Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1908 — RICE AND MUSCULAR POWER. [ARTICLE]

RICE AND MUSCULAR POWER.

In Polishing the Grain It Loses Much of Its Nutritive Principles. Rice is commonly supposed. to be deficient in muscle-making qualities, and yet the Japanese, whose chief and almost only food Is rice, are noted for their physical strength, and, in the later advance on Pekin outstripped the armies of Russia, Germany, England, France and America Also, note the same marvelous energy of the Japanese in the struggle with Russia. For an explanation of these facts the Rev. H. S. Chubb, of the Philadelphia Vegetarian Society, applied recently to the agricultural department. His letter was referred to Professor S. A. Knapp, who investigated the rice industry in China, Japan and the Phil- t ippines? and the explanation proved to be very simple. The Japanese and other rice-eating nations do not polish the gipin except for export. In the mills the outside coating of the rice kernel is rubbed off. The outer husk and the bran just within it are removed, and then the kernel is rubbed to remove the rough protein surface. This is called polishing, and the process not only removes one. of the most nutritious substances in all cereals, but deprives the grain of about threefourths of its flavor.