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Selected Messages Book 2
and in the morning they awake unrefreshed. There is a sense of languor
and loss of appetite. A lack of energy is felt through the entire system.
In a short time the digestive organs are worn out, for they have had no
time to rest. These become miserable dyspeptics, and wonder what has
made them so. The cause has brought the sure result. If this practice
be indulged in a great length of time, the health will become seriously
impaired. The blood becomes impure, the complexion sallow, and
eruptions will frequently appear. You will often hear complaints from
such, of frequent pains and soreness in the region of the stomach,
and while performing labor, the stomach becomes so tired that they
are obliged to desist from work, and rest. They seem to be at loss
to account for this state of things; for, setting this aside, they are
apparently healthy.
Those who are changing from three meals a day, to two, will at first
be troubled more or less with faintness, especially about the time they
have been in the habit of eating their third meal. But if they persevere
for a short time, this faintness will disappear.
The stomach, when we lie down to rest, should have its work all
done, that it may enjoy rest, as well as other portions of the body.
The work of digestion should not be carried on through any period
of the sleeping hours. After the stomach, which has been overtaxed,
has performed its task, it becomes exhausted, which causes faintness.
Here many are deceived, and think that it is the want of food which
produces such feelings, and without giving the stomach time to rest,
they take more food, which for the time removes the faintness. And
the more the appetite is indulged, the more will be its clamors for
gratification. This faintness is generally the result of meat-eating,
and eating frequently, and too much. The stomach becomes weary by
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being kept constantly at work, disposing of food not the most healthful.
Having no time for rest, the digestive organs become enfeebled, hence
the sense of “goneness,” and desire for frequent eating. The remedy
such require, is to eat less frequently and less liberally, and be satisfied
with plain, simple food, eating twice, or, at most, three times a day.
The stomach must have its regular periods for labor and rest, hence
eating irregularly and between meals, is a most pernicious violation of
the laws of health. With regular habits, and proper food, the stomach
will gradually recover.