Scientists are beginning to explore a hidden world of thousands of food chemicals. These substances go beyond the common nutrients listed on nutrition labels. They refer to them as “nutritional dark matter.” It is believed that this dark matter could be crucial. It may help understand disease risk. It could also clarify the process of healthy aging. Furthermore, it might explain why different diets affect people in dramatically different ways. Research into these unknown components is important for a deeper understanding of the impact of diet on human health.