Leisure, a cosy home atmosphere, tranquillity and contemplation, as well as a period of relaxation at the end of a working day, are things that will soon only be known from reading descriptions of the past. Even at mealtimes modern man is in the grip of restlessness connected with his busy schedule. Mind you, the body cannot stand this pace of life for ever and the natural outcome is seen in the constant increase of gastric disturbances. We should not be in a hurry when we sit down to eat; in fact, we should rest for a few minutes beforehand and then enjoy our meal with a calm mind and a healthy appetite. Most gastric problems will disappear if we make an effort to be relaxed at mealtimes, eat slowly and chew the food thoroughly. It will then be better assimilated and cause fewer disturbances in the intestines. Also, when chewing thoroughly you will be less tempted to eat too much, giving you a chance to combat excess weight more effectively. It is ah undeniable fact that in the Western world more people become sick and die as a result of overeating than because of going hungry. We would do well, therefore, to reduce our intake of food and so benefit our health.
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