Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents: Nutrition basics: What nourishes you -- The Basis of a healthy diet -- Human digestion and absorption -- Metabolism -- The Energy-yielding nutrients and alchohol: Carbohydrates -- Lipids -- Proteins -- Alcohol -- The Vitamins and minerals: The Fat-soluble vitamins -- The Water-soluble vitamins -- Water and the major minerals -- Trace minerals -- Energy balance and imbalance: Energy balance and weight control -- Nutrition for fitness and sports -- Eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binger-eating disorder and other conditions -- Nutrition applications in the life cycle: Pregnancy and breastfeeding -- Nutrition from infancy through adolescence -- Nutrition during adulthood -- Putting nutrition knowledge into practice: Safety of food and water -- Undernutrition throughout the world.