Nausea can often be prevented or remedied by deep breathing or by the sipping of hot water with a little soda.
FOOTNOTES:
[10] For table of weights see pages [357-359].
CHAPTER IX
DIETS
Before giving any diets, let me first of all impress the importance of eating slowly, of good cheer, of light conversation during a meal, and of thoroughly masticating the food. Remember it is the food assimilated which nourishes.
The following diets allow sufficient food for average conditions, when the vital organs are normal.
Fruit, as previously stated, contains a very small quantity of nutrition. It is more valuable for its diuretic effect, and to stimulate the appetite; for this reason it may well be eaten before a meal.
The citrus fruits tend to neutralize too high acidity of the blood, increasing its alkalinity. For this reason, also, they are best before a meal, particularly before breakfast; they have a more laxative and cleansing effect if eaten before the other food. The custom has been, however, to eat fruits after dinner for dessert and they are so given in the following menus.
Table XI (page [207]) gives the total amount of protein, carbohydrate, and fat needed daily for the work of the body. The method of determining the number of calories produced by each variety of food is also given on page [208].
By a little study of the food one ordinarily eats in connection with this tabulation and the tables given on pages [233] to [241], it can be determined whether the food taken each day is well or illy balanced and whether one is eating too much or not enough.