advances in nutritional knowledge that is because many people who can easily afford the foods that furnish vitamin bi are consuming a diet deficient in this respect this unfortunate situation may arise because they believe that their customary diet is adequate or they conclude that appetite is a reliable guide to the meals that should be consumed sources of vitamin bi B investigation has established that foods yielding a good amount of vitamin B include bran milk eggs bananas orange juice carrots spinach and cabbage one of americas outstanding nutritional scientists has stated that foods can be made to provide the necessary daily requirement of vitamin B bi if half of the needed calories are taken in the form of fruits vegetables milk and eggs and if at least half of the breads and cereals consumed are taken in the whole grain form this suggests the advisability of adding some bran to muffins waffles and other quick breads when they are intended for the dietary of normal individuals the same procedure can likewise be followed in serving hot or cold cereals another distinguished authority holds that adequate amounts of vitamin B bi can be furnished at a 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 as when one is endeavoring to avoid gain ing weight vitamin B ax may be obtained from suitable quantities of bran and the germ of the foods that help promote regularity in addition to providing vitamin B bi 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 fibrous framework is a 9 great reat aid in promoting regular health habits some foods are richer than oth ers io in cellulose or bulk good sources of this substance being notably bran whole grain cereals most raw fruits dried fruits such as prunes figs and raisins raw vegetables such cooked vegetables 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 mal individuals the homemaker should see to it that they are included included regularly in her daily menus if that task is performed faithfully it should help to develop a healthier and more vigorous race questions answered mrs S T L yes you are correct all kinds of flesh food furnish protein and usually they also ca contain etain fat the amount of fat however however varies with the he cut and with the kind of animal from which it was obtained many flesh foods have more fat than full cream mrs T A if a year old 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 he needs a supplementary source of vitamin C 0 C houston goudiss 1938 39 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