Book excerpt: Nutrition and exercise are the cornerstones of our health. But why actually? What exactly do weight training and endurance sports do? And how do certain foods influence our metabolism? How does sore muscles actually develop? The author, a chemist and doctor, explains in an understandable way how the body works and the influence of nutrition and exercise on our health. At the same time, he scientifically presents the correlations based on current studies, including intervention and long-term studies. He clearly describes the interactions of nutrition and exercise on body weight, metabolism, fatty tissue and hormones, the cardiovascular system, bone structure and the immune system. Each topic is clearly described on one page. A non-fiction book for all those who are interested in doing something for their health and want to know why. The 5th edition has been completely updated, adapted to the current state of knowledge and expanded to include the following topics: herbs and spices, endurance sports and hormone disorders in women, sports and painkillers, sustainable nutrition and plenty of exercise to combat climate change. Plus: glossary for looking up medical terms and extensive literature references on studies on nutrition, exercise and health.