The authors provide chapters covering the most important aspects of the complex interactions between diet, its nutrient components, and their impacts on disease states, and on those health conditions that increase the risk of chronic disease. Although obesity, weight control, diabetes, and other chronic diseases associated with obesity are emphasized, the major chronic diseases are all thoroughly reviewed, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease, as well as age-related diseases. There is also material on novel substances, such as long-chain fatty acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, herbs, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, amino acids, and other dietary components, and on almost 100 websites to help readers identify excellent sources of information.