Our instinctive knowledge of which foods are helpful or which harmful seems to be fading for modern humankind. Meanwhile, we are bombarded by advice, information, and prescriptions telling us what we should be eating and drinking. Nonetheless, the many and complex issues surrounding nutrition remain largely unresolved--matters of health, diet, taste, as well as environmental concers and sustainable agriculture.

Rudolf Steiner approaches nutrition in a refreshingly open way. Unlike most experts on the topic, he never tells us what we should or should not put into our bodies--whether with regard to omnivorous or vegetarian diets or using tobacco or drinking alcohol. The job of the scientist, Steiner tells us, is to explain the activity of phenomina and their effects; what we do with such information is left to the free will of indivuduals. Neverthelss, he emphasizes that our diet not only determines our physical wellbeing, but also promotes or hinders our spiritual development.

In this carefully collated anthology--with an introduction, commentary, and notes by Christian von Arnim--Steiner considers nutrition through the results of his spiritual-scientific research. He explains the impact of raw food, vegetarian and meat diets; the effects of protein, fats, carbohydrates and salts; foods such as potatoes, beets, and radishes; and the impact of alcohol and nicotine.

Rudolf Steiner's insights in Nutrition are vital to anyone with a serious interest in health, diet, and inner development.