Anatomy, physiology and hygiene . l andvegetable diet. Necessary as are the carbohydrates andfats, like the albuminoids and other alimentary principles,none of them alone will support life. Either carbohydrates or fats, if used frequently or inlarge quantities to the exclusion of other food elements,are not easily digested, and may prove injurious. Vege-tables which contain a considerable amount of carbo-hydrates need to be well cooked, especially if they are oldor hard, in order to soften the tough cellulose and breakup the starch granules. We can readily digest a large FOOD. —DIETETICS. 179
Anatomy, physiology and hygiene . l andvegetable diet. Necessary as are the carbohydrates andfats, like the albuminoids and other alimentary principles,none of them alone will support life. Either carbohydrates or fats, if used frequently or inlarge quantities to the exclusion of other food elements,are not easily digested, and may prove injurious. Vege-tables which contain a considerable amount of carbo-hydrates need to be well cooked, especially if they are oldor hard, in order to soften the tough cellulose and breakup the starch granules. We can readily digest a large FOOD. —DIETETICS. 179 part of the cellulose of young and tender plants, like let-tuce, celery, asparagus, and 186. Starch is the principal carbohydrate in vegetablefood, and though ordinarily a fine white powder, underthe microscope it is seen to consist of granules. Thesevary in size and form, according to the kind of Starch is distributed through the vegetable kingdomin the form of thin cells, in tubers, seeds, stems, and A B Fig. , Cells of raw potato, starch B, Cells of partially cooked granules in natural condi- potato. C, Cells of a thoroughly-cooked potato. tion. It is especially abundant in the cereals, and in potatoes,chestnuts, beans, rice, and peas. Arrowroot, tapioca, andsago, which are extractions from various plants, are nearlypure specimens of starch. 1 The different nutrients can, to a greater or less extent, do oneanothers work. If the body has not enough of one for fuel, it can useanother. But, while the protein can be burned in the place of fats amicarbohydrates, neither of the latter can take the place of the albuminoidsin building and repairing the tissues. At the same time the gelatinoids,fats, and carbohydrates, by being consumed themselves, protect thealbuminoids from consumption. — Prof. W. 0. Atwater. 2 They cannot be distinctly seen with the naked eye, ami are so ex-tremely minute that wheat Hour, ground to an impalpable dust, containsits
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