Includes bibliographical references.

Can all foods fit into a healthy diet? -- Is the dietary guideline for sodium realistic? -- Can an overemphasis on eating healthy become unhealthy? -- Does "trans fat-free" mean a food is heart-healthy? -- Does a diet high in fructose increase body fat? -- Does eating soy improve health? -- Should physicians use BMI to assess overall health? -- Do Americans need vitamin D supplements? -- Does obesity cause a decline in life expectancy? -- Are organic foods better than conventional foods? -- Does the world need genetically modified foods? -- Are probiotics and prebiotics beneficial in promoting health? -- Should energy drinks be banned? -- Is hunger in America a real problem? -- Should government levy a fat tax? -- Can Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" initiative halt childhood obesity? -- Is it necessary for pregnant women to completely abstain from all alcoholic beverages? -- Should infant formulas contain synthetic ARA and DHA? -- Is breast-feeding the best way to feed babies?

This volume presents current controversial issues surrounding food and nutrition in a debate-style format designed to stimulate student interest and develop critical thinking skills. The purpose of this book is to present some of the most hotly debated current issues on food and nutrition as related to health. The book is divided into six units with each containing related issues. Units 1 and 2 deal with nutrition guidelines and recommendations and their relationships to health. The next unit focuses on diet as related to weight management and obesity. Units 4 and 5 examine the food supply and food and nutrition policies that govern what we eat. The last unit centers on nutrient concerns for the life cycle. The interdisciplinary nature of the selections provides students with much needed different perspectives on issues. This topic is framed with a general summary and introduction, and a postscript or challenge questions. This work features an annotated listing of selected World Wide Web sites and an online instructor's resource guide with testing material available.