Why? The Science of Athletics

CHAPTER XIX FOODS, FADS AND FACTS Old Systems Die H ard-The Newer Prejudices-Nature Knows Best Most Times-Army Diet-What the Athletes Diet Must Supply-Training Diet Considered-Nutritive V alue of Foodstuffs- Importance of Minerals-Body Builders-Body Fuel Fats-Carbohydrates-Vitamins– What Food is Necessary-Assessing Food Values in Muscle Power, Heat Production and Fuel Supply-Appetizers-Is Training Diet Expensive ?-Fish-Meat, Poultry and Game– Vegetables-Fruit-Flour, Bread and Pastry-Milk-Eggs– Beverages-Conclusions and Some Suggested Schemes– Feeding at Competitive Period- Why Exercise Should No t Be T aken after a Meal-Heavy Meal after Activity is Inadvis- able-Harvard System and American Experience. I)ARE I start this chapter with the obvious, time-honoured proverb : "One man's food is another man's poison" ? I suppose it is permissible, having regard to the notions about athletic diet which were in vogue in the palmy days of the ·prize ring and pedestrianism and some of the weird notions which still obtain even in our own enlight– ened age. Right through the first half of the last Old Systems century many books were published, such Die Hard as Boxiana, Fistiana, and Walker's Manly Exercises, to name but three, which set forth such astounding theories as that "supper is bad for the lungs", "potatoes should be eaten only to correct the · effect of 'London-made bread' ", "All young meat such as veal and lamb, all white flesh meat, whether game or poultry, are good for nothing. They contain no nourish– ment." Soup, fish, pies and puddings were regarded as poisons to a boxer, and athletes were not allowed vege– tables, fish, butter, cheese, eggs (except the yolk, taken 307