Contrary to general opinion a correct diet is of greater importance than most people think.

More and more people realize the importance of eating 'whole' foods but unfortunately, there are still some who consume quantities of packeted, tinned, fried and junk foods washed down with copious cups of strong tea and coffee, sweetened with spoonsful of white sugar.

Most of us make many errors, as far as food is concerned. We may eat a great deal too much, or eat things we most enjoy, regardless of whether there is any real value in them for building and maintaining the body.

Much of our food is de-vitalized; it is grown in artificial fertilizers; processed, coloured and often tinned. Roughage, so good for the bowel, is removed and mineral salts boiled out in cooking or swamped by the addition of too much salt or sugar.

All white flour products should be eliminated. This is because the wheat germ, minerals and substances vital to health have been refined out during the milling processes, which means that the product is much less wholesome.

Therefore all bread, pastries, cakes buns, scones and biscuits made from white flour should be avoided.

Instead 100 per cent wholemeal bread should be eaten; this is delicious, has a nutty flavour and is much more satisfying. Whole meal flour contains the wheatgerm which is a good source of vitamin B1 and E and is rich in iron and phosphorous. Roughage also is contained in this flour which is so good for the bowel.

Sugar should be cut to a minimum and white sugar never used, because through the refining states all the vital minerals and trace elements are removed, leaving a sweetening agent which is very acid. It is very important for arthritic and rheumatic patients to take heed of this advice; many physicians of the orthodox school are in agreement here.

Honey is the best natural sweetener but even this should be used sparingly.


Salads

The more raw food that is eaten the better, and a large salad should be taken every day. This is cleansing and contains many natural vitamins and mineral salts and, with a little protein such as grated nuts, grated cheese, cream or cottage cheese, or olives and perhaps the addition of slices of orange, apple, pear or banana, a delicious meal is created. The salad should comprise lettuce or watercress, with perhaps four, five or six other ingredients as follows, grated raw carrot or beetroot, radishes, tomatoes, cucumber unpeeled, celery, onions, grated heart of cabbage, or grated Brussels sprouts. Herbs such as chopped chives, parsley and mint all add flavour. Sunflower seeds are good in any salad.

A French dressing can be made by blending the juice of one lemon with 4-5 tablespoonsful of sunflower oil, salt and pepper to taste.

Put all ingredients in a screw top jar and shake well. Store in refrigerator.

Or, half-a-pint of natural yogurt combined with juice and rind of half a lemon, half a teaspoon of honey, one tablespoon of finely chopped onion, salt and pepper to taste. Mix as above.

Avocado pears are delicious in any salad and they contain, as do nuts, an oil similar to the synovial fluid natural to the joints of the body.