Seite 293 - Counsels for the Church (1991)

Food We Eat 289
stomach till the next meal. In this interval the stomach will perform
its work, and will then be in a condition to receive more food.392
Regularity in eating should be carefully observed. Nothing should
be eaten between meals, no confectionery, nuts, fruits, or food of any [224]
kind. Irregularities in eating destroy the healthful tone of the digestive
organs, to the detriment of health and cheerfulness. And when the
children come to the table, they do not relish wholesome food; their
appetites crave that which is hurtful for them.393
When we lie down to rest, the stomach should have its work all
done, that it, as well as the other organs of the body, may enjoy rest.
For persons of sedentary habits, late suppers are particularly harmful.
In many cases the faintness that leads to a desire for food is felt
because the digestive organs have been too severely taxed during the
day. After disposing of one meal, the digestive organs need rest. At
least five or six hours should intervene between the meals, and most
persons who give the plan a trial will find that two meals a day are
better than three.394
The practice of eating but two meals a day is generally found a
benefit to health; yet under some circumstances persons may require a
third meal. This should, however, if taken at all, be very light, and of
food most easily digested.395
When students combine physical and mental taxation the objection
to the third meal is to a great extent removed. Let the students have the
third meal, prepared without vegetables, but with simple, wholesome
food, such as fruit and bread.396
Food should not be eaten very hot or very cold. If food is cold, the
vital force of the stomach is drawn upon in order to warm it before
digestion can take place. Cold drinks are injurious for the same reason;
while the free use of hot drinks is debilitating. In fact, the more liquid
there is taken with the meals, the more difficult it is for the food to
digest; for the liquid must be absorbed before digestion can begin. Do
not eat largely of salt, avoid the use of pickles and spiced foods, eat
an abundance of fruit, and the irritation that calls for so much drink
392Counsels on Diet and Foods, 179
393The Ministry of Healing, 384
394The Ministry of Healing, 304
395The Ministry of Healing, 321
396Counsels on Diet and Foods, 178