Like other diseases, the bubonic plague brought with it much speculation. The common belief was that the plague was imposed on people as a form of punishment for their sins. These beliefs further entered the lifestyle of individuals, creating a new way of living in hopes of preventing the plague. In addition to new ways of living, new medicinal practices also came into play. Fourteenth-century doctors were under stress and “were helpless and hopeless in the face of the plague.” Parents would refuse to take responsibility for their sick children. Times were hard in the 14th century with the ravages of the plague, "not to mention the famine which, in the second decade of the century, strewn the streets with the dead and led to imprisonment. Once this is done, you make changes and may be seen through instructions on dietary restrictions and restrictions relating to everyday life. Giovanni Boccaccio, author of the Decameron, speaks of several restrictions within his writings. As in the case of the bubonic plague, "doctors were careful not to eat too much or consume foods that were difficult to digest so as not to weaken the body due to the fumes or humors rising from the stomach." Gentile de Foligno describes 'excellent food and drink'. Meats considered "young" (pork, veal, chicken and gray partridge) were considered the perfect choice. People were often wary of bread and special care had to be taken when preparing it. In addition to the foods that were on the list of approved products, several products were also not approved. Fish, vegetables, raw herbs, cooked fruit and cheeses. Lifestyle changes were also taken into consideration, not just those related to food. White wines could be drunk, but had to be diluted with water to diminish their effect. Religion played an important role in prevailing beliefs about the bubonic plague. Like the prescriptions detailed by Boccaccio, the religious prescriptions issued could also be equally extreme. The 14th century “was a period ravaged by religious fanaticism, ignorance and superstition”. The corruption of the churches could have been blamed for the plague, it was thought that God was punishing the European people for all their sins. The period in which the plague reigned was also contrasted by war. A common belief was that Christian Europe suffered from different religions. The blame goes first and foremost to the Jewish people: “[The plague] continues to spread through the poisoning of springs and wells, and the Jews must have thrown poisonous substances into the waters”.