Similar elements to those of which the muscles are composed, also form the cells of the brain. Therefore the importance of nitrogenous elements in the food is not confined entirely to manual workers, or those desirous of building all the attainable muscular powers - it is of almost equal importance to the brain worker. All the broken down or decayed tissues in both brain and muscle must be replaced by these nitrogenous elements. A liberal supply of these elements is especially essential in building muscular tissue. No strength of importance can be developed unless the importance of this is recognized.

These nitrogenous elements also perform really the most important part in the vital economy. Though they do not furnish the force, they furnish the means through which the force is manifested. All the important fluids of the body are composed largely of nitrogenous elements. The saliva, gastric juice, and the bile, pancreatic and intestinal juices, which perform such important work in the digestive process, are composed mostly of nitrogenous elements.

"The experiments of Dr. Austin Flint upon the pedestrian Weston, as well as the experiments of Prof. Liebig, Subbotin, and many other distinguished physiologists, show very clearly that the nitrogenous elements are the chief supporters of vital activity, muscular and nervous effort, etc., and that food can only support vital action or give rise to force by being assimilated into living tissue." - J. H. Kellogg, M.D.

"The nerves, the muscles and the glands are composed of living matter or protoplasm, and cannot be built up, or the glands furnish their secretions without albuminous matter. Every structure in the body in which any form of force is manifested is mainly built up of these proteids. Muscular tissue is a good example; the brain cells are also examples." - Dr. M. L. Holbrook.

The principal foods that are richest in these valuable nitrogenous muscle-making elements are beans, peas, lentils, lean meat and eggs, though if wheat (the whole grain in bread or other food substances), oats and corn are also well supplied one will not have starved muscles.

Although lean meats are especially rich in nitrogenous elements, they are not by any means essential in a muscle-building diet. The muscles can unquestionably be developed to their highest degree of perfection on a grain, fruit and vegetable diet, if the grain, so rich in these vital building elements, are furnished in palatable forms. Many vigorous farmers in our own country, and whole nations of people such as the Japanese and natives of India, exemplify the truth of this statement.

In the analyses which follow, to all nitrogenous elements I have added the word "muscle," though it would be well to note that all brain-cells and important fluids of the body are composed largely of these elements. Do not make the mistake of believing that one can be made strong by merely eating muscle-making foods. The absorption of these muscle-making elements requires that a demand first be made for them by the use of the voluntary muscles, therefore if you wish to develop strength, you must first develop an appetite for strengthening foods by the vigorous use of your muscular system.

In order to emphasize the particular necessity for muscular vigor in the performance of the digestive processes, I would call your attention to some comments by a well known authority on the muscular processes of the organs of digestion:

"Muscular action masticates the food - by the aid of the passive accessory organs, the teeth - and mingles with it the saliva. Muscular contraction draws the alimentary bolus from the mouth down into the stomach. Here, by the action of the muscles, it is churned up with the gastric juice, and finally squeezed through the pylorus into the small intestine, where, by the aid of muscles, it is mixed with the bile and the pancreatic and intestinal juices, and is moved along, constantly coming in contact with fresh secreting and absorbing surfaces, until its digestion is complete. Even absorption is greatly aided by this muscular action, as the circulation in the absorbing parts is thereby quickened, so that larger quantities of fluid are taken up." - J. H. Kellogg, M.D.