Lectures of Dr. Royal Lee, Volume I

The mid-twentieth century marked an unprecedented era in the science of nutrition, a revolution in our understanding of food and health that was largely spearheaded by one man: Dr. Royal Lee. Now you can relive this journey of discovery with Lectures of Dr. Royal Lee, Volume I, a select treasury of Lee’s most notable talks, dating from 1940 to 1963.

These were the early days of fake nutrition, when the public was first introduced to synthetic vitamins, butter substitutes, and processed foods of all kinds. Unsurprisingly, this shift away from real food coincided with skyrocketing rates of so-called “diseases of civilization.” Powerful food interests and the medical community called it a coincidence. But here’s what Lee had to say on the matter:

Can a single substance be a vitamin? Yes, just as a single substance can be a carbohydrate, or a protein. But it is very poor nutritional practice to feed single factors of a natural complex as a substitute for the entire complex, whether it be vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, or fats. Cane sugar is no reasonable substitute for potatoes, gelatin for beefsteak, or Crisco for butter. Condoning and recommending such practices is a serious responsibility, by which the ignorance of the so called “healing professions” has brought the standards of health of the civilized countries to their lowest levels in history.

Straight talk from the greatest nutritionist of the twentieth century. Dr. Lee’s work has been bolstered by an ever-growing body of research, and his observations continue to guide those who study the clinical application of nutrition.

Experience the urgency and import of these talks—highlights from the remarkable life and enduring work of the foremost nutritionist of the twentieth century. And now these lectures are more accessible to modern readers than ever.

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