If I asked you what you were thankful for, you might respond by telling me "your family","your career", or "your health." If I asked you what was plaguing you, "your sickness" or chronic medical condition may also be one of the first things that you bring up. With health such an important part of our lives, it's troubling to me how little most folks actually understand health. As a University Professor in the schools of Medicine and Pharmacy I was constantly trying to find my students a reliable textbook, and was really disappointed with what was on the market. Most books either were so full of medical jargon that they were impossible to read, and others oversimplified matters to the point of not being remotely necessary.As a TV and Radio personality for many years, sharing nutritional and medical secrets, my job was to answer these questions and I found that many Americans have the same concerns about medicine, nutrition, and find that not many who are well versed in medicine have the patience to explain things to them. As a Physician, I realized at Buffalo Children's Hospital that there are people who are absolutely desperate for medical information. They have children who are dying (or parents who are dying) and they have so many urgent questions and concerns and they aren't finding the answers and guidance that they need. All of this inspired me to do better, to be better, and to write a book that would bridge the foundations of medicine and nutrition -- while being easy enough for people to understand but meaty enough to make a difference. I don't believe in "dumbing things down" because, truthfully, people don't understand medicine not because they're unintelligent, but because experts in medicine often lack the communication skills required to explain things in a way that makes sense to people who aren't breathing it every single day. This book is for everyone. It's for students, and interns, who can learn from my experience, and are looking for a well-rounded education. It's for parents and children who are worried about their loved ones and aren't sure the best course of action to take. And it's for people who are totally fine but want to be prepared for what may lie ahead, as well as to be healthy enough so that they don't have to worry as much.This book covers general medicine, nutrition myths, and medical nutrition therapy, but also has a special focus on aging, because the one thing that we all have in common regardless of weight, color, creed, religion, gender identity, or intelligence -- is that we'll one day all get old.Living longer and healthier is something that we all should strive for and I hope that this book makes a difference in your life, the way it has affected countless others. -- Dr. David Vastola