[Nutrition yesterday and today]

The history of human nutrition from primitive times to actuality is briefly outlined. Many of the modern nutritional problems can be traced back to changes caused by the introduction of agriculture and, more recently, food technology. These developments have changed the composition of the diet to which the primitive hunter-gatherers had adapted themselves during millions of years. Changes in food habits and the beginning of the science of nutrition are discussed, and a brief review of nutritional recommendations is provided. The terms of nutritional goals and rules, so much used today, are of recent introduction. Nevertheless, norms, normal allowances and other similar expressions have since long ago been in use. Nutritional goals should be based on the vital habits of the population for which they are intended, and should be adapted to the ever emerging new findings in nutritional sciences.