Page:The Road to Wellville (1926).djvu/17

 highway of Health. Exercise causes a swifter flowing of blood to the lungs to be purified and to the tissues to renew them and bear away the wastes. Exercise stimulates the large intestine and keeps it from becoming lazy—helps to prevent constipation, which is such a menace to the health of sedentary folk. Children get exercise naturally in their play. But the average adult must plan for his exercise in his daily routine. The kind of exercise to take depends upon age, habits, and individual peculiarities. There are plenty of good books on this subject. See Appendix.

Posture, how we carry ourselves, is also important. It affects digestion, circulation, and health every minute of the day. If we hold our heads high, our backs straight, our chests up, and our abdomens flat, our bodies and their organs are in position to perform their work normally.

We breathe air to live. We can live for days without food or water, but for only a few minutes without air. Clean, fresh air is essential to health.

Deep breathing in the fresh air, whenever opportunity affords, helps to keep the lungs clean and healthy. In normal breathing only about one-tenth of the air contained in the lungs is changed with each breath. It is a good plan at least once a day to go forth into the fresh air and take a dozen deep breaths. We will feel much better for it.

The air in our living quarters should never be allowed to become stagnant. When there is no natural motion