Nutrition in health and disease

Conclusions

Almost every physician has a different method and conception of dietetics. Most of these are variations of existing plans and “stock” diet-lists of greater or less antiquity and without the individual patient’s consideration and needs. The many variations of dietotherapy make comparisons of results extremely unreliable. Because of the exploitation of pseudoscientists and the faddishness of the field of dietetics, there is a real need of placing emphasis upon the present scientific conception of the relation of nutrition to health and disease.

An attempt has been made briefly to touch upon the essential requirements that form the basis of an adequate and protective diet in health. In addition, outlines are presented to differentiate those diseases in which treatment by diet is of paramount importance and those conditions in which diet is of varying importance.