Nutrition concepts for the primary care/generalist physician

Important nutrition concepts will aid primary care/generalist physicians to implement practical aspects of health promotion and disease prevention in their practice, and improve the overall health of their patients. In today's society, chronic diseases that are related variably to overnutrition and dietary excesses or imbalances (obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, some cancers) warrant knowledgeable diet modifications in high-risk individuals. However, serious nutritional deficiency diseases also still occur (as in alcoholic patients), and instituting appropriate diet and supplements will aid in preventing further morbidity and mortality. Nutrition knowledge changes with new scientific evidence, and the physician must be aware of reliable sources of continuing education and information appropriate for the practitioner and the patient.