Adult-life is the time of greatest responsible effort. Health is basal to energy. It is secured for the well-developed body by scientific regulation of diet and of habits of life and work.

Adult-diet is more affected by occupation than that at other periods. Lighter work needs both less food and lighter.

Habitual diet often seems to satisfy the needs of the body more fully than science would anticipate. The Japanese that are accustomed to a small protein intake seem to flourish upon it. Scientific experiment shows that in adult-life less protein than is commonly eaten is advisable. A very small amount (20 gms. or 1 - oz. daily) has been found adequate to sustain life and light work. Though great reduction of protein is not generally advised, a decreased intake should be tried. Adult-life is the safe period for scientific experimentation with diet.

Sensible Diet

To keep warm and give energy for work, Dr. E. L. Fish advises eating energy or fuel foods - potatoes, bread, cereals, corn-bread, sirup, and other sugars. To keep muscles and organs in repair, eat a limited and fixed amount of repair foods - meat, eggs, cheese, nuts, flesh foods, peas, beans, and lentils. Do not increase the repair foods with increase in work or exposure to cold; increase the fuel-foods.

Eat fruit every day. Canned fruits are good. Cooked fruit is often better than dubious fresh fruit, but some fresh fruit is essential. Eat fresh, green vegetables whenever you can get them. Thoroughly wash all raw foods. Eat some bulky vegetables of low food-value, like carrots, parsnips, spinach, turnips, squash, and cabbage to stimulate the bowels and give flavor to the diet and prevent overnourishment. Eat slowly and taste your food well and it will slide down at the proper time. Do not nibble your food timorously; eat it boldly and confidently. A glass or two of water at meals is not harmful if you do not wash your food down with it. An unsocial dinner table will upset all the food-values.

First, last, and all the time, be moderate; avoid overnourishment and overweight. Restrict fuel foods and burn up body-fat if tending toward obesity. See Fatigue, p. 216; Body as a Chemical Laboratory, p. 216; Diet Quantities, p. 219.