regularly and to see a dentist at least twice a year, so that he can detect the first signs of tooth decay or gum infection and prevent serious trouble which often has its beginnings in the mouth.
Inner CleanlinessOf great importance to health is the regular and prompt elimination of body wastes. This elimination covers not only the indigestible portions of food, but the waste products of digestion as well. Constipation is one of the crimes of civilization.
We over-refine and over-cook our foods, mince them, and soften them. This lessens their bulk and causes them to lose roughage and mineral salts, which are necessary to regular evacuation. Add to these too much sitting at home, in office, motor car, and train. Even the telephone and radio tend to bring everything to us where we are, and the difference between the exercise we need and the exercise we get becomes greater and greater.
We work our brains and nerves and let our bodies loaf. That is why constipation with its long train of ills (headache, fatigue, tense nerves, indigestion, bad complexion) is chargeable with a large percentage of modern ill health. No one thing is more essential to health than regular elimination, and no one thing is more neglected.
Exercise, regular habits, drinking enough water (four to eight glasses every day), and food that carries roughage are essential to proper eliminative habits.
The indiscriminate taking of harsh drugs and laxatives is dangerous. These should seldom be used except[ 9 ]
