Tesla's Way of Nutrition

After tempestuous days, in which he overindulged in food and drink, he became convinced that he would preserve his freshness in old age only through great moderation. When he was almost 80 years old, his physical and mental freshness caused general admiration. Many biologists and physiologists asked him how he conducted his life when, at eighty, he looked as fresh as a young man. Believing it necessary to speak publicly about it, he gave a colleague from a popular professional magazine several interesting details about his way of life:

"I view the human body as a machine, and I operate it as such. I always keep my body clean, just as I lubricate my machines with oil, and I do not allow any malfunction to occur. The most important things are nutrition and diet. If we do not give a machine the best kind of fuel, it will not operate properly. Therefore, I make sure to regulate the operation of my machines according to scientific principles and according to the laws of the planet we live on. Just as we have day and night, so human life has two periods. One in which one works, and the other in which one rests. Therefore, the first should serve for the production of energy, and the second for supplying the body with material that will strengthen it during sleep."

"From early youth, I devoted myself to physical culture and studied various theories of nutrition. This led me to the conclusion that food should be thoroughly chewed, because in this way it helps the digestive organs. Studying theories of nutrition, I used milk and vegetable soup as food. While working in the laboratory for several years, I ate whenever I felt the need and I felt it was good for me, but due to my duties I was prevented from continuing this and had to eat like everyone else. This change began to disturb me, and it took a long time before I adapted to the new way of eating. After long wandering, I finally came to the conclusion that two meals are most beneficial. Lunch is superfluous as a meal because a stomach overloaded with food cannot quickly convert it into energy for work. The first meal should be taken two hours before we start work, and the second around 7 or 8 in the evening. In the morning, fatty foods, butter and oil should be taken to get energy for work, and in the evening proteins (albumen) so that body cells can be built during sleep. Egg white is excellent food, while egg yolk, in addition to iron and vitamins, also contains uric acid, which is harmful. Cheese is the most nutritious food due to its large amount of protein. Rice contains the least uric acid and is easily digestible."

"Uric acid causes many diseases; for example: rheumatism, high blood pressure, and many other ailments. Therefore, I do not consume beans, peas, lentils, and similar vegetables, although they contain a large amount of protein. Primitive man could eliminate uric acid through strenuous physical labor, but the urban population cannot."

"Vegetables are essential, although they contain little protein. They are beneficial because they regulate bowel function and suppress uric acid, and in addition, they provide the body with vitamins and mineral salts. And fruit neutralizes harmful acids and aids digestion, which is why I use it, and also, fruit contains enough sugar. I eat meat only two to three times a year, because it contains a lot of uric acid."

"Alcohol helped me a lot in life. With its help, I endured many efforts that would otherwise have been fatal. When I first saw an induction motor working in my mind, my heart almost failed me, but a few sips of rakija calmed my nerves, and I was able to observe the motor's operation with philosophical composure."

"Walking very favorably affects the activity of thought. Every day I walk at least ten miles. This always kept me in good condition. In addition, I bathe every day and perform physical exercises in the bathroom."

"A working person should sleep 7-8 hours a day to recover, but I sleep only two hours a day, but when I sleep, I sleep well, artistically, because sleep is an art, as is deep breathing, which must be learned. This is one of the secrets of the East, which is no secret to me. After every sleep, no matter how short, I must perform physical exercises to balance the newly acquired vital energy."

"Sexual life plays a big role in everyone's life. Nature created the attraction of the sexes to ensure the survival of the human race. I believe, however, that sexual life hinders intellectual work. Before I came to the discovery of the rotating magnetic field, I had to concentrate all my mental energy on that experiment. If I had indulged in sexual life, that discovery would not have happened."