5. Do Not Eat Acid Fruits With Proteins.

This is to say, oranges, tomatoes, lemons, pineapples, etc., should not be eaten with meat, eggs, cheese or nuts.

Prof. Pavlov positively demonstrated the demoralizing influence of acids, both fruit acids and the acid results of fermentation, upon digestion. Acid fruits by inhibiting the flow of gastric juice--an unhampered flow of which is imperatively demanded by protein foods--seriously handicaps protein digestion and results in putrefaction. Nuts and fresh cheese are about the only protein foods that do not quickly decompose under such conditions and these have their digestion delayed. Acids do not inhibit the flow of gastric juice anymore or any longer than does the oil of nuts or the cream of cottage cheese.

Instead of orange juice, grapefruit juice, pineapple juice, etc., assisting in the digestion of proteins when taken along with these as is taught in certain quarters, these acids actually retard protein digestion.

So-called health specialists and dietitians, who ignore this fact, and continue to recommend sour salad dressings and acid fruit drinks at meals, are unworthy of the trust placed in them by those who seek their advice. Lemon juice, vinegar, pickles, etc., when mixed with the food, serve as a check to hydrochloric secretion. Just as acids interfere with the secretion of hydrochloric acid, so sodium or alkali interferes with pepsin secretion and lowers gastric acidity.

I have not been able to find any evidence that acids other than hydrochloric acid activate pepsin. At any rate, there is no need for additional acids as the stomach is capable of supplying all the acids required to provide a favorable medium in which the pepsin can act and supply this at the right time. Additional acids rather than helping in the digestion of protein hinder or suspend the secretion of digestive juice. Gastric juice is not poured out in response to the presence of acids in the mouth and stomach.

Milk and orange juice, while by no means an indigestible combination, is far from a good combination. Orange juice and eggs form an even worse combination. Pineapple juice and flesh is equally as bad. Pineapple juice does not digest flesh. It is well to bear in mind that flesh is not digested by acid but by pepsin. The hydrochloric acid of the stomach supplies the proper environment for the action of pepsin.