The mineral salts are:
- calcium
- magnesium
- potassium
- sodium
- phosphate
- sulphate
- carbonate
- chloride
- iron
- iodine
Manufactured foods are partially robbed of these essential minerals. This is clearly seen when white flour is compared with the whole wheat, and polished rice with the brown rice:
Per Cent of Ash
White Flour .50
Entire Wheat 1.75
Polished Rice .40
Unpolished Rice 1.00
The following foods are valuable sources of calcium, phosphate, and iron:
Almonds milk, whole Barley
beans, dried bread, entire wheat
cauliflower
dates
egg, yolk
figs, dried lentils,
dried oatmeal, dry olives
peanuts
peas, dried raisins
turnip tops
walnuts
wheat
wheat bran
Calcium particularly found in:
almonds
beans, dried cauliflower
egg, yolk
figs, dried lentils,
dried milk,
whole oatmeal,
dry olives
peanuts
peas, dried prunes
turnip tops
walnuts
wheat bran
Phosphate particularly found in:
almonds
barley
dried beans
egg, yolk
peas, dried walnuts
entire wheat
lentils, dried oatmeal
peanuts
raisins
wheat bran
Iron particularly found in:
beans, dried bran,
wheat
egg yolk
green vegetables
Other minerals have their chief food sources as follows:
Sodium Potassium
bread nuts
fruits table salts
Milk vegetables
Molasses
Magnesium
beans
beets
cereals
pineapple
potatoes Sulphur
gluten
soy beans
(We may expect that in health and on an ordinary diet the sulphur requirement will usually be covered when the protein supply is adequate.)
As a rule appreciable amounts of Iodine are contained in:
bananas
beets
green peas
lettuce
melons
radishes
tomatoes
turnips
Where iodine is lacking in the soil it is also lacking in the water. In such regions goiter is more prevalent than elsewhere.
OXYGEN AND ITS FUNCTION
A man can live for weeks without food, for days without water; but only a few minutes without oxygen. Oxygen makes possible the utilization of food. It is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas, slightly heavier than air.
In chemical combination with hemoglobin, oxygen is carried in the blood stream. Oxygen oxidizes the elements yielding heat and energy. Thus anemia lowers the energy. It is just as important to have an abundant supply of pure oxygen as it is to have an abundant supply of food elements.
Carbohydrates
The carbohydrate foods are non-nitrogenous foods. The carbohydrates contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Their energy is used by the body either in the form of work or heat. They include all vegetables and fruits containing either starch or sugar. Those which produce the most energy are:
cereals
honey
sugar
potatoes
All starchy foods require a great amount of cooking than other foods, because the starch is surrounded by a covering which cannot be digested when raw.
The principal starchy foods are:
artichokes
barley, natural brown
beans, dried bread
cereals
flours
lentils peas
potatoes
prunes
pumpkin
rice
spaghetti, whole wheat
Fats
Fats have the greatest food value of all foods, nearly two and one-half times as great as that of carbohydrates.
The principle fats are:
almond oil
avocados
coconut oil
cottonseed oil
sesame oil, cream
egg yolk
olive oil
peanut oil
soy bean oil
Proteins
The proteins are nitrogenous foods, and are derived chiefly from:
eggs
peas
grains
soy beans and other beans
milk
nuts
Though not so easily digested as the carbohydrates, these foods furnish energy and build up the body.
Vitamins
Though we do not as yet thoroughly understand the vitamins, yet it is generally considered that they are to maintain health, and to prevent scurvy, pellagra, beriberi, and other diseases.
Vitamin A is soluble in fats, and although exposure to oxygen weakens it, it is not affected by heat.
Deficiency of vitamin A causes retarded growth, increased susceptibility to infections, especially of the lungs, nose, and eyes, inability to see well at night, and makes the skin and hair dry and scaly.
The average daily requirement of vitamin A is about 7000 units. The following list indicates the best sources of vitamin A:
One ounce of Units
Spinach contains about 3000
carrots, raw ” ” 1000
cheese ” ” 1000
leafy lettuce ” ” 500
butter ” ” 600
squash ” ” 700
Other sources of vitamin A, are:
Apricots; artichokes; yellow asparagus; avocados; bananas; beans; beet greens; blackberries; broccoli; Brussels sprouts; cantaloupes; celery; unbleached corn; yellow corn meal; yellow dandelion; dates; escarole; green beans; kaIe; oranges; parsley; peaches; yellow peas; peas, dried; pineapple; prunes; sweet potatoes; tomatoes; tomatoes, yellow; turnip greens; water cress.
