With processed foods and commercially-farmed produce offering us less and less essential nutrition these days, people are taking a greater interest in their diet as a way to stay healthy and cope with illness and everyday stress. As a result the market is swamped with health claims for every kind of food and a profusion of health supplements, each one claiming wonder properties. This book is an easy-to-use dictionary of every food, herb, vitamin, mineral or supplement you might encounter: from bananas and carrots, olive oil and yoghurt (the oldest natural medicines), to blueberries, guarana and St John's Wort. Each entry gives a definition in plain language: what it is and where it comes from; the form it takes; how to prepare or enjoy it; its medicinal and health benefits and recommended daily dose. In addition, any other key terms or nutrients that are mentioned within the entries are marked in bold to let the reader know that there is a separate entry on that subject.