Terrors of the Table

The curious history of nutrition

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Science, Other Sciences, History, Health & Well Being, Medical
Cover of the book Terrors of the Table by Walter Gratzer, OUP Oxford
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Walter Gratzer ISBN: 9780191578625
Publisher: OUP Oxford Publication: November 23, 2006
Imprint: OUP Oxford Language: English
Author: Walter Gratzer
ISBN: 9780191578625
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Publication: November 23, 2006
Imprint: OUP Oxford
Language: English

Terrors of the Table is an absorbing account of the struggle to find the necessary ingredients of a healthy diet, and the fads and quackery that have always waylaid the unwary and the foolish when it comes to the matter of food and health. Walter Gratzer tells the tale of nutrition's heroes, heroines and charlatans with characteristic crispness and verve. We find an array of colourful personalities, from the distinguished but quarrelsome Liebig, to the enterprising Lydia Pinkham. But we also find the slow recognition that the lack of vital ingredients can cause terrible illnesses - scurvy, rickets, beriberi. These diseases stalked the poor in the West even into the 20th century, and scandalously remain in poorer parts of the world today. The narrative stretches from classical times to the modern day and gives a valuable historical perspective to our current understanding. It also highlights some of the problems faced by the developed world regarding health today - in particular diabetes and obesity. And despite our far greater understanding of what our body needs, there are still many who would fall for fads and fancy diets - some dangerous, others just daft. Of course, the story of nutrition does not end there. We have discovered the key vitamins and minerals our body needs, but research continues on the connections between diet, health and disease. The body's biochemistry is complex, and there are no easy answers, no magic formula, that applies to all individuals. The safest and most rational course would seem to be a sensible, moderate, and varied diet, not forgetting that 'a little of what you fancy does you good'.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Terrors of the Table is an absorbing account of the struggle to find the necessary ingredients of a healthy diet, and the fads and quackery that have always waylaid the unwary and the foolish when it comes to the matter of food and health. Walter Gratzer tells the tale of nutrition's heroes, heroines and charlatans with characteristic crispness and verve. We find an array of colourful personalities, from the distinguished but quarrelsome Liebig, to the enterprising Lydia Pinkham. But we also find the slow recognition that the lack of vital ingredients can cause terrible illnesses - scurvy, rickets, beriberi. These diseases stalked the poor in the West even into the 20th century, and scandalously remain in poorer parts of the world today. The narrative stretches from classical times to the modern day and gives a valuable historical perspective to our current understanding. It also highlights some of the problems faced by the developed world regarding health today - in particular diabetes and obesity. And despite our far greater understanding of what our body needs, there are still many who would fall for fads and fancy diets - some dangerous, others just daft. Of course, the story of nutrition does not end there. We have discovered the key vitamins and minerals our body needs, but research continues on the connections between diet, health and disease. The body's biochemistry is complex, and there are no easy answers, no magic formula, that applies to all individuals. The safest and most rational course would seem to be a sensible, moderate, and varied diet, not forgetting that 'a little of what you fancy does you good'.

More books from OUP Oxford

Cover of the book Debt Restructuring by Walter Gratzer
Cover of the book Pompey, Cato, and the Governance of the Roman Empire by Walter Gratzer
Cover of the book The Piltdown Forgery by Walter Gratzer
Cover of the book Petitionary Prayer by Walter Gratzer
Cover of the book The First World War:A Very Short Introduction by Walter Gratzer
Cover of the book Insurance Law for the Construction Industry by Walter Gratzer
Cover of the book Why We Need a New Welfare State by Walter Gratzer
Cover of the book An Introduction to State Space Time Series Analysis by Walter Gratzer
Cover of the book The American by Walter Gratzer
Cover of the book The Kill by Walter Gratzer
Cover of the book Cosmopolitan Peace by Walter Gratzer
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of International Political Theory by Walter Gratzer
Cover of the book The Politics of Presence by Walter Gratzer
Cover of the book Whitman, Melville, Crane, and the Labors of American Poetry by Walter Gratzer
Cover of the book Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs by Walter Gratzer
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy