Uncooked Foods & How to Use Them - Soil and Health Library

FRUITS.
IN subsisting upon elementary foods, fruits constitute the
second most important article of diet. They occupy a most
conspicuous place in the needs of the human body. The
succulent class, such as apples, oranges, grapes, peaches,
plums, pineapples, and all the juicy berries, possess great
germicidal properties, in addition to their value as food. They
seem to be designed by nature to destroy pathogenic bacteria
in other foods while giving to the body their own nutrition.
It would astonish the average omnivorous Englishman or
American to know what magnificent specimens of manhood
are built almost entirely from fruits in some of the South Sea
Islands. According to the most authentic history of man, fruits
were undoubtedly his first and primitive diet. Primitive man
was active, nimble and agile. Fruits left no deposits in his
veins and arteries to, age and stiffen them. Fruits made for
him pure blood, and breathing the open air kept it pure. His
surplus energy demanded activity which kept the pure blood
surging through his veins. Long life, superior power and
endurance were the results.
It is a hopeful sign, however, for the future health and
longevity of our race that the demand for and consumption of
fruits are rapidly increasing.
Each distinct genera of fruit has a specific effect or office
to perform in the human body. Oranges, while possessing
about the same food value as milk, acts directly upon and
stimulates the activity of the liver, while apples are the best
remedy known for that "dark brown" taste so often
experienced next morning after the course dinner.
The best thing to do with an elegant course dinner late in
the evening is to leave it on the table; but insomuch as the
appetite is generally our complete master and law giver, we
know this will not be done. Therefore, the next best thing to
do after such a debauch is to make an entire breakfast of tart
apples, thoroughly masticated.
The juice of the pineapple, which contains much
hydrochloric acid, is among the best remedies known for
diphtheria. When this disease first makes its appearance, if
the juice of well-ripened pineapples be given freely to the
patient it will not only destroy diphtheria germs, but will
stimulate activity of the excretory organs, which is an action
always desired in such cases.
The banana will supply the body with all the elements of
nourishment that is obtained from cereals. Many cases of
chronic stomach disorder have been permanently cured under
the direction of the authors by eliminating wholly all cooked
cereals and breads of every description and substituting
therefor the simple diet of very ripe bananas.
It is believed by many people who are very fond of fruits
that bananas do not agree with them. Close observation will
show in every instance that this condition is the result of other
things with which the fruit is mixed in the stomach and the