A short account of the basic principles of human nutrition

Considers the type of nutrition required for a healthy diet

Explores the topic of over- and under-nutrition in relation to issues of obesity and malnutrition

Looks at the usefulness and safety of vitamins, minerals, and food supplements

Includes a glosary of the key terms

Part of the bestselling Very Short Introductions series - over six million copies sold worldwide

Nutrition is a topic of wide interest and importance. In spite of growing understanding of the underlying biochemistry, and health campaigns such as 'five-a-day', increasing obesity and reported food allergies and eating disorders, as well as the widely advertised 'supposed' benefits of food supplements mean that a clear explanation of the basic principles of a healthy diet are vital.

In this Very Short Introduction, David Bender explains the basic elements of food, the balance between energy intake and exercise, the problems of over- and under-nutrition, and raises the question of safety of nutritional supplements.