Abstract
Nutrition ? dietetics (from Greek diaita) ? has always belonged since the oldest cultures, along with major surgery and pharmacy, to treatment performed by educated physicians. A healthy way of life was a part of this treatment.
Hippocrates? works (around 400 B.C. ) already pointed out the possibility of warding off disease by means of proper nutrition. At that time it was mainly reduction in meals.
Galen (after the year 169), whose works are based on Hippocrates, placed ?dietetict? in the sphere of health and aid in illness. Dietetics principles in Galen?s version influenced to a certain extent not only medieval medicine but even experienced a strong revival during the Enlightenment period in 19th century.
The principles are relevant also for contemporary preventive medicine.