Although we already know much about what nutrients are needed for an adequate diet and what food provide them. You are likely already familiar with some of this nutrition knowledge. Reading food labels and watching one's weight are two common adult pursuits. Still, you will benefit be learning even more about nutrition, especially its role in contributing to overall health.

What is the difference between food, nutrients, and nutrition? Food provides both the energy and the materials needed to build and maintain all body cells. Nutrients are the nourishing substances we must obtain from food. These essential substances are vital for growth and maintenance from infancy to adulthood. For a nutrient to be considered essential,two characteristics are needed. First, it omission from the diet must lead to a decline in certain aspects of human health, such as function of the nervous system. Second, if the omitted nutrient is restored to the diet before permanent damage occurs, those aspects of human health hampered by its absence should region normal function.

In a bid to cover the subject as widely as possible, the chapters include:
The Body's Need for Energy and Food as the source of Supply, The Energy Requirement of Adults, Relation of Temperature Regulation to Basal Metabolism, The Energy Requirement of Children, Shortage of Calories, Surplus of Calories, Mineral Elements and Water as Regulators of Body Process, Protein as Body Building Material, Carbohydrates, Vitamin A as a Regulator of Body Processes, Vitamin B (B1) as a Regulator of Body Processes, Vitamin C, D & G as a Regulators of Body Processes.

Nutritionists, dieticians and all those involved with the hospitality and food industries will find this book a most useful addition to their knowledge that will help them rise to higher levels of success.

About the Author
P. Janaki Rao did M.Sc. Home Science (Food and Nutrition) from Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, Hyderabad, and later obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) in the same subject from the same university. She has taught graduate and post-graduate levels for ten years. She writes a lot on her subject and her articles have been printed in leading general and professional journals and magazines. She has two books to her credit. Presently, she is Dietician and Chief Instructor at K.P. Health Services, Hyderabad, a private organisation working for health and nutritional awareness in India.