Disputatio medica, de cibo et potu

LIII.
For the ancients rightly said: "Habits are second nature" original: "ἐπιτηδευταὶ φύσιες εἰσὶ τὰ ἔθη" (Habits are acquired natures). And, as Hippocrates wrote, things to which one has been accustomed for a long time, even if they are worse, are accustomed to cause less distress than those to which one is unaccustomed.

LIV.
For habit has great power, both in recovering and in preserving health.

LV.
When prescribing food and drink, the physician must also take into account those things in which people take the most delight.

LVI.
For it happens that more pleasant foods, even if they are slightly worse, are to be preferred over those that are less pleasant.

LVII.
This is not only to be done to gratify the sick person, but also because it is more useful to them.

LVIII.
For the stomach embraces whatever is consumed with pleasure and delight, and digests it more easily.

LIX.
Thus, it rejects things that displease it, does not embrace them eagerly, nor does it digest them readily.

LX.
When and in what matters the sick person should be gratified, Hippocrates explains, saying: These are the things in which the sick should be gratified, namely, that the food and drink should be prepared purely, pleasantly