The volume of material that has been written on the subject of nutrition is so enormous, that one might think there would not be much left to say about it. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
      Like many disciplines, nutrition is a dynamic science. Professional medical journals continually add to the body of knowledge on how diet affects human health and behavior, often revealing new and interesting facts. This forces us, however cautiously, to reevaluate the way in which we view the older, entrenched beliefs regarding the importance of nutrition.
      The information you will find in these pages is a combination of well established facts based upon years of clinical experience, and fascinating new research. With all of the evidence combined, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the role of nutrition in preventive health care is greater than perhaps we have imagined.

      Nutrition begins simply enough with the food label: just what is in that box, anyway? Are you really going to eat that stuff? Fortunately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated, and regulates the use of food labels on most products and, while not perfect, goes a very long way to inform us just what it is that we are consuming. If you take the time to study them carefully, you will find a great wealth of information on food labels — much more, in fact, than you might imagine.
      Even after you are informed about what you are eating, there is still the matter of what you should be eating, as well as how much, how often, and what effect this food consumption will have on you. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has produced a report on Dietary Guidelines which provides us with the fundamentals of good nutrition.

      No one questions the need for competence in basic nutritional requirements for overall good health. Nutrition, however, is a complicated science at best. The dietary components of food, from protein to vitamins and minerals, and how they affect the human body, is an ongoing study in complex biochemistry that remains a constant challege to health care professionals. While average people cannot be expected to compete with experts in the field, a level of knowledge beyond the basics can contribute significantly to better nutrition.
      In looking at each of the dietary components in a little greater detail than described in the USDA's Dietary Guidelines, you can avail yourself to information that will much better equip you in formulating a dietary plan that suits your particular needs.