MENUS FOR CONSTIPATION
SPRING MENU
CONSTIPATION (CHRONIC) NERVOUSNESS
First Day: Immediately on rising, take half a cup of wheat bran, in hot water, and eat a tablespoonful of soaked evaporated apricots.
Devote five minutes to exercises Nos. 3 and 5. (See Vol. V, pp. 1344 and 1345.) These should be taken vigorously, before an open window, and before dressing. Then take a cool shower bath and a vigorous rub down.
If possible, take half an hour's walk before breakfast.
BREAKFAST
- Half a cup of coarse wheat bran, cooked ten minutes; eat with thin cream
- Two bran meal gems
- Two large, very ripe bananas, with thin cream and either nuts or nut butter (The bananas may be baked if preferred)
- Two glasses of water
Devote two or three minutes to exercises 3 and 5, about ten o'clock, if possible.
LUNCHEON
- A dozen soaked prunes and one very ripe banana
- Two tablespoonfuls of nuts, or a rounded tablespoonful of nut butter (The prunes, the banana, and either the nuts or nut butter may be eaten together)
- One egg, whipped, or cooked two minutes (If whipped, add sugar and lemon juice)
- Peas or asparagus
- Half a cup of coarse wheat bran
Drink two glasses of water during the progress of the meal.
DINNER
- A salad of lettuce, asparagus, peas or carrots; or anything green, eaten with either nuts or nut butter
- One egg, coddled; serve with butter and salt
- A baked potato or a whole wheat muffin
- A cup of wheat bran, slightly cooked if desired, and eaten with thin cream
- Two glasses of water
Just before retiring, take half a cup of wheat bran.
Second Day: The same as the first, slightly increasing the quantity of food if there is a tendency toward weakness or unusual fatigue.
Third Day: The same as the second, varying the meals by changing the vegetables.
Fourth Day: On rising, eat a cup of soaked apricots, and take the exercises which were prescribed for the first day.
BREAKFAST
- A cup of wheat bran, with cream
- A cup of hot water
- The juice of one sweet orange
- A small portion of plain wheat, boiled (simmered over night)
- One egg, coddled
LUNCHEON
- A dozen soaked prunes
- Two extremely ripe bananas, with two tablespoonfuls of nuts
- Three or four figs, and cream cheese—fresh
- Two glasses of water
DINNER
- A cup of hot water
- A cup of wheat bran
- Two large, boiled Spanish onions
- One other vegetable
- A baked potato
- One glass of cool water
Just before retiring, eat a few soaked evaporated apricots, or half a cup of bran.
Note: The apricots should be omitted if there is a tendency toward sour stomach (premature fermentation), or rheumatism.
Fifth Day: the Same As the Fourth.
Sixth Day: The same as the first.
Repeat this diet until the bowels become normal. The bran and the apricots may then be reduced according to the condition of the bowels, and the quantity of vegetables, eggs, and other solids increased sufficiently to meet the demands of normal hunger.
SUMMER MENU
CONSTIPATION (CHRONIC) NERVOUSNESS
Immediately on rising, eat two or three very ripe peaches or plums, and drink a glass or two of water. Devote from five to ten minutes to vigorous exercise and deep breathing, especially exercise No. 3. (See Vol. V, p. 1344.)
BREAKFAST
- A dish of sliced peaches—very ripe; a little sugar, but no cream
- Half a cup of wheat bran, with a spoonful or two of crushed wheat, thoroughly cooked (simmered over night)
- An ear of tender corn—prepared choice
LUNCHEON
- A liberal portion of tender corn
- A lettuce and tomato salad, eaten with grated nuts
DINNER
- A liberal green salad, with grated nuts
- A baked sweet potato
- Fresh peas, beans, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, corn—any two of these
- A portion of wheat bran, cooked
If the above menus do not seem sufficient to sustain the body while performing manual labor, one or two whipped eggs may be added.
Just before retiring, eat three or four ripe peaches, or a large bunch of blue grapes, swallowing seeds without mastication. Take exercises as prescribed for morning.
