Includes bibliographical references and index.

Pt. 1: Nutrients in the environment -- Nutrition discovered -- The many faces of nutrition -- Evolution of nutrition science -- Definition of a nutrient -- Overview of the nutrient classes -- Nutrients in detail -- Carbohydrates -- Proteins -- Lipids -- Vitamins -- Minerals -- Water -- The circle of life -- Energy - universal life support -- Nutrients as energy distributors -- Nutrient recycling -- Nutrient availability -- Global food availability -- Dietary recommendations -- Dietary supplements -- Pt. II: Nutrients in the body -- Nutrient capture and assimilation -- Digestion -- Nutrient absorption and transport -- Nutrient destinations -- The absorptive state -- Liver -- Muscle -- Adipose -- Brain -- The fasting states -- Liver -- Muscle -- Adipose -- Brain -- Pt. III: Physiologic aspects of nutrition -- Body composition -- Energy balance -- Body fat-too much, too little -- Dieting vs. weight management -- Nutrition-related diseases -- Coronary heart disease and stroke -- Cancer -- Diabetes mellitus -- Osteoporosis -- Nutrition throughout the life cycle -- Pregnancy and lactation -- From infants to teenagers -- The adult years -- Pt. IV: Social and economic aspects of nutrition -- Psychology of nutrition -- Food choices -- To eat or not to eat -- Eating disorders -- Use and misuse of nutrition information -- From research to newspapers to public policy -- Understanding disease risk -- Interpreting nutrition information -- The food industry -- Food technology -- Food-borne illness -- Food labeling -- Functional foods -- A healthy future -- Physical activity -- The concept of "optimal health" -- Information resources.