Product Description

This best-selling introductory nutrition text in colleges and universities has been used by more than one million students! UNDERSTANDING NUTRITION provides accurate, reliable information through its clear writing, dynamic visuals, and integrated study aids, all of which engage and teach students the basic concepts and applications of nutrition. This comprehensive text includes up-to-date coverage of the newest research and emerging issues in nutrition. The pedagogical features of the text, as well as the authors' approachable style, help to make complex topics easily understandable for students. From its stunningly restyled and refined art program to the market-leading resources that accompany this text, UNDERSTANDING NUTRITION connects with its readers and continues to set the standards for texts used in the course.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #218724 in Books
• Published on: 2004-05-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 960 pages

About the Author
Eleanor Noss Whitney received her B.A. in biology from Radcliffe College and her Ph.D. in biology from Washington University, St. Louis. Formerly on the faculty at Florida State University, and a registered dietitian, she now devotes full time to research, writing, and consulting. Her earlier publications include articles in "Science," "Genetics," and other journals. Her textbooks include UNDERSTANDING NURITION, UNDERSTANDING NORMAL AND CLINICAL NUTRITION, NUTRITION CONCEPTS AND CONTROVERSIES, LIFE SPAN NUTRITION: CONCEPTION THROUGH LIFE, NUTRITION AND DIET THERAPY, AND NUTRITION FOR HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE (Thomson/Wadsworth Publishing). Her most intense interests include energy conservation, solar energy uses, alternatively fueled vehicles, and ecosystem restoration.

Customer Reviews

It's, well, easy to digest.
All jokes aside, while students may gripe about having to shell out the bucks for this textbook, it is well worth the money. I've got an earlier edition and have used it a lot in the past. I found the later editions to be very up to date and quite useful as a reference for some of the clinical questions I encounter while working with patient education issues. In the days of picky insurance reimbursement, it's vital that all the stuff we do be based on sound clinical information showing that what we do is indeed effective.

Easy to understand, and a well laid-out text with many good illustrations, there's a good reason why it's a standard in the field. Can also recommend The Sixty-Second Motivator for people who have trouble sticking to a healthy diet. After all, what good is nutritional advice if no one is motivated enough to follow it?

fairly comprehensive, but very basic
My comments are applicable to the instructor's edition of this book, 10th edition.

I have been studying nutrition and health on my own for years. I picked up this book so that I could have one comprehensive resource. Apparently I would have been better to find a book written for a higher-level course or for graduate school.

This book contained no new information from my perspective. For example, I was disappointed that the book only devoted 4 pages to vegetarian diets. Obviously, it is impossible to cover all aspects of the various types of vegetarian diets in 4 pages.

If you are looking for a book that covers the basics of nutrition this is a decent resource. If you have a resonable understanding of nutrition I would recommend passing on this book. When I locate a more comprehensive and detailed nutrition reference guide I will post an update to this review.

Required for a semester, but keeps for a lifetime
Overall, I found this text to be chocked full of helpful knowledge. I was required to purchase this book for a course I took in beginning nutrition, but I will keep it forever because of the wealth of knowledge. The concepts are suburbly explained and illustrations make understanding the information easier. Even though most people buy this for a class, I believe it is easy to read and assimilate the information. The Appendices are chocked full of useful facts about the current diet and exchange lists, including food pyramids and such.

The only information I disagree with is the section on vegetarianism. Surely they could have done a better job and included more than four pages! However, there are plenty of books dedicated solely to vegetarians/vegans that would be more important and informative.

It would also have been nice to see more updated information on fad diets such as Atkins or South Beach with respect to health issues. Or even more recent scientific studies throughout the book would contribute significantly to the reading.

Since the 2004 edition is just coming out, if you can pick up a cheap copy of this edition it is well worth the investment.