Vitamin B
Vitamin B complex is compounded of vitamin B1 or thiamin, vitamin B2 or riboflavin, and vitamin B6 or nicotinic acid. As to the daily requirement there is no definite knowledge. Lack of these vitamins causes pellagra, beriberi, loss of appetite, sore lips, intestinal indigestion with constipation and retarded growth.
Foods rich in vitamin B complex are:
Beans, red kidney; beans, soy; cabbage; carrots; cereals, whole grain; cheese; eggs; flour, whole wheat; kale; mustard greens; peanuts; peas, fresh green or dried; prunes; spinach; tomato juice; turnip greens; wheat germ; brewer’s yeast.
Vitamin B1 or thiamin, is the anti-neuritis vitamin. It is mainly found in whole grain cereal and nuts. Alkalis and heat weaken it, and hence it is best obtained from raw foods.
The average daily requirements of vitamin B1 for infants is about 50 units, and about 250 units for adults. Daily requirement for mothers during pregnancy is 600 units or more.
The best sources of this vitamin are:
One ounce of units
wheat germ contains about 200
prunes ” ” 20
peanuts ” ” 60
spinach ” ” 20
malted milk ” ” 50
canned corn ” ” 15
whole wheat bread ” ” 22
almonds ” ” 25
Other sources of Vitamin B1 are:
Apples; avocados; bananas; cauliflower; dates; grapefruit; beans, green; beans, lima; beans, navy; beets; brussels sprouts; cantaloupe; carrots; lettuce; onions; parsnips; pears; pineapple; plums; tangerines.
Vitamin C
It is the anti-scorbutic vitamin, and is also called Cevitamic Acid or Ascorbic Acid. It is found mainly in citrus fruits, and though it is soluble in water, It is weakened by oxygen or alkalies.
Deficiency of vitamin C causes scurvy, sore and bleeding gums, sore and swollen joints, and a tendency to hemorrhage. The average daily requirement is 300 units for infants and 1000 units for adults.
Its main sources are:
One ounce of units
orange juice contains about 250
lemon ” ” 250
grapefruit ” ” 250
raw cabbage ” ” 150
tomatoe juice ” ” 100
strawberry juice ” ” 100
cranberries ” ” 80
pineapple juice ” ” 40
Other sources of Vitamin C:
Apples; fresh asparagus; avocados; bananas; beans, green; beet greens; endive; greens; kale; lettuce; onions; peaches.
Vitamin D
It is the anti-rachitic vitamin, and its chief source is sunshine. Deficiency of this vitamin causes rickets, delayed dentition, bow-legs, abdominal protrusion, and weakness. The average dally requirements for infants is from 500 to 1000 units, and from 500 to 600 units for adults.
Besides in sunshine, this vitamin is found mainly in:
5 drops viosterol in oil contains about 800 units
1 ounce egg yolk contains about 50-100 units
1 ounce butter contains about 25 units. It is used in the prevention of rickets and other bone diseases, such as osteomalacia and non-union after a fracture, infantile convulsions, and arthritis.
Scientists and child specialists, as well as health experts the world over, insist that every baby and every growing child should be exposed o the direct sunshine every day if possible. But since children cannot always get enough sunshine in some parts of the United States during many months of the year, they may need viosterol or other vitamin “D” preparations from September to June, and on all other days when they are not given a sun-bath with most of their clothing removed.
Health records show that the number of baby sicknesses and baby deaths starts to climb at the beginning of winter season — due to colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, and influenza. This may be due to lack of sunshine or vitamin D.
Vitamin E
It is the anti-sterility vitamin. It is soluble in oil, and is not affected by heating or cooking. Deficiency of this vitamin causes habitual abortion and sterility.
An ordinary diet supplies all the vitamin E that is needed, but in case of habitual and repeated abortion, an additional supply of vitamin E may be necessary, though the average requirement is not known.
The best sources of vitamin E are:
Cottonseed oil; wheat germ oil; rice germ oil; whole grain cereals; leafy vegetables.
Other sources of Vitamin E:
Milk; vegetable oils; oats; egg yolk; corn; peas.
Vitamin K
The coagulation vitamin, forms prothrombin. The necessary average daily amount is not known.
It is found in: spinach and other leafy vegetables; alfalfa; tomatoes; cereals; cabbage; soy bean oil; cereals.
This vitamin prevents hemorrhage in newborn infants and in cases of jaundice and other diseases of the liver and intestines, though it has not been found helpful in hemophilia and menorrhagia.
Other vitamin-like substances which have been partially investigated and described include the following:
Vitamin K from blue grass juice, which seems to cause more rapid growth.
Vitamin P
Vitamin P. or citrin is helpful in purpura and some types of hemorrhage, and is obtained from lemon peel.