It is not argument in favour of meat broths to say they stimulate. Many poisons, as alcohol and cocaine, will do that, for their primary effects. But they depress in their final or end results. And the secondary effect or reaction of all artificial stimulation is depression. It is my positive opinion that many a stricken body that would have recovered upon fruit or vegetable juices has been, and is, stricken beyond possibility of recovery by good broths and other deadly foods.”.
“The potato, being largely carbohydrate, is a first class source of energy. Its protein content, though small, has been shown by investigators (Rose and Cooper), to possess high protein value, because of its high quality. Its mineral values are also of the very best, and they hold the unusual chemical relation to the blood, for a starch food, that they are alkalinizers, containing considerable calcium, large quantities of sodium and potassium, and are good sources of iron. All this, provided it is properly prepared – cooked in the skin and not overcooked – and never re- cooked.
“Now what are the facts concerning the serving and use of this potentially valuable foodstuff by civilized peoples? Almost always, potatoes are completely peeled. Almost always the good cook allows them to stand in water, sometimes for a half a day, thus leeching out into the cold water their so-valuable mineral salts, which are drained off with the water before cooking. Then they are boiled in salted water until they are floury, or mealy, after which the water in which they are boiled is again drained down the sink.
“Now what is it that goes down the sink? Just water? Oh, no-by no means. Health it is that goes rippling and gurgling down the sink, in the forms of vitamin C, calcium, sodium and iron; and to a lesser extent, chlorine, phosphorus, magnesium, sulphur, etc.
“After potatoes have been made what one might think almost as unnatural as possible, as just described, they are often fried in hot grease and deluged with hot pepper and salt. Often, they are salted and buttered and mashed. Often they are mixed with butter, salt and milk and creamed.
Less often in homes, more often in public eating places, instead of being boiled, they are sliced in different ways and cooked in boiling fat, as French Fried or Saratoga Chips. But whatever form of cooking potatoes is the choice of the good cook, it is almost never that of baking, or streaming them in their skins. That would be far too natural”.
In 1914, when Dr. Robert G. Jackson M.D. was in his 40s, he developed a severe case of arthritis (probably rheumatoid arthritis) and when he was 49, his doctors gave him four years to live. He refused to accept the diagnosis and began to exercise more and sleep with his bedroom windows open. Long before such things were popular, he developed a health food diet of fruits, vegetables and his own line of health foods including Roman Meal bread. This bread was fashioned after the multi-grain bread ate by the Roman legions and included wheat, barley, oats, spelt and rye. Disease,” he said, “was due solely to man’s stupidity.”
Jackson started the Roman Meal Co. to manufacture his special diet foods. He went on lecture tours where he attracted large audiences. He bragged that “I am growing younger every year.” By 1930, at age 72, and in good health, he was a millionaire. He died in 1941 from complications of a broken hip. Roman Meal bread is still available in the United States.