DIET AND NUTRITION was a groundbreaking book when it was first published in 1978. Since then, many of its ideas have become somewhat more widely accepted among the general public. The book remains a clear and encouraging introduction to good eating practices, and a source of very useful information on vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, etc. Ballentine writes about the ways that the body processes the nutrients in food for good health--but, he says, there is a social aspect to food, and he goes on to claim that the standard American diet, unfortunately, is not a beneficial one. When Ballentine was writing in 1978, ayurveda was nowhere near as recognized as it is today, but here he draws on both Western and Eastern medicine, including ayurvedic principles, to point out the components of a good diet, and suggests lifestyle changes that can result in healthier choices.