excerpt from
Complete Life Building
Copyright 1935 by Ralston Company

DATES

"Dates are almost life supporting.  After a meal, and as soon as possible, they should be eaten by putting one in the mouth, allowing the stone to come free and be discarded, then leaving the flesh of the date to melt in the mouth.  The longer it remains there, the better it is for the digestion of the food in the stomach, on the principle that digestion is not carried on principally by the stimulating action of the food in the stomach, but because of the pleasure afforded the palate at the mouth.

In the middle of the forenoon if you feel depressed, eat a few dates in the following manner; eat slowly all you desire except one, and allow that one to melt in the mouth in the manner stated.  But do not take dates too near to the time of the noon meal, as you may weaken your appetite.

In the middle of the afternoon if again you feel depressed physically, take dates in the manner already described for the forenoon.

As no person should go to sleep at night on an empty stomach, unless the evening meal has been taken too close to the time of retiring, it is wise to take three or four dates just as you get into bed; eating all but one and allowing the last one to remain in the mouth to melt away. This is one of the best cures for sleeplessness unless too heavy an evening meal has been eaten."

Basic Guidelines for Daily Dietary Intake

  • 6 to 12   8-ounce glass of water
  • 6 or more vegetables per day
  • 8 to 12 whole grain choices
  • 2 to 4 dairy/meat/*legumes (2-3)
  • 4 or more fruit
*Legumes:  Beans and peas, for example

Eat at least three times per day, choosing a variety of foods from these different groups of nutritional foods and consume approximately 2,000 calories per day.  Some people do well on a little less, and many people do well on a lot more calories each day as they get used to the lower fat approach to eating.  Most active people can easily consume four to six thousand calories, keeping the percentage of fat in their daily intake of calories to 20 to 30% along with exercise lasting 30 to 60 minutes at a time, three or more times per week.  Walking,  the newer cardiac machines, low impact/mild aerobics, dancing are all good exercises.  This will result in an abundance of energy, balancing of proper weight and wonderful vitality.