. When the
body makes its own fat from starch and sugar, the natural source of this
tissue element, the product formed is _sui generis_ and must be better
adapted to the body uses than the animal fat which was _sui generis_ to
a pig, a sheep, or a goat. It is certainly a pleasant thought that one
who rounds out his figure with the luscious fatness of nuts may
felicitate himself upon the fact that his tissues are participating in
the sweetness of the nut rather than the relics of the sty and the
shambles. It is true that nuts are poor in carbohydrates; that is, they
contain no starch and little sugar, but this deficiency can be easily
supplied by fruits, as will be readily seen by reference to Table V.

Of the three great food principles required for human nutrition,
protein, fats, and carbohydrates, the nut supplies two--protein and fats
in rich abundance, and of very finest quality. The amount of protein
found in fruits with very few exceptions is so small as to be
insignificant; fats are practically wholly absent from fruits, while
sugar and dextrine are abundant. Fruits are thus the natural complement
of nuts.

The amount of protein contained in nuts is, with two or three
exceptions, small as compared with meats, and even some of the cereals;
but the studies of nutrition which have been made within the last score
of years by Chittenden and numerous other investigators have clearly
established the fact that protein which is chiefly represented in the
ordinary bill of fare by lean meat, is needed only in very small amount.
If the amount of protein eaten equals ten per cent of the total ration
the body will receive an abundant supply of material for repairing its
nitrogenous tissues, the only function for which protein is essential.
Some nuts, as the pine nut and the peanut, are rich in protein. A pound
of pine nuts contains as much protein as a pound and a half of lean
meat, besides furnishing the equivalent to two-thirds of a pound of
butter. The almond is also rich in protein.

But nuts have another special excellence which is worthy of
consideration. Recent researches have shown the paramount importance of
vitamines--certain subtle elements which are needed to activate or set
in operation various processes within the body which are essential to
complete nutrition. The vitamines of rice and other cereals are removed
with the bran; hence an exclusive diet of polished rice gives rise to
_beriberi_. Meat contains vit