Bran bread and bran biscuits are prescribed for constipation. This is
just as bad as removing the bran entirely. Man has never been able to
improve on the composition of the wheat berry. When an excess of bran is
eaten, it causes too great irritation and in the end the individual is
worse off than before. The after effect of irritation is always
depression and sluggishness. Recent experiments seem to show that it is
not the coarseness of the bran that causes activity of the bowels, but
that some of the contained salts are laxative, for the same results have
been obtained by soaking the bran in water and drinking the liquid.
The products of refined flour are more completely and easily digested
than the whole wheat products. However, by eating in moderation and
masticating well every normal person is able to take good care of whole
wheat products, and the benefit of using the entire grain is so great
that we should hesitate about continuing the use of the refined flours
and white breads.
In the French army it has been found that when the soldiers are fed on
refined flour products they are not so well nourished as when they have
whole wheat products, and that they must have more of other foods to
supplement the impoverished breadstuffs.
Pages:
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228