From two to three glasses of water should be drunk at each of these meals.
FALL MENU
CONSTIPATION (CHRONIC) NERVOUSNESS
(For general instructions see Spring Menu.)
Just after rising, eat a bunch of grapes.
BREAKFAST
- Cantaloup or melon
- Wheat bran and a small portion of whole wheat
- Two or three baked bananas, eaten with raisins and nuts
LUNCHEON
- Celery or slaw
- One fresh vegetable
- An ear of tender corn or a baked potato
- Wheat bran
DINNER
- Lettuce and tomato salad
- Okra, eggplant, cauliflower, carrots, squash, cabbage, string beans—any two of these
- Chicken or fish—very limited portion
- A cantaloup or a baked banana
From two to three glasses of water should be drunk at each of the above meals, and mastication should be very thorough.
WINTER MENU
CONSTIPATION (CHRONIC) NERVOUSNESS
Immediately on rising, take the juice of a sweet orange.
For general instructions see Spring Menu.
BREAKFAST
- Two extremely ripe bananas, eaten with nuts or nut butter (The bananas may be baked if preferred)
- A liberal portion of whole wheat, boiled until very soft—simmered over night; serve with butter or cream
LUNCHEON
- Spinach, with an egg
- Endive, kale, or cabbage
- Peas, beans, lentils, or corn
DINNER
- Celery, with nuts
- Carrots, parsnips, beets, onions, stewed pumpkin, or squash
- A small rare omelet, or a very small portion of fish; omelet preferred
- A potato
A glass of pure apple cider may be drunk just after rising, and just before retiring.
From two to three glasses of water should be drunk at each of the above meals.
SPRING MENU
CONSTIPATION—AUTOINTOXICATION LOW VITALITY
Choice of the following menus:
A spoonful or two of coarse wheat bran should be taken both at breakfast and at dinner; also, just before retiring, a glass of water and a few pieces of soaked evaporated apricots.
(The apricots should be omitted if there is a tendency toward either fermentation or rheumatism.)
SUMMER MENU
CONSTIPATION—AUTOINTOXICATION LOW VITALITY
Choice of the following menus:
SUPPLEMENTARY MENU
- Corn
- Spinach
- Two egg whites—poached or whipped
- A potato
- A salad
- Water and wheat bran
If there is a craving for something sweet, let the evening meal consist entirely of ice-cream and three or four glasses of water. All sweets may be omitted, however, if they do not especially appeal to the taste.
Take vigorous exercise and deep breathing just after rising, and just before retiring.
FALL MENU
CONSTIPATION—AUTOINTOXICATION LOW VITALITY
Just after rising, eat a large bunch of grapes and drink a glass of water.
Choice of the following menus:
Just before retiring, take wheat bran or eat a large bunch of grapes.
WINTER MENU
CONSTIPATION—AUTOINTOXICATION LOW VITALITY
BREAKFAST
- A small portion of plain wheat boiled until soft, or until the grains burst open; serve with cream and salt
- A cup of wheat bran, cooked, eaten with butter and salt
- Two egg whites and one yolk
- One exceedingly ripe banana—must be very ripe; eat with one fig, cream, and a spoonful of either nuts or nut butter
- A cup of hot barley water
LUNCHEON
- A spoonful of wheat bran
- A portion of boiled onions
- A baked white potato—skins and all—with butter and salt
- A cup of hot barley water
DINNER
- A salad of anything green
- Choice of carrots, turnips, eggplant, parsnips, or squash, cooked in casserole dish—no cream
- A baked white potato
- A baked white potato
- A morsel of fish or chicken, or an egg, cooked two minutes, eaten with butter
- (One of the fresh vegetables should be made very hot with red pepper, or a small capsule of red pepper may be taken at the close of the meal)
From one to two glasses of water should be drunk at each of these meals.
Either grapes or wheat bran should be taken just before retiring. The wheat bran may be taken uncooked in hot water.
If constipation is not relieved after taking the quantity of bran prescribed, increase the quantity until the desired results are obtained, then gradually decrease the quantity, taking it only at the morning and the evening meal.