Maintaining Health

Maintaining Health

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Maintaining Health, by R. L. Alsaker
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Title: Maintaining Health
Author: R. L. Alsaker
Release Date: July, 2005 [EBook #8521] [This file was first posted on
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MAINTAINING HEALTH ***

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MAINTAINING HEALTH
(FORMERLY HEALTH AND EFFICIENCY)
By R. L. ALSAKER, M. D.
AUTHOR OF "EATING FOR HEALTH AND EFFICIENCY"

_"When you arise in the morning, think what a precious privilege it is
to live, to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."_ --MARCUS
AURELIUS.
"Nature Cures" --HIPPOCRATES

TO ISAAC T. COOK
WHOSE CRITICISMS, ASSISTANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT
HAVE LIGHTENED THE LABOR AND ADDED TO THE
PLEASURE OF PRODUCING THIS VOLUME.

CHAPTER CONTENTS
I PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS Humanity, Health and Healers
II MENTAL ATTITUDE Correct and Incorrect--Results
III FOOD General Consideration
IV OVEREATING
V DAILY FOOD INTAKE
VI WHAT TO EAT
VII WHEN TO EAT
VIII HOW TO EAT
IX CLASSIFICATION OF FOODS
X FLESH FOODS Composition--Utility--Preparation--Combinations
XI NUTS Composition--Utility--Preparation--Combinations
XII LEGUMES Composition--Utility--Preparation--Combinations
XIII SUCCULENT VEGETABLES
Composition--Utility--Preparation--Combinations--Salads
XIV CEREAL FOODS
Composition--Utility--Preparation--Combinations
XV TUBERS Composition--Utility--Preparation--Combinations
XVI FRUITS
Composition--Utility--Preparation--Combinations--Salads
XVII OILS AND FATS

XVIII MILK AND OTHER DAIRY PRODUCTS
Composition--Utility--Preparation--Combinations
XIX MENUS Food Combination in General
XX DRINK Water--Tea--Coffee--Alcohol--Enslaving Drugs
XXI CARE OF THE SKIN Baths--Friction--Clothing
XXII EXERCISE
XXIII BREATHING AND VENTILATION
XXIV SLEEP
XXV FASTING Our Most Important Remedy--Symptoms--When and
How to Fast--Cases
XXVI ATTITUDE OF PARENT TOWARD CHILD
XXVII CHILDREN Prenatal Care--Infancy--Childhood--Mental
Training
XXVIII DURATION OF LIFE Advanced Years--Living to Old Age in
Health and Comfort
XXIX EVOLVING INTO HEALTH How it is Often Done--A Case
XXX RETROSPECT A Summing-up of the Subject

CHAPTER I.
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS.
Writings on hygiene and health have been accessible for centuries, but
never before have books and magazines on these subjects been as
numerous as they are today. Most of the information is so general,

vague and indefinite that only a few have the time and patience to read
the thousands of pages necessary to learn what to do to keep well. The
truth is to be found in the archives of medicine, in writings covering a
period of over thirty centuries, but it is rather difficult to find the grains
of truth.
Health is the most valuable of all possessions, for with health one can
attain anything else within reason. A few of the great people of the
world have been sickly, but it takes men and women sound in body and
mind to do the important work. Healthy men and women are a nation's
most valuable asset.
It is natural to be healthy, but we have wandered so far astray that
disease is the rule and good health the exception. Of course, most
people are well enough to attend to their work, but nearly all are
suffering from some ill, mental or physical, acute or chronic, which
deprives them of a part of their power. The average individual is of less
value to himself, to his family and to society than he could be. His bad
habits, of which he is often not aware, have brought weakness and
disease upon him. These conditions prevent him from doing his best
mentally and physically.
This abnormal condition has a bad effect upon his descendants, who
may not be born with any special defects, but they have less resistance
at birth than is their due, and consequently fall prey to disease very
easily. This state of impaired resistance has been passed on from
generation to generation, and we of today are passing it on as a heritage
to our children.
About 280,000 babies under the age of one year die annually in the
United States. The average lifetime is only a little more than forty years.
It should be at least one hundred years. This is a very conservative
statement, for many live