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The article demonstrates a method of studying human health and nutrition by applying a multi-disciplinary approach and examines how humans developed and survived by adjusting to their environment. This process involves physiological, cultural and genetic adaptation both independently and interactively. This study postulates that a sound human health may be the result of balance between nutrition and environmental conditions. It is noted that there is a positive correlation between malaria and fava bean intake, and sickle cell anemia and cassava intake. It is also suggested that the difference in disease structure in soybean and non-soybean consumption cultures can be explained by an ecological approach to studying nutrition. This study further suggested that the relationship between nutrition and socio-cultural system, epidemiological study of nutrition and cultural environment, nutrition and conceptual characteristics, nutrition and food intake pattern, nutrition and health and sociological functions and the physiological, cultural and genetic adaptation can all be stimulating research subjects to be studied from an ecological point of view. This article also includes the results from a series of ecological studies conducted by the author investigating the relationship between nutritional status of Korean breast-feeding mothers and the composition of the human milk and also the Vitamin D status of Koreans and their lifestyle.
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