Sparingness in Diet

Of historical interest to me. Jonathan Edwards writes:

“Tuesday, Sept. 2. By a sparingness in diet, and eating, as much as may be, what is light and easy of digestion, I shall doubtless be able to think clearer, and shall gain time:

1. By lengthening out my life. 2. Shall need less time for digestion after meals. 3. Shall be able to study closer without wrong to my health. 4. Shall need less time to sleep. 5. Shall seldom be troubled with the headache.”

This extract is said to have been written “by Mr. Edwards in the twentieth and twenty-first years of his age, as appears by the dates.”