Diet and food considered in relation to strength and power of endurance, training and athletics / by Alexander Haig.

  • Haig, Alexander, 1853-1924.
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Diet and food considered in relation to strength and power of endurance, training and athletics / by Alexander Haig. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    well on two, or at most three, meals a day, the flesh feeders often take four, or perhaps five. It follows also, that quite an exaggerated and erroneous estimate has been formed of the power of meat to produce force, because its stimulating effect has been mistaken for power, and the de- pression which follows has either beeu over-looked, which is possible at first, or later, has been counter- acted by alcohol, tobacco and other more harmful stimulants ; but the man who gets his albumens from a less stimulating source, having no early stimulation, has also no subsequent depression, and so probably never feels the want of any alcohol at all. Hence it comes about that those who took alcohol on a flesh diet generally very soon give it up when they give up flesh, and smoke also very little, having no craving for any stimulant; while if what most meat-eaters say was true, that meat is very much better nourishment and more supporting than milk, bread, cheese, fruit and vegetables, it ought to be exactly the other way, and those who live on the latter foods should require to take alcohol, and be unable to do without it. Another very common effect of meat eating, whether alcohol is added to it or not, is a certain amount of dulness, heaviness and disinclination for mental or bodily exertion in the morning hours, often associated with more or less irritability and mental depression.