Visualizing Nutrition helps students understand the science behind nutrition, the sociocultural impact of food and diet, and the many ways dietary choices affect metabolism, health, and well-being. Providing an immersive and engaging visual approach to nutrition science, this accessible textbook teaches students how to think critically about what to eat — empowering them to be informed consumers when making nutrition decisions. Rooted in contemporary nutritional research, the text highlights the importance of diet in preventing disease and improving general health and wellness. The fifth edition has been fully revised throughout, containing the most current information available on the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.   

Readable, easy-to-understand chapters explore digestion, carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids, vitamins and minerals, energy balance, weight management, physical activity, nutrition during pregnancy, and other important nutrition topics. The book features a comprehensive range of pedagogical tools and multimedia resources designed to increase comprehension, strengthen critical thinking skills, and demonstrate the relevance of nutrition in students’ personal lives.  

PREFACE iii

1 Nutrition: Everyday Choices 1

2 Guidelines for a Healthy Diet 24

3 Digestion: From Meals to Molecules 51

4 Carbohydrates: Sugars, Starches, and Fibers 83

5 Lipids: Fats, Phospholipids, and Sterols 116

6 Proteins and Amino Acids 147

7 Vitamins 175

8 Water and Minerals 226

9 Energy Balance and Weight Management 273

10 Nutrition, Fitness, and Physical Activity 314

11 Nutrition During Pregnancy and Infancy 352

12 Nutrition from 1 to 100 384

13 How Safe Is Our Food Supply? 420

14 Feeding the World 456

APPENDIX A Dietary Reference Intakes A-1

ONLINE APPENDICES

APPENDIX A Dietary Reference Intakes

APPENDIX B Healthy Eating Patterns

APPENDIX C U.S. Nutrition Guidelines and Recommendations

APPENDIX D Energy Expenditure for Various Activities

APPENDIX E Standards for Body Size

APPENDIX F Normal Physiological Standards of Nutritional Relevance

APPENDIX G Choice (Exchange) Lists

APPENDIX H Food and Supplement Labels

APPENDIX I World Health Organization Nutrition Recommendations

APPENDIX J Calculations and Conversions

APPENDIX K Popular Dietary Supplements

APPENDIX L Answers to Thinking it Through

GLOSSARY GL-1

REFERENCES R-1