The consequences of inappropriate human nutrition are amongst the major causes of ill health and premature death throughout the world. Appropriate nutrition is essential for normal growth and development, optimal human performance, and has been identified as a major factor in the prevention of many forms of cancer. Essentials of Human Nutrition provides a broad-based introduction to the field of human nutrition, aimed at undergraduate students embarking on courses in nutrition, and for medical students, doctors, and other health professionals, who require a basic understanding of the subject. While providing the basics of human nutrition, the book discusses some of the most important applied and clinical topics in the field today, including a number of fascinating case studies. Also included are sections on: energy balance and macronutrients; minerals and vitamins; important diseases associated with inappropriate intakes; foods as sources of nutrients; food supply; measuring nutrition; special nutritional issues at different stages of lifecycle; translating nutrition knowledge into practice; and nutritional case histories. Extensively illustrated, and fully comprehensive, the book provides the ideal text for anyone requiring a good all-around introduction to this important field.