THE HERRING-NATURE'S HEALTH  FOOD

If we want to see our children grow sturdy and strong, we cannot
give them a better food than herrings.

One of the chief dangers of our modern diet is that we are apt to eat
too much cereal and starchy food and too little "first-class protein," the
material which builds up the body and repairs waste. For what is termed
"first-class protein" we have to go to foods of animal origin, such as meat
and fish, eggs, cheese and milk.

The herring provides some of the most digestible of these first-class
proteins and very cheaply too. Here is a table that shows the low cost
compared with other first-class proteins:—

1st class
protein

6d. spent on herrings (at 6d. per lb.) gives you         ..        ..      2.3   oz.
6d.     „     „   stewing steak (at 1/- per lb.) gives you..        ..      1.5   oz.

6d.     „     „   beef (at 1/3 per lb.) gives you......      1.3   oz.

6d.     „     „  eggs (at 1/3 per doz.) gives you......      1.06 oz.

6d.     „     „  leg of mutton (at 1/- per lb.) gives you         ..     0.99 oz.

It will be seen from the above that herrings are certainly one of the
very cheapest sources of protein that you can buy. Two large herrings will
supply the amount of protein required daily by an adult.

In addition to protein, herrings contain about 10 per cent, of fat, which
is not only an important source of bodily heat and energy, but contains
two of those remarkable substances essential to health known as vitamins.
Several different vitamins are known to exist. Those found in the oil
of the herring are called Vitamins A and D. Vitamin A protects from
certain forms of infection and without it growth is impossible. Vitamin
D prevents and cures rickets, and promotes the formation of sound bones
and good teeth. The herring is therefore a valuable food for growing
children.

These vitamins are both produced under the action of sunlight,
and are believed to be a result of the herring's own diet of sun-soaked
plankton. In any case they make it a most valuable food, especially for
growing children.

When you consider the energy value of the herring you will find it is
extraordinarily high:—

1  1b. of herrings gives 755 calories

1  lb. of meat gives ..   685      „

1  lb. of eggs gives ..   635      „

1  lb. of milk gives ..   310      „

1  1b. of cod gives   ..   220      „

Compared with the other common foods the herring is very rich in
mineral matter. It provides us with a familiar element, iodine, which we
know, in tincture form, as something to paint on a scratch, but which is