Abstract: This college textbook presents the core information of an introductory nutrition course. Based on the principles of chemistry and molecular biology, chapters 1-11 describe the nutrients and how the body handles them. The remaining seven chapters illustrate how nutrition influences people's lives. Several of these chapters reflect the trend toward promoting optimal health through optimal nutrition. Topics include: recommended nutrient intakes and diet-planning guides; digestion, absorption, and transport; metabolism; vitamins and minerals; energy balance and weight control; life cycle nutrition (pregnancy, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood); nutrition and disease prevention; consumer concerns; and domestic and world hunger.