This practical reference provides the most recent information available on every type of nutrient, including carbohydrates, fats, proteins, lipids, water and electrolytes, minerals and trace elements, and fat and water soluble vitamins. Entries examine the foods themselves, as well nutritional contents, chemical and biochemical structures, and metabolic pathways. A visually impressive volume, the text is enhanced with tables, formulae, diagrams, and illustrations. An extensive system of cross references illustrates the relationships of additives, natural toxins, and food processing to health and disease. The entries present detailed caloric and nutrient information on individual foods, including grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables, meats, fish, eggs, dairy product, oils and fats, herbs, spice, and beverages. This handy reference places nutrition in a broader health context by examining the composition and structure of the body absorption and metabolism of foods and nutrition related disorders such as rickets, osteoporosis, scurvy, gout, diabetes, malnutrition, and obesity. Readers can explore both naturally occurring and human made food toxins as well as food additives listings feature easy-to-follow nutrients from ingestion to incorporation and elimination, in addition to accessible tables of chemical, biochemical, and nutritional information that allow immediate comparisons of related items. The Nutrition and Health Dictionary is an invaluable reference of nutritionists, nurses, food scientists, allied health professionals, and other heath care providers. It is also an outstanding resource for students and researchers in nutrition and food science.